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Van Gujjars denied entry to their traditional grasslands

After Uttarakhand, it is the turn of the Himachal Pradesh government to stop Van Gujjars, nomadic tribals, from migrating to highland pastures in the state despite promulgation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (recognition of forest rights) Act on January 1, 2008. A total of 432 Van Gujjar families comprising more than 1,000 members and thousands of milch animals are stranded. This year these tribals have been denied entry to their traditional grasslands in Shimla district.