Odisha has become the only state in India to provide habitat rights to the highest number of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs). Recently, the Saora tribals of Gajapati district were granted these rights over their ancestral lands, marking them as the fifth tribal group in the state to receive such recognition.
Habitat Rights for Saora Tribals
The district-level committee in Gajapati, under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), recently approved habitat rights for the Saora community. These rights cover 128 villages located in the Mohana and R Udayagiri blocks. The Saora community is now responsible for the protection and preservation of the natural forests within their habitat rights area. This includes safeguarding natural entities, sacred sites, and places of religious and spiritual importance.
Legal Framework and Definitions
According to section 2(h) of the FRA, “habitat” refers to areas that include the customary habitat and other habitats in reserved and protected forests of primitive tribal groups, pre-agricultural communities, and other forest-dwelling scheduled tribes. The Saoras have traditionally been custodians of their ancestral lands, living sustainably and maintaining a unique cultural heritage. With their habitat rights now settled, they can continue their customary religious and cultural practices without interference.
Previous Habitat Rights Granted in Odisha
Prior to the Saoras, the ST and SC Development Department of Odisha had facilitated habitat rights for other PVTGs, including:
- Paudi Bhuyans in Deogarh district
- Juangs in Keonjhar and Jajpur districts
- Chuktia Bhunjia in Nuapada district
These habitat rights are granted under section 3(1)(e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Habitat Rights in Other States
While Odisha leads in granting habitat rights to PVTGs, other states have also taken similar steps. For instance:
- Madhya Pradesh has granted habitat rights to the Bharia PVTG.
- Chhattisgarh has extended these rights to the Kamar and Baiga PVTGs.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Which tribal group in Odisha was recently granted habitat rights over their ancestral lands?
a) Juangs
b) Saoras
c) Paudi Bhuyans
d) Chuktia Bhunjia
Answer: b) Saoras - How many villages in Gajapati district are covered under the Saora community’s habitat rights?
a) 100
b) 128
c) 150
d) 200
Answer: b) 128 - Under which section of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) is the term “habitat” defined?
a) Section 2(h)
b) Section 3(1)(e)
c) Section 4(a)
d) Section 5(b)
Answer: a) Section 2(h) - Which state other than Odisha has granted habitat rights to the Bharia PVTG?
a) Chhattisgarh
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Maharashtra
d) Jharkhand
Answer: b) Madhya Pradesh - Which department in Odisha facilitated the habitat rights for Paudi Bhuyans, Juangs, and Chuktia Bhunjia?
a) Forest Department
b) ST and SC Development Department
c) Revenue Department
d) Tribal Affairs Department
Answer: b) ST and SC Development Department