Rama Mankirdia, a resident of Mahilabasa village in Khunta block, Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, recently celebrated a significant milestone as he received habitat rights to the local forested area. This recognition comes under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, a crucial legislation that acknowledges the rights of tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities.
Legal Recognition of Habitat Rights
On September 22, the habitat rights were formally conferred upon Mankidia under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, popularly known as the Forest Rights Act. Historically, Mankidia’s ancestors have relied on the forest for their livelihood and cultural practices, but now, his community has secured a legal claim over the surrounding forests.
Ceremony of Felicitation
Mankidia, alongside other community members, was honored at a ceremony in Baripada, attended by prominent officials including Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, the Odisha Urban Development Minister, and Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, the Minister of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change. This event marked a turning point for the Mankidia tribe, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), as they previously faced restrictions on using forest land and resources.
Importance of Habitat Rights
According to Y Giri Rao, executive director of Vasundhara—an organization focused on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act—this legal recognition ensures that the Mankidia community can freely engage in their traditional and cultural activities without obstacles. The Forest Rights Act defines habitat as the area encompassing customary habitats and other areas in reserved and protected forests for primitive tribal groups.
Other Recognized PVTGs
The Mankidia community is the second PVTG in Odisha to receive habitat rights, following the Paudi Bhuyan community, which was recognized on March 7, 2024. The District Level Committees (DLCs) have also approved habitat rights for other communities, including:
- Juang in Keonjhar and Jajpur districts
- Saora in Gajapati district
- Chuktia Bhunjia of Nuapada
- Hill Khadia of Mayurbhanj
With these approvals, Odisha has become the leading state in India for granting habitat rights to six PVTGs.
Comparison with Other States
While Odisha leads with six PVTG habitat rights, states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra have granted these rights to a fewer number of communities. Notably, Odisha is home to the largest number of PVTGs—13—inhabiting 1,683 villages across 14 districts, with a total population of approximately 773,092 individuals.
Significance of the Forest Rights Act
The Forest Rights Act is hailed as a landmark legislation that bestows various rights to forest-dependent communities, including:
- Individual rights over forest lands
- Community rights
- Rights to protect and manage Community Forest Resources (CFR)
As noted by Rao, the Act enhances indigenous knowledge and traditional systems, promoting community forest and biodiversity conservation while securing tribal rights.
The Mankidia Community
The Mankidia community, classified as an Austro-Asiatic group, primarily sustains itself through forest resources. They are semi-nomadic and are known for their food-gathering and hunting skills. The community plays a vital role in controlling monkey populations that damage local crops and is characterized by their temporary settlements, called tandas, made of leaf huts known as Kumbhas. They primarily speak a form of Munda language and some members are conversant in Odia.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What legislation grants habitat rights to the Mankidia community?
- A) The Forest Conservation Act
- B) The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
- C) The Wildlife Protection Act
- D) The Indian Forest Act
- Answer: B) The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
- Who presided over the felicitation ceremony of the Mankidia community?
- A) The Chief Minister of Odisha
- B) Krushna Chandra Mohapatra and Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia
- C) The Governor of Odisha
- D) Local village heads
- Answer: B) Krushna Chandra Mohapatra and Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia
- How many PVTGs have received habitat rights in Odisha so far?
- A) Four
- B) Six
- C) Eight
- D) Ten
- Answer: B) Six
- What is the primary livelihood of the Mankidia community?
- A) Agriculture
- B) Forest gathering and hunting
- C) Fishing
- D) Trade
- Answer: B) Forest gathering and hunting
- What term is used to describe the temporary settlements of the Mankidia community?
- A) Villages
- B) Kumbhas
- C) Towns
- D) Cities
- Answer: B) Kumbhas