Violation of rights of tribal people is a criminal offence and rights of indigenous people must be kept in mind while taking development activities, Union Tribal Affairs Minister K.C. Deo said Friday.
"While taking up developmental initiatives like industry and mining, the traditional faiths, beliefs and lifestyles of tribals and other forest dwellers as well as environmental issues must not be ignored," Deo said after a meeting with members of Mahan Sangharsh Samiti (MSS).
The samiti, includes members from five villages in Mahan region of Madhya Pradesh, have been opposing the proposed mine of MahanCoal Ltd (a joint venture of Essar and Hindalco) and demanding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in the region.
"Granting of forest clearance to Mahan coal block is a blatant violation of legal requirement of FRA and the requirement for consent of gram sabha before commencement of mining activity," said Deo.
Citing the recent ruling of the Supreme Court, Deo emphasised on holding gram sabhas in the affected villages and obtaining their approval before taking up any developmental projects.
Members of the committee stressed that they are dependent on forest for their livelihood.
"We have been dependant on the Mahan forests for generations collecting a variety of forest produce, which is a very significant source of our livelihood. Now the company says that these forests belong to them and we have no rights there," said Bechan Lal, member of MSS.