On 5th August 2021, Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) sought immediate intervention of National Human Rights Comission (NHRC) in the matter of Human Rights Defender Valsingh Saste.
On 22nd July 2021, Barwani district administration in Madhya Pradesh issued an externment notice of one year to Valsingh Saste who is a tribal rights activist and member of the human rights organization Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sanghatan (JADS).
Valsingh has defended tribals Forest Rights issues, non-payment of wages under MGNREGA, denial of the minimum support price for farmers, and denial of ration. He has asserted the rights of the Gram Sabha over local resources which have put an end to illegal calcite mining, sand mining through peaceful struggles in the Barwani region.
Valsingh has been peacefully fighting on tribal issues and the district administration has falsely accused him of committing heinous crimes of bringing people for protests, rallies, demonstrations and served the externment notice.
The criminalisation of and threats aimed at indigenous peoples activists for defending the individual as well collective rights of the Adivasis is a matter of grave concern.