NEW DELHI: The Left-leaning All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and All India Agricultural Workers’ Union (AIAWU) will hold a Parliament March and Dharna on September 25, 2024, demanding urgent action against wild animal attacks and stray cattle issues.
The protest will raise demands to stop forced evictions in the name of tiger reserves and elephant corridors, and to end restrictions on cattle trade.
"Wild animals have caused immense losses to human life, livestock, and crops, yet the government response remains insufficient," said Vijoo Krishnan, General Secretary of AIKS.
"We demand laws that prioritize the protection of both human life and wildlife."
Data from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate reveals 2,853 deaths caused by elephants since 2019, with 628 deaths in 2023 alone.
AIAWU claims that around 5 lakh people are facing eviction from tiger reserve areas, violating the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA).
Ashok Dhawale, President of AIKS, highlighted that "corporate interests are being prioritized over the livelihoods of Adivasis and traditional forest dwellers. The government is manipulating wildlife laws to displace people and hand over forests to corporations."
Additionally, restrictions on cattle trade due to cow vigilante violence have led to over 5 million stray cattle, causing major crop damage.
"The traditional cattle economy is in shambles, and stray cattle are wreaking havoc on farms," added B. Venkat, General Secretary of AIAWU.
The AIKS and AIAWU demand law amendments, compensation for victims of wildlife attacks, and infrastructure to protect farmers from stray cattle and wild animals.
