Odisha Forest Habitat Rights Are Allotted to the Mankidia Community

The Forest Rights Act, 2006 has recognized the Mankidia group in Odisha as the sixth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) to be awarded habitat rights. Due to their PVTG status, the Mankidia's ability to access and maintain their customary forest regions was previously restricted. This significant legal acknowledgment changes that.

Mankidia Community Overview

• Mankidia — a semi-nomadic tribe who are great at making ropes while practising traditional lifestyle in the deep forest.
• They legally hold their ancestral lands, establishing in these areas.
• The habitat rights enshrined under Section 2(h) of the Forest Rights Act covers a geographical area comprising their traditional habitats within reserved or protected forests, but are interconnected.
• The Act was passed in 2006 with the intention of rectifying historical injustices against tribal communities.
• Mankidia became second in January to receive habitation rights after Paudi Bhuyan community.
• Some of the other PVTGs in Odisha, like Juang, Saora,chuktia Bhunjia and Hill Khadia have also been granted habitat rights.
• Claims of rest additional PVTGs in Odisha are under consideration •
• Mankidia community is actually a primitive tribal group which means that it is underdeveloped and has been living in isolation since ancient times.
• But they are also threatened by deforestation and land encroachments, underscoring the urgency of sustainable development.