Involvement of communities led increase in forest, tree cover: Govt
Singh said the National Forest Policy, 1988, emphasises the importance of closely associating the tribal communities in the protection, regeneration, and development of forests. He said the policy seeks to provide gainful employment to people living in and around the forests, while safeguarding their customary rights and interests.
Singh said the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act recognises the rights of the forest-dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources on which these communities are dependent for livelihood, habitation, and other socio-cultural needs.
He was responding to YSR Congress Party lawmaker Golla Baburao's questions on forest rights to tribals and forest degradation, etc.
HT on July 6 reported that the tribal affairs ministry has asked for scientific evidence from the environment ministry to substantiate claims that granting forest rights to tribal communities causes forest degradation. It escalated a tussle over a landmark 2006 legislation that recognises traditional forest rights of tribal communities in protected areas.
The environment ministry has said the government remains committed to tribal welfare and active involvement in forest management through traditional knowledge while enhancing livelihood opportunities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Defence panel reviews women's role; Rajnath vows greater representation
The parliamentary consultative committee on defence, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, was briefed on representation of women in the armed forces. Mr. Singh spoke on the government's commitment to provide maximum representation to women in the forces. As per the data from Ministry of Defence (MoD), 13.4% women constitute IAF (Indian Air force) workforce — highest among all three services — while they comprise 6.85% of Army's workforce and 6% of the Navy's. In 2024, there were a total of 1735 women in the Army, 1614 in the Air Force and 674 in the Navy. In 2005, the figure was 767 for the Army, 154 for the Navy and 574 for the Air Force. 12 branches in the Army are open to women officers including combat. In the Navy, all branches are open for women officers except submarines. All branches of the Air force are open for women officers. On being asked about women's representation in the armed forces, a senior MoD official said that they are opening more and more branches for women in the armed forces for all categories. Women are eligible for various roles, including technical and non-technical positions, and can join through different entry schemes. Most of the defence training institutes and academies have been opened for women. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, who led the Operation Sindoor briefing along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Air Force have become an inspiration for women aiming to join the armed forces. Another senior defence officer said that women in the armed forces are doing remarkably well and their number is only going to increase in future as the forces adopt a more gender neutral approach.
United News of India
23 minutes ago
- United News of India
LS, RS adjourned till tomorrow : LS on SIR issue, RS as mark of respect for Shibu Soren
New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day today. Rajya Sabha was adjourned as a mark of respect following the passing of sitting Member Shibu Soren, Lok Sabha was adjourned amid protests by Opposition members on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The Lok Sabha witnessed two adjournments today, the first at 11 AM till 2 PM and the second at 2 PM for the day because of noisy protests by the Opposition demanding a discussion on the SIR process in Bihar. For the third week in a row, the Parliament has faced adjournments related to the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar. However, last week both Houses engaged in a two-day discussion on Operation Sindoor with active participation from both the Treasury and Opposition benches. Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as a mark of respect following the demise of sitting Member of Parliament Shibu Soren. The members paid homage to the former Jharkhand Chief Minister and founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, who passed away today at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi after a prolonged illness. When the House convened at 11 am, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh expressed condolences, describing Shibu Soren as a senior and distinguished tribal leader who played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights and welfare of tribal communities. UNI RBE RB 1704
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Pollution Control Boards have power to impose restitutionary damages under Water, Air Acts, says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 4, 2025) gave Pollution Control Boards more teeth by declaring their power to impose and collect restitutionary damages to completely restore polluted air and waterbodies back to their original, pristine selves in an ecosystem. 'We direct that Pollution Control Boards can impose and collect as restitutionary and compensatory damages fixed sums of monies or require furnishing bank guarantees as an ex-ante measure towards potential environmental damage in exercise of powers under Sections 33A and 31A of the Water and Air Acts,' Justice P.S. Narasimha, who authored the judgment, held. The judgment came on an appeal filed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee against a Delhi High Court decision that it was not empowered to levy compensatory damages in exercise of powers under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Bench, also comprising Justice Manoj Misra, further directed that the power to impose or collect restitutionary or compensatory damages or the requirement to furnish bank guarantees as an ex-ante measure under the Water and Air Acts should be enforced only after issuing the necessary subordinate legislation in the form of rules and regulations under both statutes. The rules must incorporate the basic principles of natural justice. 'According to the polluter pays principle, the responsibility for repairing the damage is that of the offending industry… The focus has to be on restoration of the ecosystem as close and similar as possible to the specific one that was damaged,' Justice Narasimha observed. The judgment said the payment of restitutory damages was distinct from charging punitive damages. 'Bringing the culprits to face the proceedings is a different matter and restoration of the damage already done is a different matter,' the court distinguished. Enormous responsibilities Justice Narasimha held that the Pollution Control Boards had expansive powers and 'enormous responsibilities' under the Water Act and the Air Act. They had a broad statutory mandate to prevent, control and abate water and air pollution. The provisions under these statutes bestowed the Boards with the power to direct closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry, operation or process. Further, this power extended to directing the stoppage or regulation of supply of electricity, water or any other service. The laws allow the Boards significant flexibility in deciding the nature of directions. 'Our constitutionalism bears the hallmark of an expansive interpretation of fundamental rights. But such creative expansion is only a job half done if the depth of the remedies, consequent upon infringement, remain shallow. In other words, remedial jurisprudence must keep pace with expanding rights and regulatory challenges. It is not sufficient that courts adopt injunctory, mandatory and compensatory remedies… Remedial powers or restitutionary directives are a necessary concomitant of both the fundamental rights of citizens who suffer environmental wrongs and an equal concomitant of the duties of a statutory regulator,' Justice Narasimha wrote.
