Implement Forest Rights Act 2006, Centre to states

The Centre has asked the states to implement the Forest Rights Act 2006. The ministry of environment (MoEFCC) and ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA) have jointly issued a circular to chief secretaries of all states giving the responsibility of implementing the Forest Rights Act 2006 to state governments. “Issues related to implementation of the Act need to be resolved at the state level in terms of statutory provisions,” the circular issued by Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, secretary, MoEFCC and Anil Kumar Jha, MoTA, on Tuesday said.

All states have been asked to review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act and intimate the Centre on issues and clarifications needed for smooth implementation. The circular states that for implementation of the Act, a high level of support from forest departments and state governments is required in verification of claims, mapping of forest lands involved, and necessary evidence required for recognition of rights etc. Section 3(1) (i) of the Act provides for rights to protect, regenerate, conserve or manage any community forest resource but there is lax implementation of the provision. Community forest resource is customary forest land to which a community has traditional access.

In 2019, while hearing a petition by wildlife organisations and retired forest officials against the Forest Rights Act, the Supreme Court had asked authorities of 21 states to give affidavits explaining why evictions, wherever ordered, had not taken place. There remains a stay on eviction of forest dwellers whose rights were rejected.