Jan Swasthya Abhiyan and Right to Food Campaign express solidarity with tribal communities and other forest dwellers in their fight under the Forest Rights Act. As health and nutrition experts and activists, we demand that all involved State Governments immediately file an appeal against this order that we believe will further increase existing health inequities between the tribal and other populations and also endanger their food security. We expect the Central Ministry of Tribal Affairs to also intervene in this case as well as take urgent action for the implementation of the FRA Act guidelines and PESA. We appeal to the Supreme Court to use its powers to ensure that constitutional safeguards for the tribal population are enforced instead of participating in a misuse of the law against them.
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