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Mainstreaming Women’s Claim to Land Rights. Dr V Rukmini Rao. Claiming Forest Rights. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 is a historic recognition of the rights of Adivasi People Example from Andhra Pradesh to mainstream women.
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Mainstreaming Women’s Claim to Land Rights Dr V Rukmini Rao
Claiming Forest Rights • The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 is a historic recognition of the rights of Adivasi People • Example from Andhra Pradesh to mainstream women. • Programme undertaken by Natwan Sangam, Koya Women’s Organization supported by local organization ASDS and Gramya
Objectives • Create awareness among the Koya community and create space for women to claim rights • Training and orientation about the law to FRA committee members • Recording individual claims and collective claims • Recognition that collective claims cater to gendered needs of collecting fuel-wood and fodder
Process for Implementation to Claim Community Rights • Nistar rights-sharing of natural forest resources • Rights on minor forest produce • Entitlement of fishing, water bodies, grazing and traditional resources access for nomadic people • Tenure for habitat and habitation • Access to bio-diversity, intellectual property and traditional knowledge • Other community traditional rights not covered above
To Claim Individual Rights • Formation of Forest Rights Committees • Claimants will file the claims in prescribed formats. Format as given by Ministry of Tribal Affairs can be used. • Forest Rights committee (of Gram Sabha) shall collect, scrutinize and assist Gram Sabha (GS) • GS will take view and pass the resolution (for and against accepting claim) and forward to Sub Division Level Committee (SDLC)
To Claim Individual Rights Contd… • Compilation by SDLC (SDO = Chairperson ) • SDLC will prepare the draft record of forest rights in a meeting and forward to District level Committee (DLC) through SDO • District Committee will take the final decision (approve or reject)… • Aggrieved Claimant from GS/SDLC decisions could go to SDLC/ DLC…Otherwise No direct petitions • Once Record of forest rights are approved by DLC, the decisions will be sent to Revenue Department for updation of revenue records
Campaign • Campaign carried out under the leadership of women • 50% Men and women involved in all committees • Wall writings • Articulation of problems by men and women • Regular meeting with forest officials and district officials and ITDA • Files claimed for 3440 acres • 15% women filed individual claims • All lands in the name of men and women if man is head of household
Experience from Gujarat • Working Group for Women and Land Ownership (WGWLO) • Objectives • Facilitating implementation of existing laws in Gujarat • To influence government and non government policies including media to mainstream women’s claims to land ownership • To undertake advocacy for legal reforms related to land rights for women
Activities • Action Research – Status of Women and Agriculture Land Ownership in Gujarat • Paralegal Action Research Initiative • Capacity Building • Training programmes on revenue procedures • Collective sharing and learning through meetings • Swa Bhoomi Sammelan campaign with men and women
Activities • Development of Educational Resources, leaflets, songs, audio spots, booklets, video documentation etc • Documentation of inspirational case studies • Networking and Lobbying • Campaigns for discussing issues of inheritance • Collaborating with academics and researchers
Outreach and Achievements • Media advocacy • 800 women inherited family land • 200 women own public land in collectives • 12,000 women applied for ownership of waste lands in rural Gujarat • Training of revenue officials to increase their sensitivity to women owning land – 435 officials trained • Special Education on Women and Land Rights for Sarpanch Training through Satellite communication
Mainstreaming by the Government of Andhra Pradesh • The state has seen land rights struggles carried out by the communist parties of India and Maoists • Dalit Rights NGOs have mainstreamed ownership for women dalit farmers through their struggles • NGO movement has demonstrated innovative approaches to promote food sovereignity, management of common properties and sustainable agriculture
Mainstreaming by the Government of Andhra Pradesh • This has influenced government policy • The government has bought land for dalit community with a focus on women through the SC corporation • Indira Kranthi Patham supported by World Bank invested 892.68 crores and bought women members of SHGs 4539.24 acres • IKP has restored rights of poor over 1.79 lakh acres by resolving conflicts using Para Legal Workers