Centre for Science and Environment Director-General Sunita Narain, while urging society and Governments to see Patthalgarhi in the right perspective, has cautioned against painting it as an act that seconds the Naxalism or related ideologies in the country. Speaking at a function organised by ‘Down To Earth’ magazine on Monday the noted environmentalist and social activist instead termed the deeds coming from the destitutes who are pressing hard for greater degree of rights. “We as a society failed not to perceive ‘Chipko Andolan’ in correct perspective and went on forming the Forest Conservation Act which turned a draconian law. The movement by the women from hills was instead for their own right over their own forests and forest produces. Similar is the case with Patthalgarhi where local tribal villagers are seeking their rights over jal, jungle and zameen. But fear is that we often tend to connect genuine demands with Naxalism,” said Sunita Narain. She went on adding that the tendency would never solve the root problem but can only pave way for far greater State control which would be exactly opposite to the actual remedy. “As we see the responses coming when the Chief Minister and the Government reacted and called for suppressing those voices. This is not against the State. It may be against the way development is being done,” she added and also underlined the need to empower the Gram Sabhas for taking decisions. Also present on the occasion was Tourism Secretary Manish Ranjan who has served as DC in Khunti very recently, the district which is considered hotbed of Patthalgarhi that has seen a spurt in recent times and reported from Lohardaga, Simdega and several other places. “Administration was never against Patthalgarhi and this has been a part of their age old tradition. What I feel the villages have been misguided by outsiders and a section of politicians who misquoting the Constitutional provisions banned entry of commoners and mistreating Government machineries. The State Government in the last couple of years has involved Gram Sabhas in formulating plans through Yojna Banao Abhiyan and pre-budget consultations and we are slowly heading towards swaraj and real democracy,” said the official. He also mentioned that the Gram Sabhas have not been able to handle the power vested in them by the Constitutional provisions and through PESA Act and stressed over the need of coexistence instead of conflict. Manish Ranjan also termed it hypocrisy to look onto the Government for roads, power or medical facilities but at the same time oppose the Government machinery itself. Retired IAS official SK Satpathy, who was Secretary to Governor Droupadi Murmu when the Ordinance amending CNT-SPT was returned to the Government, termed Patthalgarhi as only a symptom, and not the cause. “Patthalgarhi is a non-issue. Real problem is that the people are deprived of even most basic facilities. There existed a huge void and the Government has not been able to react properly and in time,” said Satpathy.