Training Shibirs for filing claims & collecting evidences

Once the implementation process was on its way and forms for filing claims were distributed by the government, the first major challenge faced by the people was regarding filing these forms. Most of the tribals could not understand what to write in response to the questions in the form, which is in a cumbersome language containing legal terminology. Again, they are best placed to know who have been cultivating which forest lands from when, but putting all this information on paper and preparing claims with documentary evidences that can withstand legal scrutiny is something that they have never done before. We prepared a 13 page guideline (see the Guidelines – claims) giving step by step instructions on how to fill these forms with model proforma formats for various statements to be submitted by the village elders and other witnesses. We together with other NGOs conducted training shibirs all across the state to explain these guidelines.