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Study flags mixed implementation of Forest Rights Act

Study flags mixed implementation of Forest Rights Act

  • A fact-finding committee formed by Call for Justice, a Delhi-based organisation, has found “mixed” implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 in five States across the country.

Key Highlights

  • The States studied by an eight-member committee, led by Justice S.N. Dhingra (retd), over eight months are Assam, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Karnataka.
  • The FRA in its current form does not address the unique situation existing in the northeastern States concerning shifting or jhum cultivation.
  • This form of cultivation involving slashing and burning plants on hill slopes needs to be recognised as a practice adapted to the ecological and cultural needs of the forest-dwelling communities
  • The FRA implementation in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli was found to be satisfactory while the process was not completed in Nashik.
  • The team found “substantial advancement” in the implementation of FRA in Kandhamal and Sundargarh districts of Odisha.
  • However, it was observed that a significant gap existed in the districts between individual forest rights (IFR) and community forest rights (CFR) claims submitted and recognised.

Forest Rights Act, 2006

  • The Act recognizes and vests the forest rights and occupation in Forest land in Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who have been residing in such forests for generations.
  • Forest rights can also be claimed by any member or community who has for at least three generations (75 years) prior to the 13th day of December, 2005
    • Primarily resided in forest land for bona fide livelihood needs.
  • It strengthens the conservation regime of the forests while ensuring livelihood and food security of the FDST and OTFD.
  • The Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature
  • And extent of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) or Community Forest Rights (CFR) or both that may be given to FDST and OTFD.

Prelims Takeaway

  • Community Forest Rights
  • Forest right act

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