Download - Forest rights act 2006
Forest Rights Act 2006
Forest landscapes cover over 23% of the country.
Source : Citizens’ report 2013 on Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act
Around 200 Million i.e. 20% of population live in and near India's forest lands.
Source : Citizens’ report 2013 on Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act
BUT
They had no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods.
Result?
Both forests and people were suffering.
In 2006, “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed which granted legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities.
It entitles :• Individuals & Families or communities to
a right over their own land, and importantly,
• Empowers the Gram-sabha, or village assembly, with initiating the process of recognition.
• Land rights• Use rights• Right to Protect and Conserve
What Kind of Rights ?
Till Sept 2013, the government had received around 3.3 million claims, but only 40 % had
resulted in land titles.
Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
Community forest rights (CFR) constituted just two per cent (approx.) of all claims, and
only 29 % of such claims had resulted in land titles.
Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
• Less awareness among government bureaucrats about the FRA has
resulted in poor implementation of its provisions.
• Participation at Gram Sabha level is poor.
• Recognition of rights of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers has been
grossly neglected in terms of their eligibility.
• Poor recognition of CFR rights and community rights
• There is no clear boundary of community rights area, where multiple
villages are dependent on the same forest.
Issues in the Implementation
Source : Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT: 'Issues in implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR‘ 23rd_24th September 2013, BHUBANESW AR, ODISHA
• Right holders and the Gram Sabhas are not empowered enough to
protect wildlife, forest and biodiversity, and to regulate access to their
forest areas.
• Large scale intereference by the Forest Department in the rights
recognition process.
• Issues relating to preparation of conservation and management plans.
Issues in the Implementation
Source : Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT: 'Issues in implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR‘ 23rd_24th September 2013, BHUBANESW AR, ODISHA
Our Work
Our Work
Land resource mapping Workshop for leaders of Gram sabhas and FWC* committees on NREGA!, FRA#, PESA$, Biodiversity the different government
programmes, gender concepts and institution
building
Capacity building of all eligible communities and helping them in claiming
for their rights.
Advocacy on FRA through participation in State and National level networks,
meetings with government officials, consultation
Promoting meetings of FMC& and NTFP@ cultivator
groups
Facilitating public Hearing on NREGS, FRA and other
issues.
Enabling inclusion of women in decision making
processes for management of forests
and other natural resources.
& Forest Management Committee# Forest Rights Act*Forest Wild Life Management Committee! National Rural Employment@ Non Timber Forest Produce$ Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas
2013 Highlights
18725 tribal people benefitted from our work.
1,430 tribal men and women from across three states
have received individual land titles under FRA.
The gram sabha of Panchgaon village earned Rs. 148000/- by
selling Bamboo from the village forest for which the CFR has
been granted.
13,400 hectares has been awarded as management rights
1,700 hectares has been restricted to nistar* and maintenance.
23 CFR claims have been awarded in Madhya Pradesh covering 15,100 hectares
* ‘Nistar’ means the concession granted for removal from forest coupes on payment at stipulated rates, specified forest produce for bonafide domestic use, but not for barter or sale
42 CFR titles covering 13475 hectares have been awarded
34 communities from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh who have received management rights have formed committees and are enforcing rules agreed in the community meetings to stop illegal felling, prevent forest fires, conserve biodiversity etc.
THANK YOU!