– Ronita Torcato 

In the quiet hamlet of Tarapur, near India’s premier atomic energy centre, a modest but welcome tool for social justice was unveiled when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a comic book titled “Our Land, Our Rights.”

Far from being mere entertainment, the comic book is a tactical educational tool. It is intended to train school children to navigate the complex paperwork required to access their Individual and Community Forest Rights (Forest Titles), as well several government welfare schemes.

The choice of a comic book format for such a legal initiative is noteworthy. Sequential art or visual narratives could well be an effective medium for bridging the literacy gap in marginalised communities. Where a text-heavy government circular might breed confusion and intimidation, a comic book translates statutes into relatable, human stories. Clearly, the goal of “Our Land,Our Rights” is tribal empowerment.

For generations, tribal communities have faced hurdles in securing legal records for the forest lands they historically inhabit. Without updated titles, accessing government entitlements remains nearly impossible.

The comic is expected to empower tribal communities by creating awareness about their legal rights and facilitating the updation of legal records related to forest land, thereby enabling them to access their welfare benefits.

The launch event was attended by state and district leaders, including Ganesh Naik, forest minister and guardian minister of Palghar District, Nitesh Rane, fisheries and ports minister, Dr. Hemant Savara, (member of Parliament), Rajendra Gavit, MLA, Dr. Indu Rani Jakhad, district collector and Vishal Khatri, Dahanu project officer, among other officials.

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