JAMMU: The Forest Department organized a training workshop for implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 for the Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers under the chairmanship of Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sanjeev Verma.
During the workshop, spokespersons interacted with the Tribal groups and various stakeholders including the FRC Chairman and members, PRI members, and officials of the Revenue, Forest, and Tribal Affairs department.
The training focused on duties including roles and functions of district level, sub-division level, and Gram Sabha level Forest Rights Committees as per the Act and rules made thereunder. The implementation of the Act involves recognition and vesting of the forest rights on Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers who have been residing in forests for generations but whose rights could not be recognized.
The Act provides a framework for the recognition and recording of rights so vested and the nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest land. The framework for recording the rights involves procedures and processes to be implemented through the Gram Sabha, sub-divisional level, and the district level committees as per Section 4 of FRA, 2006, and Rule 11 and 12 of FRA Rules, 2008.
The nature of evidence required are recorded in detail in the rules and also involves field verification by the Forest Rights Committee comprising 10-15 members to be elected among its members by the Gram Sabha as per the relevant rules in this regard.
The Government has already notified the constitution of the District Level Committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Level Committee headed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate and comprising officers from Forest, Tribal Affairs and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department besides non-official members who are nominated by District Panchayat at the level of District and Sub-Divisional Level.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjeev Verma spoke in detail on the history of FRA 2006, and key provisions of the Act besides discussing in detail the context of its implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. He gave a brief background of Individual and Community rights. The FDSTs who were residing prior to 13th December 2005 and OTFDs who were living for three generations prior to 13th December 2005 alone are eligible.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary, Secretary Tribal Affairs department explained that the FRA, 2006 will bring change in the livelihood of Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers and help the building of community infrastructure by utilizing the funds under CAPEX- Plan as well as from Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI.
PCCF (HoFF) J&K Forest Department, Dr. Mohit Gera, gave a detailed account of the status of implementation of the Forest Rights Act in J&K, dissemination of claim forms, formats for processing of claims, and providing of forest records and maps as well as GPS (technical support) to the frontline staff of the Forest Department.
A short film on Forest Rights Act, 2006 prepared by Forest Department was also screened during the training workshop.
Dr. Javaid Rahi, Tribal Researcher, and Social Reformer while speaking in the workshop made aware the participants of the role of various institutions like FRC, SDLC & DLC in the implementation of the Act along with various procedures for forest rights from making applications for the individual & community claim, FRC report, Gram Panchayat resolution, etc. and important procedures & processes involved in consideration of claims, at the level of SDLC/DLC.
Among other spokespersons who spoke on the occasion were Samuel Changkija CCF (S&D), Dr. Arshdeep Singh, DFO Rajouri, Vivek Modi, DFO Billawar, and Dr. Abdul Khabir, Deputy Director TRI, Department of Tribal Affairs.
The workshop was attended by DFOs of East circle, ACR Jammu, Field staff including the Range officers and Block foresters, and more than a hundred members of tribal communities belonging to Gujjar, Bakerwal, Gaddi, and Sippi communities. Sarpanchs, Panchs, FRC Chairman, Members from different Panchayats of Jammu Division were among the other participants.
