By Matters India Reporter
Sonipat, September 25, 2019: The future of India depends on farm lands, forests and Adivasis, says an researcher.
“The ecological crisis is growing fast across the globe. In the name of development and economic growth, the mother Earth has been badly exploited by the capitalists and the policy makers. This is a crucial time to protect our future,” Gladson Dungdung, founder of Adivasi Publications, told a seminar in Haryana on September 25.
The seminar on “Understanding Land, Forests and Adivasis” was organized by the Department of Environmental Studies of Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana.
“Our future lies on the survival of farming land, forests and Adivasis. Therefore, join us in our fight to protect our land, forests and peoples,” Dungdung, human rights activist and writer, urged the gathering.
“Only If you act today will you have future tomorrow. So, please stop for a moment, think and act for the better tomorrow,” he pleaded more than 200 students and faculty who attended the seminar.
“Will you worry about your career or work to save the earth first as the future of which we live depends on all?” he asked young men and young women.
The future of all of us depends on the existence of agriculture land, forest and tribals. If the tribals are over, then the forest will not survive nor the land of farming.
“From where will you find pure air, pure water and grain?” he asked.
The land of farming is being barren due to excessive chemical farming. The forest is ending due to the loss of mineral resources to industrialists and the government and the corporate world are standing to eliminate the tribals struggling to save natural resources, Dungdung explained.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an intergovernmental body of the United Nations, has reported it is time to save the earth. The Earth is getting hot, the glacier is at melting point throughout the year, animals are continually vanishing and now it is time for human to act together, he added.
“Therefore, leave the tribal people to be a part of their rights. Once they are disintegrated from their land and marginalized further the battle of saving natural resources and the doom will come on that day. This looks urgent because the government is selling the forest, mountains, land and water to and the capitalists,” Dungdung said.
“To save earth and life, lots of dialogue and work are to be done together,” he concluded.
The Ranchi-based “Adivasi Publications” is founded by a group of Adivasi activists, writers and public intellectuals of India, who envisage to build an intellectual, empowered and prosper Adivasi society.