Latest news with #ScheduledTribesandOtherTraditionalForestDwellers(RecognitionofForestRights)Act
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI urges Erode Collector to uphold tribal rights, seeks approval for development works
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has sought the intervention of District Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, who also serves as the Chairperson of the District-level Committee for the Forest Rights Act (FRA), to ensure that development works intended for tribal communities are not obstructed by the Forest Department. In an email to the Collector, former Bhavanisagar MLA P.L. Sundaram pointed out that a gram sabha resolution had been passed for land conversion to construct a concrete road in the Mavanatham settlement, which falls under the Thalamalai forest range of the Sathyamangalam Forest Division. Another resolution was passed seeking basic facilities for Pudukadu village, under the Hasanur forest range of the Hasanur Forest Division. However, the District Forest Officers (DFOs) of Sathyamangalam and Hasanur refused permission and directed that online applications be submitted through the PARIVESH portal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to obtain forest and wildlife clearance. The email argued that such permission from the Central Government is not required, and that the rules under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1980, are not applicable to these proposals. It further highlighted that the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), applies to tiger reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries across the country and recognises various rights of tribal communities. Under Section 3(2) of the Act and related communications from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2008, 13 categories of development activities for tribal communities are permitted, provided they do not exceed one hectare in area and involve the removal of no more than 75 trees. 'These proposals involve less than one hectare and meet the criteria, so the DFOs of Hasanur and Sathyamangalam should grant permission,' the email stated. It also noted that the denial of such permission constitutes a violation of the FRA and amounts to a criminal offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The email concluded by urging the Collector to intervene and ensure that the proposed development works are carried out and the rights of tribal communities are upheld.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CM promises settlement of forest right claims by Dec 19
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced a fast-track schedule to clear claims for land under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. A special gram sabha will be convened on June 21 in villages to approve pending applications and forward them to the sub-divisional level committee (SDLC). He said that the two district collectors will conduct meetings with authorities to coordinate and organise special camps on June 14 across six talukas to fast-track pending forest rights cases. There were 10,500 applications for forest rights submitted, of which 870 cases were cleared and 949 cases were rejected because the land was not forest land but revenue land. 'We have decided that by Dec 19, all applications will be disposed of,' said Sawant. On Thursday, the North Goa collector and South Goa collector will hold a meeting with the panchayat secretary, joint mamlatdars and BDOs to prepare the groundwork for the gram sabha meetings and special camps. 'On June 14, in the talukas — Quepem, Sattari, Dharbandora, Sanguem, Ponda and Canacona — the dy collector will hold special camps from 10am to 1pm,' said Sawant. He added that of the 10,500 applications, about 8,000 are pending —2,000 at the gram sabha level and 3,500 with the deputy collectors. The rest are at various other stages of processing. Applications to recognise the rights of forest-dwelling communities have been pending since 2006. The current process requires the claims to be approved by the respective gram sabha, after which the file is sent for the SLDC's approval. Once the SLDC clears the application, the respective district collector grants the final nod and issues the Sanad certificate. 'The cases that are pending with the deputy collector will be reviewed on June 18, and they will clear approximately 3,970 cases on that one day and send them to the collector. The collector has about 564 cases that need to be issued sanads. Right now, we have sanads ready for 150 applicants. On June 9, we will give these 150 sanads to the applicants,' said the CM. Dismissing allegations of govt inaction, Sawant blamed delays on non-participation at gram sabhas and the failure of community representatives to prepare files. 'We found that people were not attending gram sabhas. So we've simplified the process — our staff will now prepare the files, and applicants only need to attend the gram sabha,' he said. Sawant also cited issues with a survey agency that abandoned its work midway. 'It's not a bureaucratic delay. The process depends on a community-based committee. But going forward, our govt staff will handle the file preparation,' he said.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Forest Department urged to not hinder development works for tribal communities
The Tribal People's Association has urged the Forest Department to not obstruct development works intended for tribal communities and to refrain from acting in violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The Association said the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), that applied to tiger reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries across the country, recognised various rights of tribal communities. As per Section 3(2) of the Act and related communications from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 2008, provisions existed for 13 categories of development activities for tribal communities, provided they did not exceed one hectare in area and involved the removal of not more than 75 trees. Based on these provisions, user agencies were previously allotted forest land for land-use conversion, and numerous development projects were executed within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). However, in a recent development, when user agencies sought land conversion to build a concrete path in the Mavanatham settlement (Thalamalai Panchayat, Thalavadi Panchayat Union) and a road to Pudukadu village (Hasanur Panchayat), the Forest Department denied the requests, citing legal concerns. As a result, essential development work for tribal communities within the STR came to a halt. The Association urged the District Forest Officer of the Hasanur Forest Division to immediately facilitate construction of the road to Pudukadu village. Similarly, the Forest Range Officer of Sathyamangalam should process the land-use conversion needed for the construction of a concrete path in Mavanatham village. Any violation of the FRA constituted a criminal offence under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, it said. A seminar on the FRA was recently organised by the Association in Sathyamangalam.
