Context
Researchers and campaigners are concerned that the government has not properly reviewed rejected claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) beforehand of a vital Supreme Court hearing.
Key Highlights
More than 150 tribal and forest rights establishments, under structures including the Campaign for Survival and Dignity, have accused the government of submitting incomplete and deceptive data on forest encroachments, while failing to absolutely enforce the FRA.
About the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006
- The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, commonly referred to as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), was enacted in 2006 to:
- Recognise ancient injustices towards forest-living groups.
- Grant legal rights over forest land and resources to Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).
- Empower Gram Sabhas to verify and approve claims at the grassroots degree.
- Ensures that tribal populations and forest dwellers aren’t evicted without proper rehabilitation, aligning with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Settlement Act, 2013.
- The FRA including provisions for individual and community rights over land, forest produce, grazing regions, and traditional information.
Evolution of Forest Rights Act (FRA)
- In colonial technology, British policies exploited forest resources, leaving tribal and forest-living communities in a nation of tenurial lack of confidence.
- The National Forest Policy of 1988 emphasised the involvement of tribal people in forest protection, leading to the enactment of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which aimed to protect their rights to the environment, existence, and livelihood.
- The FRA recognizes the rights of tribal communities and different conventional forest dwellers to get right of entry to forest land and resources.
Issues and Concerns
- According to Land Conflict Watch, as 2016, there had been 117 land conflicts regarding FRA, impacting 611,557 people.
- Key issues include non-implementation of FRA provisions (88.1%), loss of legal protection over land rights (49.15%), and forced evictions (40.68%).
- The issue stems from the shortage of readability concerning whether or not due system changed into accompanied in rejecting claims, specially in tribal areas with high Left-Wing Extremism.
- Many affected humans are bad, illiterate, and blind to the best method, with gram sabhas being inadequately informed.
Way Ahead
- The Forest Rights Act is a crucial law designed to empower indigenous communities by recognizing their legal rights to forest land and assets.
- It ensures their participation in sustainable forest control, but powerful implementation and addressing challenges are crucial for its fulfillment.
Source: The ToI
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Q. At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006?
(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(b) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
(c) Ministry of Rural Development
(d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Ans: (d)
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