Former Secretary to Government of India EAS Sarma, IAS, has written a letter to Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, asking her to a notification issued by the ministry since no stakeholders such as Adivasis were consulted. Here is the full letter:
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to Government of India &
Former Commissioner (Tribal Welfare), erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh government
To
Smt Leena Nandan
Union Secretary
Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MEFCC)
Dear Smt. Nandan,
I refer to the Forest (Conservation) Rules (FCR2022) notified by your Ministry this year.
Apparently, your Ministry had not exercised due diligence in consulting the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), the States and the adivasi communities, especially the adivasi Gram Sabhas, before notifying these amended Rules.
I understand that the NCST had since addressed a letter dated 26-9-2022 (copy enclosed) to your Ministry, making detailed observations on how the FCR2022 would adversely affect the interests of the Adivasis and proposed that you should rescind the Rules.
May I request you to act urgently on the NCST letter, lest FRC2022 causes irreversible implications for the adivasis?
Regards,
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Visakhapatnam
05-11-2022
