It is legal, yet harvesting bamboo out of reach for these communities

Though bamboo can now be legally harvested, local communities are protesting as they face administrative hurdles

Odisha govt lures industries via land banks, alienates people from commons

Down To Earth travels to some of the areas in Odisha worst hit by a government-sponsored land grab to lure industries and investments

Disagreement between Odisha Kendu pluckers union and forest activists

Kendu pluckers union is batting for state collection of Kendu while the activists oppose it

Odisha ST/SC department raises alarm over FRA implementation

Only 4.76 per cent of the claims for forest land in Odisha have been disposed

COVID-19: Odisha allows collection of non-timber forest produce

Experts had been demanding NTFPs’ exemption from the lockdown as they are a vital part of India’s tribal economy

After Talabira, tree-felling attempt in neighbouring Patrapalli village

According to a resident, the police attempted to chop trees in the village on December 11, but were thwarted by locals 

Health infrastructure weakest in tribal areas: Report

Major shortfall of doctors and nurses at Primary Health Centres in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, …

GST breather for Sal plates, Sabai ropes

Tax on these two minor forest products, a source of livelihood for millions of tribals, has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent

Odisha food commission stresses on FRA to beat hunger

Panel chief writes to all collectors to implement Forest Rights Act properly

40,000 trees cut near Odisha’s Talabira village to make way for coal mine

Local residents, in charge of forest for half a century, not taken into confidence before tree felling

Conservationists have a problem with tiger relocation to Satkosia

The reserve’s officials have not been held accountable for the collapse of the tiger population in the park, which has led to translocation;…

GST removed on sabai rope, sal and siali leaves

The GST rate on these products was brought down from 5% to nil by the GST Council in its 28th meeting held on July 21

मौके का फायदा

राज्य, क्षतिपूर्ति वनरोपण निधि अधिनियम के नियम तैयार करने में हो रही देरी का फायदा उठा रहे हैं ताकि समुदायों की भूमि पर अधिकार ...

Forest dept in Odisha oversteps FRA rules, complain tribal rights activists

They say that Kalahandi district’s divisional forest officer issued a transit permit to take bamboo out of forest land when he has no right …

1.5 million tribals in Odisha hit by 18% GST on Sal leaf

Forest-dwelling communities have been granted rights to trade Sal leaf and other minor forest produce without any taxation under the forest rights act

Lending voice: This Odisha journalist helps tribal women & girls take charge of their own health and share their stories

Jayanti Buruda has trained Malkangiri tribal women in journalistic practices such as writing scripts, preparing field reports, and shooting and …

Shoddy translocation of tiger Sundari leads to bloodshed

India's first interstate tiger translocation was done in violation of the protocol

Ahead of elections, Odisha waives off sal leaf royalty

Imposition of GST and royalty had together almost stopped the procurement of the leaves, which are used to make biodegradable plates

How accurate are government’s claims on forest rights in Odisha

A review by the Centre recently found Odisha to be the best performing state in forest rights implementation   

Six villages in Odisha can now sell tendu leaves

These villages were earlier denied their right to sell this minor forest produce to any other buyer apart from the state's forest department

Odisha on FRA claims: No time to collect evidence, no hearing, just rejection

The state has rejected 10,000 claims

Hold public meeting in Polavaram affected areas: SC to Centre

The SC bench, led by Justice Madan B Lokur, also said the project will only move forward after the public hearings are held

Translocation project shelved after Satkosia loses second tiger from MP

While Sundari was recently captured after it killed two people, Mahavir was found dead yesterday 

Forest Rights Act: Are state govts the real land mafias?

State governments want to divert forest land for industrial expansion. That's why they reject claims of forest dwellers

Odisha seeks panel nod for forest clearance transfer from POSCO ltd to Jindal Steel

Forest Advisory Committee says Union Environment Ministry will seek legal opinion on the issue