In a powerful display of resistance, tribal organisations across southern Rajasthan have raised their voices against recent legal and administrative changes that dilute the protection of the ecologically sensitive Aravalli hills. They warn that the region, already severely scarred by mining, now faces an existential threat to its land, culture, and traditional livelihoods.
Historic Resistance and Direct Action
The protest movement gained visible momentum on Saturday when tribal youths from the districts of Banswara and Dungarpur scaled hill stretches. This act was part of a widening campaign against unchecked mining and land exploitation. Community elders are anchoring their fight in history. Manoj Damor, a tribal activist from Banswara, invoked the legacy of past leaders, stating, "From Raja Punja to Govind Guru, our ancestors defended these hills. Our folk songs, rituals, and stories are intrinsically linked to these forests and mountains. They are not just land; they are the core of our identity."
Linking faith with survival, Member of Parliament Rajkumar Roat announced a crucial tribal meeting in Banswara scheduled for Tuesday. He asserted that the dilution of Aravalli safeguards is a direct attack on tribal society. "This move is clearly anti-tribal," Roat said. "Mining has already devastated forests and water sources across large parts of southern Rajasthan. Weakening protection will only accelerate displacement and forced migration of our communities."
An Ecological and Cultural Catastrophe
Echoing this sentiment, tribal leader and Bhartiya Tribal Party state president Vela Ram criticized the redefinition of the Aravallis using narrow technical terms, calling it a move to legitimize ecological destruction. "This is not development; this is displacement. Our villages are already encircled by mines. Now, they are targeting the last remaining protected hills," he lamented.
Experts underline the critical ecological role of these landscapes. LK Sharma, head of department at Central University of Rajasthan, explained that the Aravalli terrain in southern Rajasthan, though comprised of low-lying and eroded hills, is vital. These formations recharge groundwater, prevent soil erosion, and support crucial forest corridors. Mining in such fragile terrain, he warned, causes irreversible damage.
Institutional Failure and Future Fears
The tribal groups have pointed fingers at the governments of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi for failing to present a united front in the Supreme Court to defend the Aravallis. They allege that this institutional silence has only emboldened mining interests. A deeper fear is that the dilution of Aravalli protection will simultaneously weaken the safeguards provided by the Forest Rights Act of 2006, potentially exposing tribal lands to acquisition without their free, prior, and informed consent.
According to the protesting organisations, the region's exploitation spans over 300 years, beginning with princely rule, continuing through British colonial extraction, and now persisting via industrial mining. "Enough is enough. Every generation has been forced to defend our land. This struggle is no different," declared activist Manoj Damor, capturing the enduring spirit of the resistance.
The campaign is poised to intensify through village assemblies (gram sabhas), widespread awareness drives, and legal challenges. As a tribal youth leader from Pratapgarh powerfully summarized, "This is not merely a fight for hills. It is a fight for our history, our culture, and our fundamental right to survive on our own land."
