Anna Kujur fights for the adivasis, their right to the forests. She fights to uphold the 2012 amendment to the Forest Rights Act that restores the rights of the forest-dwelling communities by giving them claim titles to their land, on which they can carve out a simple life and a sustainable future for their children.

For sustenance and survival, the poor, largely illiterate adivasis either turn to the forest or resort to some minor agricultural activity. Since the verdant greens have always provided them with forest produce, water, grazing grounds and habitat for shifting cultivation for generations, they have not only been staying in and around forest lands but have also guarded and conserved them with a lot of love and care. However, this integral and close-knit relationship between the adivasis and the forests has rarely been recognised by the authorities, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation as well as eviction.

Anna set out on this mission in the year 2000 by setting up the Athkosis Adivasi Sangathan. In 2003, she connected with the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), a national platform of adivasi and forest dwellers’ organisations. Till date, Anna has helped about 2,000 tribal people obtain their rightful ‘patta.’