Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options

Jharkhand, traditional leaders of the area, under the system of
Manki-Munda, questioned the state legislation of the Provision of
Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. They
say that this Act does not match with the Manki-Munda traditional
system because there are a lot of lacunae between the state
provisions and the central provisions of the Panchayats (Extension
to scheduled Area) Act, 1996. The state provisions of the
Panchayats seem to be a mere formality rather than anything else.
The exercise is meant to harmonise Centre-State relations. The
message ofthese leaders is clear.
The country gathered and organised a National Convention in
Delhi against the amendment of the Fifth Schedule to the
Constitution.
Traditional indigenous/tribal leaders, lay men and activists resisted
the killings at Maikanch (December 2000, Orissa), Tapkara
(February 2001 , Jharkhand), Devas (April 2001 , Madhya Pradesh)
and of other places during the two day Convention held on 8-9 May
2001 , including the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. The
Declaration of the National Convention to Protest Against attempts
to amend the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution was submitted to
the President of India which says:
They argue that the new state provisions of the Panchayats need to be
redesigned in accordance with the direction of Central Provision of
Panchayats Extension Act, 1996. While they agree to many of the
provisions of the Central Act, they disapprove of many in the provision of
the State Acts, and they stand for the redesigning of the said Act. In
Chattisgarh, the National Mineral Development Coorporation (NOMC)
propose to establish a steel plant in Bastar. The people are not against
this project, but they do object to the way in which their rights have been
criminal offence. A Grand Assembly of Gram Sabha was scheduled on
March 2-3, 2002 at Nagarnar, Bastar in Chattisgarh, for the public hearing
on the issue of indigenous/tribal rights relating to land as a natural right.
However. state sponsored hooligan offences suppressed the community
101 Nilagiris : Fading Glory