Tushar Das from Orissa is replying to the message sent by Santosh Indivar from Surguja in Chhattisgarh about illegal mining in his village on forest land. Tushar says under Forest Rights Act Gram Sabha is empowered to take decisions for all the work in community forest area and there are several examples of usage of the act to stop such illegal work in Orissa. If they need more help then they can call Tushar at 09861048888

Santosh Indwar from Kusmi area of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh is interviewing a villager who says in their village illegal stone mining on forest land is going on for two years. Illegally mined stone is being used in Pradhanmatri Gram Sadak Yojna. Villagers have complained to forest offcials but the contractors pay money to officers and the work once again starts. For more on the story please contact Santosh Ji at 09826157641

Praful Chandel is sending details about death of two forest department officials due to malaria. He says because these two officials also went to a private hospital for their treatment where they died there is no mention of their death in official record. Praful asks if we do not know the exact number of deaths then how can we work to stop them next year? He says government took no precautionary measures in both the villages of forest officials which could have saved both the lives

Rajim from Chhattisgarh says tribals have got land in Forest Rights Act but the deeds given under the act are not respected by officials. When a person applies for land leveling work under NREGA that deed is not respected. Tribals are not getting seed or fertilizer against that deed. She speaks to a tribal farmer Parasram Bhoi who asks what is the meaning of this deed if no officer respects it. Will government give us a new deed? For more details please contact 9424215854

Bhan Sahu interviews Bharat Mandavi of Jan Shakti organisation who talks about their fight to get deeds for the forest land under Forest Rights Act on 2005. He says “we have been fighting for years to get our lands regularized where we have been farming from years and we will continue this fight against this historic injustice till our death.We will not leave our land at any cost”.