Farmers from Idukki and the Catholic Church are up in arms against the draft Kerala Forest (Amendment) Bill 2024 which is likely to be tabled in the state assembly in the upcoming session.
Opposition to the draft bill stems from two of its controversial provisions. Except empowering any forest officer not below the rank of a beat forest officer, or any police officer to “arrest and detain any person suspected of being involved in any forest offence”. Satisfied that such person shall appear and answer any charge against him without order or warrant from a Magistrate.
In this bill, it is proposed to add a provision to arrest and imprison any forest officer below the branch forest officer who obstructs the performance of duties or escapes from legal custody.
Other major recommendations include punishing actions such as littering or throwing plastic waste, using explosives, entering forests with guns or poisoning forest water. The bill also allows forest officials to search vehicles, premises and belongings of persons suspected of forest crimes and seize forest produce, weapons or equipment used in illegal activities.
It proposes higher fines for various forest-related offences, a move that has drawn criticism from farmer groups and activists.
The Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) termed the draft bill as anti-farmer. KIFA president Alex Ojukayle said the proposed amendment would give unchecked power to a wider group of forest workers.
Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) Deputy General Secretary Father Jacob G. Palakkappilly said the bill would harm the interests of farmers.
The Idukki Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church suggested amending the bill to restrict wild animals to forests and make forest officials accountable for animal attacks on human settlements.
Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM) general convener Rasak Choravelil alleged that the bill would lead to ‘forest rule’ in Kerala.
But when representatives of the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, and Syro-Latin churches met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday to convey their concerns, he sought to allay their fears.
Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Kerala, the Communist Party of India’s (CPI) farmers’ wing, Mathew Varghese, also viewed the bill as anti-people and said no democratic government should support such recommendations. .
Forest Minister AK Sasendran tried to call this concern baseless. He explained Hindu That bill was anything but anti-farmer or anti-people.
“This is a draft bill, anyone who opposes it is free to make recommendations,” he said.
He argued that though the fines for forest-related offenses were higher, the amendment was made to prevent illegal activities like encroachment and felling of trees within the forest and did not affect the actual farmers or residents.
On Monday, the Congress asked the government to withdraw the draft notification. KPCC Chairman K. Sudhakaran, the MP, said the United Democratic Front (UDF) would mobilize tribals and settled farmers to oppose the bill.
published – December 16, 2024 at 08:57 pm IST