FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006 - GOVERNANCE
News: Titles
given for just 50% of the total claims on forest land
What's in the news?
● The
Union Government revealed in the Rajya Sabha that under the Forest Rights Act of 2006, titles had been given for just 50%
of the total claims on forest land received till June this year from members of
Scheduled Tribe communities and other traditional forest dwellers.
● The
data showed that a total of 44.46 lakh claims have been made for title rights
over forest land (both individual and community), against which title rights
have been issued for just 22.35 lakh.
Forest Rights Act, 2006:
● It
recognizes the rights of the forest
dwelling scheduled tribal communities (FDST) and other traditional forest
dwellers (OTFD).
● Strengthens
conservation regime of forests along with livelihood and food security.
● Gram Sabha
– responsible for determining the nature and extent of individual forest fights
or community forest rights.
Objectives:
● To
undo historical injustice
● To
strengthen conservation regime
● Provide
livelihood and food security
● Dignified
life.
Vision:
● Granted
for subsistence, sowing and other socio-cultural needs.
Who can claim?
● At
least three generations (75 years) prior to 13th dec 2005.
● They
should primarily reside in forest land for bonafide livelihood needs.
Rights under FRA, 2006:
1. Title rights:
● It
should be given for up to 44 hectares for an individual.
● It
should be given only for those lands which are already being cultivated.
● It
should not be given for new lands.
2. Use rights:
● Extracting
minor forest produces, gracing, fishing and access to waterbodies.
3. Rights to relief and development:
● Rehabilitation
and provision of basic amenities.
● It
checks illegal eviction and forceful displacement of the tribal people.
4. Forest management rights:
● Right
to safeguard, regenerate, maintain and management of forest.
Significance of FRA, 2006:
● Expansion of
constitutional provisions in line with 5th and 6th
schedule of the constitution.
● Reduce alienation
of tribal peoples which checks naxalism and Maoism in tribal areas.
● It
democratise forest governance by
providing them conservation and management of forest areas.
Challenges:
● Administrative apathy
- lack of bureaucratic ethos in implementation.
● Dilution and misuse of
the act - several crimes rejected by the forest
officials.
● Lack of awareness
among tribal people.
● Reluctance of forest
bureaucracy to give-up their control on forest
lands.