Senapati, November 08: The indigenous tribal in the North East region is confronting a threat to its existence under various unhealthy policies.

This was stated by the ANSAM while adding that the Naga students body "as a watchdog" of the society is resenting the dishonourable laws on Forest Conservation Act, 1980 promoted by the Govt of India and the State agencies 'to exploit and deprive the inherent ownership right to land'.

It alleged that the craftily designed Forest Policy of India without taking into consideration the customary and conventional land ownership practices is a detrimental strategy.

"Any policy matter relating to the indigenous tribal community on land and resources requires appropriate consultation and incorporating the consent is indispensable for safeguarding the community control on its land, people and resources", asserted the ANSAM.

ANSAM then cautioned that the "systematic and meticulous expansion of harmful policy" will invite provocation and alienation of the tribal people.

The students' body also alleged that "forcibly venturing to determine the traditional land of the indigenous people as 'reserved forest', 'unclassified forest' and 'classed forest' and extracting loyalty taxes by the state is undermining the ownership right to land which is a crime against humanity".

It explained that in every tribal settled areas or regions, the vast landscape has its community and individual owners.

The term 'Khas land' commonly known in India is never heard and never existed among the indigenous tribal people.

This is one feature which distinguish the Indian and the Indigenous tribal people in the region, said ANSAM.

"The tribal people are capable to manage and utilize the vast land they inherited from their forefathers," it further explained while adding, "the ANSAM in upholding its directive principles, suggest the Govt of India and the State Agencies to respect 'community control of forest land and resources' of the indigenous people in the region, and urges them to respect their rights ".

It then warned that failing to accredit the indigenous right to ownership of land, the campaign and exercise of 'Forest Policy' shall only act as a mechanism to awaken an organized wide scale 'peoples protest'.

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