On Thursday, July 25,2024, Rajya Sabha Member Chunnilal Garasiya brought up important issues regarding the protection of the Aravalli mountain ranges and the illegal transactions involving tribal lands.

In his speech, Garasiya highlighted that the Udaipur division, which is surrounded by the ancient Aravalli mountain ranges and is predominantly tribal, faces severe challenges. The local population relies heavily on agriculture, forest products, and animal husbandry.

Recently, tribal lands have been bought and sold illegally through dummy names, violating government regulations This means that, as per government norms, the sale and purchase of land or any property originally in the name of individuals belonging to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribes, is illegal and not permissible.

Additionally, there has been extensive cutting of the Aravalli mountains, leading to significant environmental harm. Garasiya cited examples of large-scale deforestation in various areas, including Sisarama Kodiyat, Dheekli, Amberi, Chirwa, Umarda, Kailashpuri, Dakan Kotra, Dedkiya, Kaya, and Nohara in Udaipur.

Garasiya urged the Indian government to take decisive action to stop the illegal buying and selling of tribal lands in the Scheduled TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) area of Udaipur. He emphasized that protecting the Aravalli ecosystem and ensuring that tribal people receive their due rights are critical issues that need immediate attention.

What is Tribal Sub Plan?

The Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) is a strategy aimed at quickly improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities. It is integrated into the annual plan of a State or Union Territory (UT). The benefits provided to tribals and tribal areas through the TSP are extra and separate from those included in the general plan of the State or UT.