KANGAN: The Gram Sabha of Waniyarn-Wangath in Kangan has cleared 270 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), marking a significant step in the recognition of forest-dependent communities’ rights.
Of the 272 claims presented before the Gram Sabha on October 24, 270 were approved for further processing, while two were not cleared due to documentation-related deficiencies. The approved claims will now be forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) for examination and processing in accordance with the Act.
The meeting witnessed participation from villagers across the Gram Panchayat, including former Panchayat members, women, children, Village Forest Rights Committee members and representatives of various government departments.
The Forest Rights Coalition–Jammu and Kashmir (FRC-J&K), which supported the process through grassroots mobilisation and documentation, said the outcome followed months of awareness work and assistance to claimants.
The Coalition had earlier organised an awareness Jirga on the Forest Rights Act at Waniyarn Eidgah and helped claimants complete their applications and assemble the required documents before the Gram Sabha was convened.
The proceedings were initiated by Shareef Khan, chairperson of the Waniyarn Forest Rights Committee. Chowdhury Sajad Kasana explained the process and introduced the claims and participants, while Bashir Ahmed Tedwa, in-charge of FRC-J&K for Central Kashmir, presented the individual claim files and facilitated their consideration by the Gram Sabha.
The meeting was attended by Dr Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, founder of FRC-J&K; Zahid Parwaz Choudhary, convenor of the Coalition; Tahir Mohiuddin, District Tribal Welfare Officer, Ganderbal; and officials from the Rural Development, Revenue, Forest, Wildlife Protection and Agriculture departments.
The Coalition urged the administration to ensure that all eligible claims are processed under the Forest Rights Act and that allegations of violations are investigated through appropriate legal mechanisms.
FRC-J&K said its work also focuses on the protection of forest-dependent communities, pastoralism and traditional livelihoods, sustainable rangeland management, community participation in biodiversity conservation and forest governance, and climate justice.
The Coalition said it would continue supporting eligible claimants through awareness and documentation efforts while pressing authorities to ensure that the statutory process advances without unnecessary delays.