Bhuria writes to CMs on implementation of Forest Rights Act

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Kanti Lal Bhuria has written to Chief Ministers of States which are lagging behind in the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.

An official press release said these States included Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.

As per the information received in the Ministry, the progress of implementation of the Act in the States, as on July 31 this year, has not been satisfactory at all.

In Goa, disposal of the claims has been nil. Similarly, in others States, too, disposal of claims has been very low: Assam - 26.01%, Gujarat – 18.10%, Jharkhand – 30.84%, Karnataka – 04.20%, Kerala – 30.92% and Maharashtra – 24.94%,

Mr Bhuria urged the States to launch a special campaign for generating widespread awareness about the provisions of the Act amongst the forest dwellers and for imparting training to the field-level functionaries for this purpose. The "Gram Sabhas" in the State could be given instructions to make special efforts for inviting claims, he suggested.

In view of the priority being accorded to the implementation of the Act at the highest level, he has requested the Chief Ministers to direct the concerned officers to make vigorous efforts for inviting claims and processing them expeditiously for issue of title deeds to all the eligible claimants on priority basis.

He has also asked the Chief Ministers to take action for dovetailing the development and welfare programmes for the uplift of potential title holders, the release added.

NNN