LAYA has been involved in addressing land alienation and socio-economic rights of Adivasi
communities
since its inception. For adivasis, the threat to natural resources like land, water, and
forests, is
a
threat to their livelihood which is symbiotic to their identity as an ethnic group. While there
are
protective laws in the Scheduled Areas, the rights of adivasis continue to be violated.
LAYA's work, related to Land Alienation and Human Rights, is lead by the Resource for Legal
Action
(RLA),
which is a unit of LAYA outreaching five districts: East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, West Godavari,
Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
Achievements
Has succeeded over the years in ensuring that adivasis have reclaimed their land rights on about
25000 acres through legal recourse and by effective administrative decisions
Outreached youth, students, women, panchayat representatives, local officials for legal
awareness, orientation, education and training on adivasi rights issues across five adivasi
populated districts in Andhra Pradesh.
Established credibility, so much so that the local and state administrative machinery often seek
the expert guidance and suggestions of the RLA Advocate. RLA has been instrumental in
articulating relevant policies and law including Forest Guidelines under Forest Rights
Recognition Act 2006, Rules under PESA Act and several circulars issued under Koneru Land
Committee constituted for addressing adivasi land issues.
Enabled the adivasi women to seek land entitlements through conscious legal efforts remedying
the inherent lacunae in both customary and statutory legal rights to claim inherited property.
Has produced books/booklets/edited versions, covering various aspects of governance issues
pertaining to the Fifth Schedule Area under the Constitution of India.
