Forest Rights Act 2006.ppt

Forest Rights Act (2006)
The Forest Rights Act, India or the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act is also known by other names like the Tribal Rights Act or the Tribal Land Act.
It deals with the rights of the communities that dwell in the forests (including Scheduled Tribes), over land and other resources, which have been denied to them over the years because of the continuation of forest laws from the colonial era in the country.
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is a result of the protracted struggle by the marginal and tribal communities of our country to assert their rights over the forestland over which they were traditionally dependent.

1. Forest Rights Act 2006
BY-VimalpriyaSUBRAMANIAN

2. Forest Rights Act (2006)
TheForestRightsAct,IndiaortheScheduledTribesandOther
TraditionalForestDwellers(RecognitionofForestRights)Actis
alsoknownbyothernamesliketheTribalRightsActorthe
TribalLandAct.
Itdealswiththerightsofthecommunitiesthatdwellinthe
forests(includingScheduledTribes),overlandandother
resources,whichhavebeendeniedtothemovertheyears
becauseofthecontinuationofforestlawsfromthecolonialera
inthecountry.
TheScheduledTribesandOtherTraditionalForestDwellers
(RecognitionofForestRights)Act,2006isaresultofthe
protractedstrugglebythemarginalandtribalcommunitiesof
ourcountrytoasserttheirrightsovertheforestlandoverwhich
theyweretraditionallydependent.

3. InDecember2006,theForestRightsActwaspassedwhich
accordslegalrecognitiontotherightsoftraditionalforest-
dwellingcommunitiesandpartiallycorrectstheinjusticecaused
bycolonial-eraforestlaws.
Theearlierpoliciesandacts–suchaspreviousForestActs1865,
1894,1927preventedthelocalcommunitiesfromusingthe
resources.
TheForestRightsAct(FRA),2006recognizestherightsofthe
forestdwellingtribalcommunitiesandothertraditionalforest
dwellerstoforestresources,onwhichthesecommunitieswere
dependentforavarietyofneeds,includinglivelihood,habitation
andothersocio-culturalneeds.
TheActrecognizethesymbioticrelationshipoftheSTswiththe
forests,reflectedintheirdependenceontheforestaswellasin
theirtraditionalwisdomregardingconservationoftheforests.

4. TheActencompassesRightsofSelf-cultivationandHabitation
whichareusuallyregardedasIndividualrights;andCommunity
RightsasGrazing,FishingandaccesstoWaterbodiesinforests,
HabitatRightsforPVTGs,TraditionalSeasonalResourceaccess
ofNomadicandPastoralcommunity,accesstobiodiversity,
communityrighttointellectualpropertyandtraditional
knowledge,recognitionoftraditionalcustomaryrightsandright
toprotect,regenerateorconserveormanageanycommunity
forestresourceforsustainableuse.
TheActissignificantasitprovidesscopeandhistoricopportunity
ofintegratingconservationandlivelihoodrightsofthepeople.
ThisActasapotentialtool
Toempowerandstrengthenthelocalselfgovernance
Toaddressthelivelihoodsecurityofthepeople,leadingto
povertyalleviationandpropoorgrowth

5. ToaddresstheissuesofConservationandmanagementofthe
NaturalResourcesandconservationgovernanceofIndia.
Italsoprovidesrightstoallocationofforestlandfor
developmentalpurposestofulfilbasicinfrastructuralneedsof
thecommunity.
TheGramSabhaisalsoahighlyempoweredbodyundertheAct,
enablingthetribalpopulationtohaveadecisivesayinthe
determinationoflocalpoliciesandschemesimpactingthem.
Thus,theActempowerstheforestdwellerstoaccessandusethe
forestresourcesinthemannerthattheyweretraditionally
accustomed,toprotect,conserveandmanageforests,protect
forestdwellersfromunlawfulevictionsandalsoprovidesfor
basicdevelopmentfacilitiesforthecommunityofforestdwellers
toaccessfacilitiesofeducation,health,nutrition,infrastructure
etc.

6. Objectives of the Act
•Toundothehistoricalinjusticeoccurredtotheforestdwelling
communities
•Toensurelandtenure,livelihoodandfoodsecurityoftheforest
dwellingScheduledTribesandothertraditionalforestdwellers
•Tostrengthentheconservationregimeoftheforestsbyincluding
theresponsibilitiesandauthorityonForestRightsholdersfor
sustainableuse,conservationofbiodiversityandmaintenanceof
ecologicalbalance.
•Theacttriestorecognizemarginalandtribalcommunities’rights
overforestlandsoverwhichtheyweretraditionallydependent.
•Theactintendstohelpallthedestituteforestcommunitiesacross
Indiatohaverightovercommonpropertyforestlands

7. ImplementationoftheForestRightsAct2006
•GramSabhaistheauthoritytoinitiateaprocesstovestrightson
marginallyandtribalcommunitiesafterassessmentoftheextent
oftheirneedsfromforestlands.
•GramSabhaafteritsassessment,receivesclaimsofthe
communities,consolidatesandverifythesetohelpthemexercise
theirrights.
•GramSabhathenpassessucharesolutiontosub-divisionallevel
committee(formedbythestategovernments.)
•Ifoneormorecommunitiesarenotsatisfiedbysucharesolution,
mayfileapetitiontosub-divisionallevelcommittee
•Sub-DivisionalLevelcommitteeafteritsassessment,passesthe
resolutiontoSub-divisionalofficertodistrictlevelcommitteefor
itsfinaldecision.

8. •Thedistrict-levelcommittee’sdecisionsareconsideredfinaland
binding
•Astate-levelmonitoringcommitteeisconstitutedbythestate
governmenttomonitortheprocessofrecognitionoftheserights
•Theofficersincludedinthesub-divisionallevelcommittee,
district-levelcommitteeandstate-levelmonitoringcommittee
include:
OfficersofDepartmentofRevenueofstategovernment
OfficersofDepartmentofForestsofstategovernment
OfficersofDepartmentofTribalAffairsofstategovernment
ThreemembersofPanchayatiRajInstitutionsincludingtwo
ScheduledTribesmembersandatleastonewoman

9. •TheActrecognizesandvesttheforestrightsandoccupationin
ForestlandinForestDwellingScheduledTribes(FDST)and
OtherTraditionalForestDwellers(OTFD)whohavebeen
residinginsuchforestsforgenerations.
•TheActidentifiesfourtypesofrights:
1.Titlerights:ItgivesFDSTandOTFDtherighttoownershipto
landfarmedbytribalsorforestdwellerssubjecttoamaximumof4
hectares.
•Ownershipisonlyforlandthatisactuallybeingcultivatedbythe
concernedfamilyandnonewlandswillbegranted.
2.Userights:TherightsofthedwellersextendtoextractingMinor
ForestProduce,grazingareasetc.
3.Reliefanddevelopmentrights:Torehabilitateincaseofillegal
evictionorforceddisplacementandtobasicamenities,subjectto
restrictionsforforestprotection.

10. 4.Forestmanagementrights:Itincludestherighttoprotect,
regenerateorconserveormanageanycommunityforestresource
whichtheyhavebeentraditionallyprotectingandconservingfor
sustainableuse.
•Theactslookstorightthewrongsofgovernmentpoliciesinboth
colonialandindependentIndiatowardforest-dwelling
communities,whoseclaimsovertheirresourcesweretakenaway
during1850’s.
•Theactalsohaspotentialofsustainablyprotectingforestthrough
traditionalwaysalongwithprovidingtribesmeansoflivelihood.
•Theactwillensurethatpeoplegettomanagetheirforestontheir
ownwhichwillregulateexploitationofforestresourcesby
officials,forestgovernanceandmanagementaswellastribal
rightsetc.

11. Significance of the Act
•Communityrightsandrightsovercommonpropertyresources
(CPR)havebeenrecognizedforthefirsttime
•Individualrightsofthetribalandmarginalcommunitieshave
beenhighlightedbythisactalongwithotherrightstoo
•Theconceptofrevenuevillageshavesurfacedastheacttalks
abouttheconversionofallforestvillages,oldhabitation,un-
surveyedvillagesandothervillagesintothese.
•ItensuresthelivelihoodandfoodsecurityoftheForestDwellers
ScheduledTribesandOtherForestDwellersandstrengthensthe
conservationregimeoftheforest.
•CommunityForestResourcesaremonitoredandmanagedina
waythatprotectsmarginalcommunities’traditionallinkageswith
these.

12. •Itisknownhowthesecommunitieshavealwaystraditionally
utilizedtheforestresourceforsustainabledevelopment.
•Thisactinawayprotectsintellectualpropertyrightsandthe
traditionalknowledgerelatedtoculturaldiversityand
biodiversity.
•Itexpandsthemandateofthe5th&6thSchedulesofthe
Constitutionthatprotecttheclaimsofindigenouscommunities
overtractsoflandorforeststheyinhabit.
•Thedisplacedcommunities’rightsaresecuredbytheforest
rightsact2006.Thealienationoftribeswasoneofthefactors
behindtheNaxalmovement,whichaffectsstateslike
Chhattisgarh,OdishaandJharkhand.
•TheActthroughidentifyingIFRandCFRtriestoprovide
inclusiontotribes.ReadmoreabouttheStatusoftheTribal
populationsinIndiaonthelinkedpage.

13. •Therightsofmarginalandtribalcommunitiesover
developmentalactivitiesarealsorecognizedandsecuredby
FRA2006
•Forestrightscanalsobeclaimedbyanymemberorcommunity
whohasforatleastthreegenerations(75years)priortothe
13thdayofDecember,2005primarilyresidedinforestlandfor
bonafidelivelihoodneeds.
•Theactwillensurethatpeoplegettomanagetheirforeston
theirownwhichwillregulatetheexploitationofforest
resourcesbyofficials,improveforestgovernanceandbetter
managementoftribalrights.
•ForestRightsActiscapableof:1.Empoweringlocalself-
governance2.Issueofpovertyalleviationandpro-poorgrowth
3.ConservationandmanagementofnaturalresourcesofIndia
arehighlightedandaddressedbytheFRA

14. Key Terms related to the Forest Rights Act (FRA)
Term Meaning
Community
Forest Resource
Itisacustomarycommonforestland
locatedinavillages’traditionaland
customaryboundaries
Itcanalsobecalledseasonaluseof
landscapeinthecaseofpastoral
communities
Example–ReservedForests,Protected
Forests,ProtectedAreas(Sanctuaries,
NationalParks)
Forest Dwelling
Scheduled Tribes
Personsorgroupofpersonswhoresidein
andaredependentonaforestlandtomeet
theirlivelihoodneeds

15. Critically
Wildlife Habitat
•Govt.ofIndia(MinistryofEnvironment&
Forests)notifiessuchareasasCWHwhich
meetsascientificcriteriadecidedbyan
expertcommitteeincludingexpertsfrom
localityappointedbythegovernmentand
fromthatoftheMinistryofTribalAffairs.
Forest VillagesForestDepartmentofStateGovernments
establishedsettlementsinsideforestsfor
forestryoperations.Itincludes:
ForestSettlementVillages
FixedDemandHoldings
Alltypesoftaungyasettlements
Landsforcultivationandusespermittedby
thegovernment

16. Minor Forest
Produce (MFP)
•Animportantsourceoflivelihoodsfortribal
peoplearenon-woodforestproducts,
generallytermed‘MinorForestProduce
(MFP)’meansallnon-timberforestproduce
ofplantoriginandwillincludebamboo,
canes,fodder,leaves,gums,waxes,dyes,
resinsandmanyformsoffoodincluding
nuts,wildfruits,honey,etc.
Other Traditional
Forest Dwellers
Member/communitypriorto13thDecember
2005,whoresidedforatleastthreeyearsor
weredependentonaforestlandfortheir
livelihoodneeds

17. ForestRightsAct(FRA)2006Criticism
•Thedebateontheissueoftheactleadingtoevenmore
encroachmentofalreadytroubledforestlandshasstarted.
•Thoughtheacttriestofocusontheneedsoftheforestdwellers,
itdefeatsthepurposewhentheevictionrateoffamiliesfrom
theselandsincreasesastheirclaimsontheselandsarenot
acceptedbythegovernment.
•Theroleofthesub-divisionallevelcommitteeisalways
questionedastheyhavebeengiventheimportantrighttomakea
decisionontheneedsandclaimsofthemarginalcommunities
onthepieceofforestlands.
•Issueshavearisenfromthepartofforestdepartmentswhohave
beenseenunwillingtogivetheirforestlands.Roleofforest
departmenttolettheforestdwellerssowintheforestthereap
thebenefitsiscriticizedastribeslikeBaigashaveblamedthe
departmenttonotsupporttheirclaimovertheland.

18. •Thetribesandcommunitiesalsolackthecapabilitytoprovetheir
occupancyovertheforestlandandthelawturnsouttobeweak
tostrengthentheirclaim.
•Government’sroleofallowingcommercialplantationsin
degradedlandisalsodebatedandquestionedasthedegraded
landmakes40%offorests.
•Thus,Constitutionalprovisionsprovideforsafeguardsagainst
displacementoftribalpopulationbecauseoflandacquisitionsetc.
TheGovernoroftheStateisempoweredtorestrictthetransferof
landfromtribalsandregulatetheallotmentoflandtomembers
oftheScheduledTribesinsuchcases.
•FRAalsorecognizesandveststheforestrightsandoccupationin
forestlandinforest-dwellingScheduledTribesandother
traditionalforestdwellerswhohavebeenresidinginsuchforests
forgenerationsbutwhoserightcouldnotberecorded.