Following the Forest Land Rights Convention held on Dec 18, 2009, a demonstration was held on Jan 19 2010 in front of the Collector's Gate in Girshnagiri district. Around 200 poor and marginal peasants from 6 panchayats gathered with their claim petitions. Hundreds of memoranda were submitted to the Collector, and the people gathered condemned the inaction of the DMK administration and demanded immediate implementation of the Forest Act. The peoples' delegation also demanded that the collector address their concerns at the next gram sabha meeting to be held on Jan 26. The demonstration was led by Comrades Akbar, Vediappan. Govindaraj and Chandramohan. Party state secretary Balasundaram addressed the protesters.
CPI(ML) and AIALA comrades have been taking up initiatives in the newly formed Forest Land Rights Struggle Committee. The Dharmapuri-Girshnagiri party committee has decided to take up the issue of non-implementation of the Forest Rights Act in both the districts and mobilize peasants in larger numbers, specially for the Jan 26th Panchyat gram sabha meeting so that the gram sabha can be forced to act.
