Evolving Rights Of Adivasis Under The Forest Law In India Pre And Post Independence

Author: LawSphereX

Category: Environmental Law

Published: 2026-08-23T19:45:33.191Z

Updated: 2026-08-30T07:11:40.408Z

EVOLVING RIGHTS OF ADIVASIS UNDER THE FOREST

LAW IN INDIA PRE AND POST INDEPENDENCE

Chandrani Bhattacharyya, University of Burdwan

ABSTRACT

India is a vastly diverse country with all sorts of geographical formalities consisting of hills, mountains and dense forest. A large number of people depends upon the forest resources for their livelihood, who are commonly known as forest dwellers. This present study/paper aims to focus on the various forest rights protection legislations enforced in India during Pre and Post Independence period and their role in implementing the forest rights of the Adivasis residing in India. This study/paper focuses on the effectiveness and actual implementation of the present Forest Rights Act, i. e. , FRA 2006 in order to protect the interest of the Forest Dwelling Adivasi communities in various parts of India.

This paper also focuses on the various ‘Adivasi’ rebellions witnessed by India during pre-independence period which aims at ensuring the forest rights of ‘Adivasi’ communities, who primarily depends on the forest resources for livelihood. This present study is mostly based on the secondary data collected from various journals, Articles, papers and some extent it is based upon the data collected from the various forest rights legislations prevailing in India during pre and post Independence. Keywords: FRA, PVTG, Adivasi, Other Traditional Forest Dwellers, Implementation, Rebellion, Tribal Movements, Forest Rights, Community Forest Resources, Community Forest Rights, Pre independence, Post Independence.

1 INTRODUCTION

A large number of people in India depends upon the forest resources for their livelihood. So naturally India is the home of majority of people who are known as tribal who possess distinct cultures and identity in terms of their rituals, values, social structure, dial sets, lifestyle, festivals and celebrations etc. 1 The fight of ‘Adivasis’ for forest resources and almost around three centuries old. The present study aims at focusing on the forest rights of Indigenous people as known as Adivasis granted by the Forest Rights Act and to look at the effectiveness of this legislation in order to protect the evolving rights in Adivasis. The objectives of this present study are three fold. These are the follows: (i) To look at the primary focus of the Forest Rights Act,2006. (ii) To look at the effectiveness of this Act in order to protect the evolving Forest rights of Adivasis at present.

(iii) To look at the process of implementation of this Act in actual scenario. This present study is based on secondary data as collected from the various books, articles, Reports, Forest Rights Act and related legislations. The rights of the various forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwells obtains recognition by the enforcement of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. There are several forest dwelling communities and other traditional forest dwellers, who depends on forest resources for the purpose of serving their basic needs. 2

1.1.1 PVTG

There are certain specific signs to identify tribals i.e., private traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness to contact with the community at large and backwardness.

1 Bidyut Chakrabortty and Rajendra Kumar Pandey “Modern Indian Political Thought”London:Sage

Publications,2009.

2 Government of India, Draft Working Committee Report on Guidelines for Conservation, Management and

Sustainable use of Community Forest Resources under Forest Rights Act, 2006 for public consultation,(Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 21st January 2021) There are certain tribal groups who are basically depends of hunting, gathering for foods. These group of people who are possessing those characteristics can be termed as PVTG or Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups. The 2001 census marked 27,68,322, as the approximate population of Particularly Vulnerable Groups.3

1.1.2 MEANING OF FOREST DWELLERS

Individuals who live in and around backwards regions are the Ancestral public known as the Forest Dwellers who come up short on the fundamental conveniences of life. Sec.2(c) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, defines the term ‘forest dwelling tribes’. This is a particular community or member amongst the scheduled tribes who are not only primarily resides on forest low also dependent on the forest and forest lands in order to serve their livelihood needs. It includes the Scheduled Tribes Pastoralist Communities.4

2 BACKGROUND

OF FOREST RIGHTS LEGISLATIONS IN PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD: Forest and human habitation are heartly connected to each other since long period of time. The seal and painted pottery recovered from the Indus valley gave evidence to the fact that forest produces had been used by the people of that time Horoppa and Mohenjodaro civilization and also5 . The writings made during Gupta Dynesty pointed out the distribution of forest resources like Mourya Dynesty. The unhindered clearing of forest timbers and civilization could be seen during Mughal period 1526-17006. the direct confrontation with the Adivasis due to the forest lands, produces during British ruling in India. Pandit Jawhar Lal Nehru believes on equality and social justice for all irrespective of the caste, religion, sex, place of birth etc. The concept of social justice plays an important role in the freedom struggle of India.

It is also included in Gandhian Philosophy. Verrier Elwin, after coming in India, in 1927, advocated for the establishment of a sort of “National Park” in a wild

3 Scheme of Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG’s) (Effective from 2019-2020)

4THE SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT (ACT NO.2 OF 2007) available at: http://www.indiacode.nic.in> (Last visited on January 30,2024)

5 ibid

6 ibid

and largely inaccessible part of India under the direct control of a tribal commissioner7. Non tribal settlement within the reserved area requires a license. The British Administration had less confidence on Indian Traditions and their Administrative patterns. 8 In order to evict the Adivasis from their forest lands the British Govt. introduced land settlement. The state granted alienable little to land to individual makes on the payment of cash. The Forest Charter of 1855 was the first attempt by the British Indian Govt. in the direction of Forest Governance and Trade of Timber was strictly regulated thereby. The charter of 1855 was followed by the Indian Forest Act 18659. More or less 280 Million people depend on forests for their livelihood10. The British Govt.

established not only forest department but also various legislations in 19th century in order to enable themselves to economically extract forest resources. 11 The assumption that there existed a lack of sense of conservation among the Indian, leads to the formation of the Forest Department. Most of the British administrators hold the similar opinion. The holding of that particular conception leads to the enactment of the Indian Forest Act 1865. In order to further consolidate and for enforcing the control over forest lands by the Britishers, the Forest Act, VIII Of 1878 was successfully amended12. Again it was successfully amended by the Act V of 1890, Act XII Of 1891, Act V of 1901 and Act XV Of 191113. Section 1 of the Forest Rights Act Defines the term Government Forest which means the land covered with trees, brushwood or jungle14.

Section 2 of this Act empowered some local Governments to take control over the forest lands without hampering the rights of the people

7 ibid

8 Neena Ambre Rao. Forest Ecology in India

Colonial Maharashtra, 1850-1950. Evolution of Forest Policy and Forest Acts of 1865 and 1878 (Foundation Books; University of Michigan.2009)

9 Afmed Raza “Handbook on Forest Rights Act” available in www.slic.org.in last visited Feb.28.2024

10 ibid

11 Indian Tribal policies in Pre-Independence Era-CEDRA available at

https://cfdra.inIndian-tribal-policies-inpre-indepencese-era/?amp=1.last visited on Feb,28,2024 12Neena Ambre Rao. Forest Ecology in India: Colonial Maharashtra, 1850-1950. Evolution of Forest Policy and Forest Acts of 1865 and 1878 (Foundation Books; University of Michigan.2009)

12 ibid.

13 Ibid.

14 Indian Forest Act, 1865 (Act No. VII Of 1865), s. 1

or tribal communities over these lands15. This Act is also known as “The Government Forests Act,1865”16. This Act not only created a virtual state monopoly over the forests but also attempted to give privilege to the villagers to use the forests. This Act took away the ‘rights’ of villagers from their customary use of forest lands17.

2.1. TRIBAL MOVEMENTS IN PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD IN INDIA FOR

FOREST RIGHTS: Tribal movements I India during the British regimes can be classified into two categories. There are the follows:

1. Frontier tribal revolts.

2. Mainland tribal revolts.

Mainland tribal revolts took place mainly due to changes in tribal land, loss of joint ownership tradition and exploitation by the outsiders. Frontier tribal revolt took place in India’s northern part. These frontier tribes fought for political autonomy within the union of India. They sought complete independence. These movements basically started on socio-religious issues. Thereafter it merged with the National movement. In revolt against oppressors tribal took the help of their traditional weapons.

2.1.1 REASONS OF THE TRIBAL MOVEMENTS/REVOLTS

The British administration brought relatively isolated tribal groups into the purview of colonialism for the purpose of introducing crops in India. For doing the same the Britishers annexed the tribal territories and started to clear the Forest lands. 18th century witnessed the first battle as initiated by the Adivasis for getting independence and possessing sovereign rights over natural resources in the forest areas.

15 Indian Forest Act, 1865 (Act No. VII Of 1865), s. 2

16 Indian Forest Act, 1865 (Act No. VII Of 1865), s 19

17 supra

2.1.2 CHUAR REBELLION

Another name of Chuar Rebellion is “Jungal Mohal movement”. A series of peasant tribal movements took place during 1771 and 1809 in the places of Jungal Mahals, Dhalbhums, Midnapore, Bankura and Manbhum against the ruling of British East India Company. Chuar Movement was a result of the Forest Zamindari expanding wealth. This rebellion had been leaded by Jagannath Singh Patar at Dhalbhum and Subal Singh at Kuliapal and Shyam Gunjan Singh at Dhadla. The collector informed via letter that chuar rebellion continued to grow and by Feb, 1799, they had occupied a wide area of many villagers and Midnapore. In March all the weapons for the company soldiers in the fort of Karangrerh looted by the rebels. Again in 1832-33, the Chuars of Barabhum, Manbhum, Dhalbhum, Raipur and Midnapore started to revolt against British rules.

2.1.3 SANTHAL REBELLION

The late eighteen and early 19th centuries witnessed various Adivasis movements like Santhal Hull (or Santhal rebellion) took place during 1855-56. These revolts took place due to the land dispossession and sub Jugation by British and Zamindar interests18. This rebellion occurred in the Jharkhand and West Bengal against the rulling of the East India Company (EIC) and Jamindary systems. The Santhal rebellion started since 30th June 1855. This rebellion took place under leadership of Sidhu and kanhu. Hunting, agriculture and forest produces are the mostly considered as the sources of livelihood by the Tribals. By the enforcement pf Forest Act, 1865, The Britishers established monopoly over these forest lands even though this Act gives the right to the tribals/ forest dwellers to use those land without any interruptions.

But imposition of restrictions led to complete loss of livelihood to tribals which resulted these rebellion. The Santhal rebellion was one of the most impactful and important tribal rebellion in India. 19Tenancy law was enacted in Shantal Pargana as a result of this Santhal Rebellion20. 18 Indian Tribal Policies in Pre-Independence Era-CFDRA available at https://cfdra. in/indian-tribal-policies-inpre independence-era/? amp=1(last visited on . Feb. 28. 2024 19 CSE Jumetion: https://www. csejunetion. com>Santhal uprisinf/rebellion: causes, consequences and Impact

20 ibid

3. LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTING THE LAND RIGHTS OF THE ADIVASI (TRIBAL COMMUNITIES) POST INDEPENDENCE: The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (hereafter Forest Rights Act of FRA), enforced on 2008 which focuses to repair the ‘Historic injustice’ with the Forest dwellers, who are basically dependent on the forest resources for the purpose of their livelihood. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs pointed out three objectives of the aforesaid Act21 . These are as Follows: i. To repair the Historical Injustice occurred to the forest Dwelling Communities ii. To fulfil the basic needs i. e. food, shelter, clothes etc. of the Forest Dwelling Adivasi Community. iii.

To make a strong mechanism regarding the conservation regime of the forest by imposing responsibilities upon the forest rights holders so as to ensure sustainable use, conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance. The months of July and August 2015 witnessed the passing of a large number of circulars and Govt. resolutions by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MOTA). The state Govt. ’s of various states have also taken the initiatives for announcing various helpful schemes and policies which loads to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 200622. The Prime Minister called up a meeting during the ‘Pre-Active Governance and timely implementation (PRAGATI)on 22nd of April

2015 in order to review the process of the FRA.

Forest Rights Act is the central legislation to protect the land rights of the Tribal Communities. Apart from this Act, there exist various state Acts, Rules and legislations for protecting the interests of the Scheduled Tribes. The Constitution of India also provides for protecting the land rights of the forest dwellers Tribal Communities.

21 http;//forestrights.nic.in/ (Forest Rights Act) (Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India)

22 “COMMUNITY FOREST RIGHTS AT A GLANCE”- An output of cfr community Forest Rights-learning and

advocacy process. 2015-17 CFR-LA project-coordination(2015-2017), Kalpviksh and Vaskdhana

3.1. AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FOREST

RIGHTS ACT 2006 IN INDIA IN LAST FIVE YEARS: The Forest Rights Act, 2006, recognizes the customary rights of the traditional Forest Dwellers(OTFD) and the scheduled Tribes (S.T) by way of providing them individual land right. i.e. IFR under this legislation by using this right they can prove their cultivation of Forest Land on or before Dec.13.2005. An additional proof is required in case of other Forest Dwellers (OTDS). They should have to prove that their three generations are residing on that forest land. Not only that, they also have to prove that for their livelihood they are basically depended upon the Forests produces and forest lands, and as such they have bona fide claim over the forest lands. This Act also recognises the Community Forest Resource Rights (CFR).

3.2 COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE

A common forest land called to be community Forest Resource. Following are the various categories of Forest which are coming within the purview of this Community Forest Resources, national parks, reserve forest, DLC (District level Committees), revenue forest etc.23

3.3 COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCES RIGHTS

The term Community Forest Rights has been defined under Sec.3(1)(i) of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which is popularly known as the ‘Forest Rights Act, 2006’ or ‘FRA 2006.’ This term community Forest Rights provides for the recognition of right “to protect”, eight to “regenerate” or right to “conserve or manage”.24 By way of getting these rights now the community can formulate rules for the purpose of use of Forest lands by themselves or by the others. Sec.5 of this Act deals with their responsibilities in this regard as well. This section impose duty to protect wild life, biodiversity and forest, on

23 Community Forest Resources Guidelines (CFR), Daily News Analysis available at

https;//www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/community-forest-resources (iasgyan.in)(2023)

24 THE SCHEDULED TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF

FOREST RIGHTS ACT (ACT NO. 2 OF 2007) available at: http://www. indiacode. nic. in> (Last visited on January 30,2024) the Gram Sabha, village level institutes and holds of forest rights. S. 3(1)(b) of the said Act gives right to “Nistar”. S. 3(1)(e) of the said Act deals with the right over non timber forest products, which are necessary for ensuring sustainable livelihood of the community. Hereby the communities are empowered to collect and sell Non timber forest products. (NTFP) i. e. , Minor Forest Products (MFP)25. As an impact to the authorization made by these rights Gram Sabha is now able to adopt local trading practices regarding conservation of forest and management forest within the sphere of community forest resource boundary.

It provides for the protection of the tribals and another traditional forest dwellers from being destructed through those activities which are very harmful to their culture and natural heritage. For the purpose of actual implementation of this said beneficial legislation namely “Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dweller (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,2006”, this Act gives certain powers to the relevant state level departments. NGO’s (Non -Governmental Organizations) are playing significant role in initiating programs for creating and developing awareness amongst the ST’s and OTFD’s regarding the existence of this beneficial legislation and rights given to them under this Act. Section 6(7) of “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006” Provides for the constitution of the State Level Monitoring Committee.

The Goal behind the constitution of this committee is “to monitor the process of recognition and vesting forest rights”26Another objective of the constitution of the Committee is to produce such reports as and when required by the nodal agency27. All the states except Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Telangana constituted this committee28. 3. 4. ROLE OF INDEPENDENT PEOPLE’S TRIBUNAL IN CASE OF IMPLEMENTING THE FOREST RIGHTS OF THE TRIBALS IN INDIA: 25 Citizen Report English 2015-17. pdf (community forest rights at a Glance) (an output of community forest rights learning and Advocacy process) (2015-17) https//:fra. org. in/ 26 Press Information Bureau, Government of India, Constitution of State Level Monitoring Committees(Ministry of Tribal Affairs)(2009) Available at: https://pib. gov. in/newsite/PrintRelease. aspx? relid=108317

27 ibid

28 ibid

An inquiry had been conducted on December 2016, by the Independent People’s Tribunal in order to get an adequate understanding of the reasons for an improper implementation of the Forest Rights Acts. This Tribunal consists of 37 CSO (Civil Society Organizations) and Community members who are empowered by this tribunal to collect the problems and issues regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in various districts in various states. As per their report following are considered as the reasons for improper implementation of the said beneficial legislation in actual scenario:

1. Lack of interest of the governing bodies and local and nation Government for

implementing this beneficial legislation.

2. Lack of support of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for implementation of this

transformative legislation.

3. Obstruction created by the Forest Department to transfer the power to the Gram Sabha.

4. State level monitoring committee meetings have non been conducted by the states in

the gap of every three months.

5. District Committees and Sub Districts committees are reluctant to work for the proper

implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

6. Without complying to the conditions imposed by the Forest Rights Act, The

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 has been enacted.

7. Lack of awareness amongst the Tribal Communities about their rights as guaranteed by

this Act.

8. As per the newspaper report of Economic Times more than 1.75 million land rights

claims filed by the Tribals and other forest dwelling communities have been rejected by the state Governments and as a results of which eviction rates of tribals are increasing.29 29 Nidhi Sharma, ‘1.75 million forest rights claims rejected by state governments’, The Economic Times,24 September, 2020.

9. As per the report of newspaper the Hindu it appears that titles are sanctioned to only

50% of the total claims and rate of rejection is higher than rate of acceptance. It also appears that some states had a larger gap than others between the number of claim received and sanctioned. Example; In west Bengal only 686 claims have been sanctioned out of 10000 community claimed. In Bihar only 121claims have been sanctioned out of 8000 individual claims30. “Tusher Dash, Odisha based an independent researcher claimed : ‘The main reason for such a high number of rejections can be attributed to the wrongful or illegal rejections done by the forest officials in SLDC and DLCs in violation of legal procedure’”31

3.5. EXTENT OF FOREST LANDS (IN ACRES) FOR WHICH TITLE HAS BEEN

DISTRIBUTED AS ON 31. 12. 2023: A STATE WISE LIST:32 As per the “monthly update status of implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dweller (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act,2006” produced by the “Ministry of Tribal Affairs”, “Government of India”. In Andhra Pradesh total 9,80,495. 00 Acres land has been distributed in accordance to the Provision of the Forest Rights Protection Act. In Assam and Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir no distribution is found un to the end of 31. 12. 2023. In Chattrishgarh total 60,93,250. 46 Acres Land Rights Titles has been distributed during the aforementioned tenure. In Goa 1,068. 28 Acres, In Gujrat 14,04,547. 46 Acres, In Himachal Pradesh 11,231. 66 Acres, in Jharkhand 2,57,154. 83 Acres has been distributed during the said time period. 56,417. 82 Acres land has been distributed in Karnataka on the said time period. 8,10,431.

83 Acres land has been distributed in Kerala on the said time period. 23,67,147. 52 Acres land has been distributed in Madhya Pradesh on the said time period. 38,70,996. 15 Acres land has been distributed in Maharashtra on the said time period. 10,45,316. 87 Acres, 2,51,

683.11 Acres, 9,626.44 Acres, 3,14,547.00 Acres, 4,65,745.28 Acres, 1,39,966.27 Acres, 0.00

Acres, 21,586.29,0.00 Acres has been distributed by the State of Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil 30 Abhinay Lakhman,‘ Titles given for just 50% of the total claims on forest land’, The Hindu, 14 December 2022. 31 Prudhviraj Rupavath, ‘Forest Rights Act; Over 1.6M Families Face Threat of Eviction From Forest Land’ Science The Wire, August 8.2022.

32 Status Report on the Implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers

(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006, Government of India, (Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 2023) Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, respectively. Forest Rights Protection Bill 2019 aims states to undermine rights and well beings of tribals by way establishing state powers over the forests at cost of rights granted to the forest dwelling communities and as such tribal protest was found and as a result this bill was not passed.

4. JUDICIAL PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTING THE FOREST RIGHTS OF

ADIVASI COMMUNITY: Sri Manchegowda Vs. State of Karnataka (AIR 1984 SC 1151)33 The Supreme Court ruled in favour of protecting the lands belonging to the Adivasi by nullifying the private purchase of Adivasi land. In Lingappa Pochanna Vs. State of Maharashtra (AIR 1985 SC 389)34, the Apex Court allowed the states for enacting legislations for restoring the lands of Adivasi People. In P. Rami Reddi Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (AIR 1998 SC 1626)35, The supreme Court prohibited the transfer of Adivasi Land to the Non Adivasi and it was favoured to give Adivasi Poor Economic Status. Samatha Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (AIR 1997 SC 3297)36, not only saved the tribal people from exploitation but also helped them to live with dignity and self -respect.

As per the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Area Land Transfer Regulations allowed non tribals to get tribal land on lease for mining and industrial purposes. But tribals are non agreed to that and as a result in 1993 a writ petition has been filed by the NGO namely ‘SAMATHA’. They contended that allowing non tribals to get tribals to get tribal land on lease for mining and industrial purpose is the violation of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution. The High Court rejected this petition and as such appeal has been filed to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Overruled the decision of the Andhra Pradesh Hight court and held that government is also a person and it can not allow private companies for mining in Scheduled Areas.

It declared that major source of livelihood of tribal is agriculture and looking the importance of the Land it shall not be allowed to give lease to the land of the Scheduled

33 Sri Manchegowda V. State of Karnataka AIR 1984 SC. 1151

34 Lingappa Pochanna V. State of Maharashtra AIR 1985 SC 389

35 P. Rami Reddi V. State of Andhra Pradesh AIR 1998 SC 1626

36 Samatha V. State of Andhra Pradesh AIR 1997 SC 3297

Area. Paragraph two of the Schedule Five of the Constitution of India preserved this lands for protecting economic liberty, status and empowerment and social dignity of the Tribals. Transfer of land is allowed only for the purpose of peace of the land and good governance. Here mining activity is allowed by only State mining Corporations and Cooperative tribal person and 20% of its profit shall be spend on social development. i.e. establishment of school.

5 CONCLUSION

Forest rights Act having notable impacts in various regions. This is a beneficial legislation for protecting the interest of the tribal and other forest dwellers. But unfortunately both the central and state Governments have less enthusiastic about the actual implementation of this legislation. The State governments and its bureaucracy hold the view that granting community rights under the Forest Rights Act may weaken the state authority over the forests. Many claims are arbitrarily rejected. The authorised bodies asks the Adivasi people for producing and summiting those documents with their claim applications, which are not mentioned in Forest Rights Act. Claims are not processed on time.

Many Departments of Government are involved in the process of sanctioning the claims which resulted to multiplicity of interpretations as to who are actually entitled to enjoy the rights guaranteed under the Forest Rights Act. Even many members of the community are unaware about the existence of this Act. Even political parties are not interested in implementation of this Legislation. A lesser number of claims has been sanctioned yet. The issue of forest rights must be made a part of mainstream political discourse otherwise this legislation will remain in pen and paper only.

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