Despite promulgation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act, Van Gujjars, a tribal community migrating from the Shivalik forests to the areas of the proposed Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarjkashi district of Uttarakhand, have been denied entry by the forest authorities.

Van Gujjars, the forest-dwelling tribals, move with their livestock to the higher reaches of the Himalayas during summer and come down to the Shivalik in winter. However, this year, their movement has been curtailed by the forest bureaucracy on the ground that since they are coming from Shivalik forest range of Uttar Pradesh, they would not be allowed into their traditional grassland pastures. Due to this, many of these Van Gujjar families are stranded on the Assan Bridge near Vikasnagar.

The Van Gujjars are running from pillar to post for the past several days to move the state bureaucracy. “We met the state Forest Minister who directed us to the forest secretary. The secretary, in turn, asked us to meet another junior officer of his,” Feroz Ahmed Gujjar told The Indian Express.

The Van Gujjars allege that for the past several years, they are being harassed by the Uttarakhand forest department which does not recognise their traditional rights. After Uttarakhand was carved out, a part of Shivalik forest, (outside Rajaji national Park) in Saharanpur district, remained with Uttar Pradesh. Many of these Van Gujjars migrate from Uttar Pradesh to higher reaches in Uttarkashi district and even to Himachal Pradesh passing through Uttarakhand. But the forest department is bent on stopping those Van Gujjars who come to Uttarakhand from UP.

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