Rio rishwat
WHAT is common between Rio and rishwat (bribe)? Ask the Gujjars who come down each year from upland pastures to the forest areas of Mohand.
Every year, when the Gujjars entered the forest, they were allowed their traditional rights, albeit on payment of the usual dastoor, mamul and salaami to the forest guards. This year, to their surprise, they found they were denied entry not only to the proposed Rajaji Park area, but also to other forest areas in the Shivalik range.
The forest officials told them the Wazir-e-Azam (prime minister) and the Jungalat Wazir (minister for forests) had gone to Rio from where they had issued the Rio firman prohibiting entry of human beings into the forest, which were only for trees, creepers, animals and reptiles. Now they could allow the Gujjars into the forest only if they agreed to make it worth their while with two kg of ghee per milking animal every month instead of one; two kg of milk per day for each animal; Rs 80-100 per animal instead of Rs 30-40 as ghaas salaami (bribe for grass); and, a jhopri (hut) salaami of Rs 2,500-5,000 for six months. D Bandyopadhyay is a former revenue secretary to the Government of India.