Green Haat

§  The “Green Haat, a fortnight long programme , is an initiative of MoEF

§  To raise awareness on the rich forest and bio diverse heritage of the country among the growing urban population

§  To showcase various value added forest based products developed by Rural Artisans, SHG, NGOs, State federations- thus provide support to biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood

§  Myriad herbal products from wild from healthy living, the bamboo craft, over 100 local varieties of paddy, rich diversity of minor millets and palate ticking  cuisines

§  Provide support and market lineage to bio-diverse products- crucial of livelihood of communities

§  COP-11 on convention of Biological Diversity at Hyderabad and Aichi Biodiversity targets 2020. 1^st target = creating awareness about values of bio-diversity and measures to conserve and sustain

INDIA AND PAKISTAN

India and Neighbors:

1     Overview:

·       India gives highest priority to her neighbors.

·       India want peaceful periphery to achieve multifarious development goals

·       India believe that  stable and prosperous South Asia will contribute to India’ own prosperity

·       In South Asia=-India share border with none except Myanmar and Bangladesh

·       SAARC is tool of liason (last summit held in Maldives Nov 2011)

·       Dr. Mohan Singh articulated India’s vision of regional economic integration based on enhanced intra-regional trade, investment flows and interconnectivity

·       India has virtually eliminated the sensitive list of items of trade

·       Taken various initiatives for Capacity Building

·       Fostered a sense of a South Asian Identity through SAARC process

·       Enhanced mutual confidence in multiple areas

2     India and Pakistan:

2.1Overview:

Ø Most complex among all neighbors- due to across border terrorism

Ø Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan from 2004 to 2008v addressed all outstanding issues. It had completed four rounds and the fifth round was in progress when it was paused in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attack in November 2008. Achievement of composite dialogue:

ü enhanced people to people contacts through bus and train services;

ü revival of the Bilateral Joint Commission after 16 years;

ü setting up of the Judicial Committee to look into the humanitarian issue of civilian prisoners/fishermen held in each other’s jails

ü  growth in bilateral trade by 550% between year 2003-04 and 2007-08

Ø Trust Deficit Increased due to Terrorist Attacks

Ø But Efforts are put to revive composite dialogue on sideline of SAARC summit

2.2Resumed Dialogue

Ø Dialogue resumed on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, hence foreign secretaries of both countries to discuss the issues further. Even PM of both countries met informally at Mohali to watch Indo-Pak World Cup Semi Final

Ø Their external affair minister Khar too visited India

Ø Secretary, Water of Govt. Of India and counterpart also met in New Delhi to discuss Wullar Barrage/ Tulbul Navigation Project

Ø Home Secretary- Counter Terrorism, Narcotics Control and Humanitarian Issues

Ø Defense wala discussed Siachen

Ø Surveyor General of India- Sir Creek

2.3Economic Relation:

India awarded MFN status to Pakistan in 1996. In reciprocity, Pak has given the same status to India now (2012)

Ø A significant step in bilateral economic relations. Trade and investment across the border will create lobbies and interest groups that would engage each other and put pressure on both govt. to solve difficult problems such as Kashmir, Terrorism, Afghanistan and Nuclear Security

Ø Both courtiers liberalized the VISA regime

Ø Earlier large no. of tariff and non tariff barrier had prevented the trade- now trade will boost due to geographical and cultural proximity of both countries

Ø Transportation cost will also decrease (earlier the goods shipped though Dubai OR Singapore)

Ø More trade will provide more varieties to both countries

Ø At the same time, India has allowed FDI from Pakistan.

Ø To monitor the progress, Govt. should make a committee with representative from Private sector, Govt. and Independent experts.

Forest Laws for Empowering Tribals:

The forests are governed by two acts:

1. Indian Forest Act 1927

2. Wildlife (Protection act) 1972

Under Indian Forest act, Govt. can classify the forest into Reserved, Protected and village forest

Whereas under Wildlife Protection act Govt. can declare protected areas such as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserves and community conservation areas. The people living are evicted and compensated by the Govt. through Forest Settlement Officer.

This process of compensation left the forest dwellers on the mercy of Corrupt Govt. Officials which leads to harassments, evictions, extortion of money etc.

Note: Forest Dwellers: Living in forests and depends on forest for livelihood

Further their rights to forests are also violated by development process; more industries are being set up by clearing forest. Mining is being done for the resources available in forest area. Forests are being wiped out for agriculture to feed more than one billion people.

Tribal people are living in forest for centuries and they make their living by forests (Grazing Ground, Water, Minor produce, Shifting Cultivation).

So the rights of tribal people are being compromised by all this.

Govt. took a note of the fact that the forest dwellers had been precluded from asserting their genuine claims to forest resources which traditionally belonged to them.  And Govt. enacted

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

was enacted to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. Provisions of this act:

Ø Title Rights- Right to live in the forest, Right of ownership

Ø Use Rights- Collect, use and dispose the minor produce (Non timber produce of plant origin)

Ø Relief and development rights:  Protection against illegal eviction and other Community rights

Ø Forest management rights: to protect and manager forests

The Forest rights Act has been in operation for more than four years and despite substantial progress made in the last four years certain lacuna and bottlenecks were observed which were impeding the intended flow of benefits to the forest dwelling communities. Appropriate changes in the Rules have been brought about on 06.09.2012. After the amendments in the Rules,

Ø Ministry organized five regional consultations on Forest Rights Act (Meeting at New Delhi)

Ø State Govt. directed to make special efforts to create awareness about community rights

Ø This act has empowered the Gram Sabha to issue transit permit for minor forest procude

Ø New rule also make it clear that the ownership of minor forest lies with dwellers