Draft bill to protect adivasi rights

We welcome the move of the parliamentary caucus on indigenous affairs to place a bill in the upcoming session of the parliament proposing that a national commission be formed for the protection of indigenous rights. According to the proposal, the commission will work towards ensuring sustainable and pro-adivasi socio-economic development projects, protect the interests of the marginalised population, promote multiculturalism and build solidarity among the country's ethnic minorities. The proposal is timely, to say the least, given the vulnerable state of our indigenous population in the Chittagong Hill Tracts as well as in the plain lands. We also applaud the initiative of the caucus to reach out to different stakeholders, especially leaders of the adivasi communities, for their critical input before finalising the draft. 

It is a sad, but irrefutable, reality that the condition of our adivasis is deteriorating -- incidents of eviction, land grabbing, human rights violations, violence against women and violence are pervasive. Pledges made in the Peace Accord 18 years ago are yet to be implemented, the CHT Land Dispute Commission remains ineffective, and there is no Land Commission for the plain land adivasis despite repeated appeals from the communities.  

Under the circumstances, the formation of a proposed National Commission which has the best interests of the indigenous population at heart would go a long way towards safeguarding their rights. We hope that the Commission, when formed, would ensure that the needs and demands of the adivasis are not pushed to the margins, and that their individual identities and ethos are protected in the process of incorporating them into the mainstream.