Rights of Indigenous People: A Comprehensive Study of Niyamgiri Hills Case and Saramakapeople and State of Suriname

Sustainable development is indispensable for the survival of human beings. Every nation and its people have the right to development. However, if such development is at the cost of marginalized sections of society, it is short-term and unsustainable. Moreover, such development results in injustice in marginalized communities. Tribal people are part of such marginalized groups which are victims of such injustice. They have been deprived of their basic human rights for centuries. Tribal people have their identity attached to their distinct culture and land. Apart from the identity crisis, they also face issues such as the right to property, displacement, rehabilitation, etc. It is vital for these people all over the globe to have easy access to their lands and territories, as well as to ensure that the natural resources on those lands and territories are protected and preserved. In every country of the world, tribal people are vulnerable, and their rights are often sacrificed in the name of development. A comprehensive study of two different tribes in different parts of the world on the similar issue regarding rights of their community from oppression of corporate giants and sovereign authority, Dongria tribe in India and Saramaka people in Latin America are two such tribes that have the same story to tell. Both Tribes became victims of blindfolded developmental practices, and they fought against that. Fortunately, their voices were heard, and justice was delivered. The researchers in this paper have comparatively analyzed these two case studies. The present paper reflects the doctrinal research done by the researchers about the factual histories, issues, and the final decisions in both these cases.