Women fight Forest Smugglers to Protect Forests

A noted Feminist Political Scientist in India Bidyut Mohanty has sent this news report on how women in Orissa state of India are fighting forest smugglers and corrupt forest department staff to protect their forests -

On 17th March, 2010 some of the women from Minarbali Village in Koraput district of Orissa observed the
illegal cutting of trees nearby and sent a message to all the women
federation members of the eight villages of Doraguda Gram Panchayat to alert them and
organize a response. On the next day a large group of federation members
gathered on the road to stop the transportation of the timber. Around 7 PM
a full truckload of timber came and they blocked the truck and sent word to
the Forest Range Office of Boipariguda. Nobody came on that evening so they
guarded the truck and driver throughout the night.

On the next day, 19 March, District Forest Officer, Additional Conservator of Forests of Jeypore and a Range Officer along with a
Police Officer came at 11 am to the village. The women were confident that
action would be taken against the smugglers and the officers took the truck
to the range office as well as transported another of the six or seven loads
of cut timber remaining by forest department vehicle. Villagers rejoiced
that they were able to protect their forest and looked forward to severe
consequences for the thieves.

They were sorely disappointed. On the next day, the forest guard along with
the smugglers and some thugs came to the village and threatened the women
that if they persisted in pressing the issue against the thieves that they
would see them on market day at Boipariguda. The rest of the village
joined in a heated protest and the visitors withdrew but on the following
day some petty politicians came to the village and offered Rs 50,000 to the
women to keep them quiet. But, heroines that they are, the women refused to
take the bribe and demanded action against the smugglers and the forest
officials involved.

On the 22nd a group of women traveled to the district headquarter to raise
the issue with the Collector and the Forest Conservator. The Conservator was
absent on that day but they submitted an application in the office and also
informed the Collector of their application. On the 26th there was a jana
sampark health camp in the Boipariguda area and again the women submitted a
memorandum to the District Collector present there.

Still, there is neither action against the smugglers nor
against the forest officials involved. Instead, the sarpanch, other
officials and thugs are threatening the women that they will file complaints
against them if they enter the forest, there are still many truck loads of
timber in the forest and the truck parked in the forest range office still
there. Nevertheless, the tribal women have not buckled to the pressure and
continue to press for justice.

The sad truth is that often tribals are blamed for destruction of the forest
when they cut modest amounts of wood for agricultural purposes or housing
materials, and are arrested, jailed, or harassed by the Forest Department.
But when the Forest Department protects the interests of illegal loggers who
are helping themselves to truckloads of timber, they appear to be immune to
prosecution and instead take part in intimidation and coercion.

In this age of global warming there are many schemes that have been put
forth under the guise of reforestation through plantations of commercial
timber. The government of Orissa has taken out a huge loan from Japan Bank
for this purpose and in Koraput, the Forest Department has spent crores of
rupees for plantations under different programmes and schemes with the
objective to increase forest cover in the state. But increased forest cover,
though badly needed to control erosion, reduce the emission of greenhouse
gasses and provide non-timber forest products will not be achieved if Forest
Department Officials are not held accountable to serve as protectors rather
than exploiters.

When the protector of the forest turns to greed and destruction, there is no
hope for the forest or the people who enjoy the benefits of a cool and green
world.