Van Gujjars Remain Nomadic
Source : Down To Earth
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Why in News ?
Recently interim order in favour of Van Gujjar was passed by Uttarakhand High Court and held that Van Gujjars Remain Nomadic.
Key Facts
- Court uphold the Constitutional rights under Article 21.
- The court directed the district collector of Uttarkashi to conduct COVID test and if the test is negative they should be permitted to enter the park Govind Pashu Vihar National Park.
- Also directed the deputy director of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park to submit a report regarding the steps taken towards implementation of the order.
Article 21 : No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law, nor shall any person be denied equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
What happen to the Community Recent Years ?
- There were several attempts to resettle the Van Gujjars, still several members continue to pursue a nomadic lifestyle.
- As a result of the enactment of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 or Forest Rights Act (FRA) has changed things.
Photo by Ekrulila from Pexels - Many in the Nomadic Community have to paid fines for violating the conditions set forth by the forest department.
- Community Forest Resource Right
- Section 2 in The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
- Community Forest Resource means customary common forest land within the traditional or customary boundaries of the village or seasonal use of landscape in the case of pastoral communities, including reserved forests, protected forests and protected areas such as Sanctuaries and National Parks to which the community had traditional access.
- The section also prescribes the seasonal use of a landscape in case of pastoral communities.
- The COVID pandemic also affect the Nomadic community as the access of the community within forests was restricted through out 2020.
- This affect the health of their livestock and many buffaloes died.
- Their income also reduced during the pandemic.
Van Gujjars
- Van Gujjars are Pastoralists Nomadic Community.
- They have the native in the newly formed state of Uttarakhand.
- These nomads pursue seasonal migration from the Terai-Bhabar and Siwalik region of Uttarakhand to the higher bugyals in the Western Himalayas in summer.
- They migrate in order to make their livelihood remains viable and sustainable.
Govind Pashu Vihar National Park
- National park in Uttarakhand named after prominent Indian freedom fighter and politician Govind Ballabh Pant.
- Govind Pashu Vihar National Park is the remaining strongholds in the Himalayas of the bearded vulture and Snow Leopard Project by Government of India being managed at this sanctuary.
- The park has a diversity of many Flora and Fauna.
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