Why do Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can also use this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession? Is there anything specific in the provisions of the Act that allows her to believe this?

Here are the key points regarding why Adivasi activists, like C.K. Janu, believe the Forest Rights Act (FRA) can help fight dispossession:

1. Recognition of Forest Rights: The FRA acknowledges and grants land and forest rights to Adivasis and traditional forest dwellers, preventing their dispossession from forestlands they’ve inhabited for generations.

2. Protection Against Eviction: It aims to prevent eviction and displacement, legally recognizing their customary rights and ensuring protection from arbitrary removal by external entities or forest authorities.

3. Community Empowerment: Provides for the recognition of community forest rights, enabling Adivasi communities to manage and safeguard their traditional forests against encroachment or dispossession.

4. Dispute Resolution: Mandates a legal framework to resolve disputes related to forest rights, safeguarding Adivasi rights from arbitrary actions by external interests.

Utilizing the FRA provisions empowers Adivasis to assert their rights, protecting their land, livelihoods, and cultural heritage from dispossession.