India tribals stage land protest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6157263.stm
India tribals stage land protest
By Anu Anand BBC News, Delhi

Tribal people say they are being robbed of their rightsProtests have taken place in three Indian cities against the abuse and eviction of millions of people who traditionally live in forests.
The protesters - known as tribal people - gathered in eastern and northern India to put pressure on the government to give them better land rights.
More than 40m people live in India's forests, foraging for honey and fruit.
It is a centuries-old traditional way of life which is now under pressure because of demand for land.
Beaten and tortured
India's forests are rich in minerals and timber and the demand for natural resources in a growing economy has pushed many of the country's tribal people off their land.

Tribal peoples often struggle to adapt to westernised economiesEvery year hundreds of thousands are beaten and tortured, their homes demolished by officials and businessmen who want to use the land for their own purposes.
On Wednesday, tribal men and women held marches in three Indian cities to protest against their plight.
In the capital Delhi they called upon the Indian government to give them land rights.
The government is soon expected to pass a new law giving India's forest dwellers the right to own land for the first time.
But human rights activists say the bill has been watered down after pressure from powerful logging and mining firms who want to exploit India's natural resources, and environmental groups who want to protect them.