Nagpur: Amid charges by forest and tribal rights activists about the country's apathetic implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, state-wise details obtained from the ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA), Govt of India, reveal that Chhattisgarh, followed by Maharashtra, tops the chart in the distribution of recorded forest area.
The FRA, or the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, a pivotal piece of legislation, was a significant step towards recognizing the rights of forest-dwelling communities.The FRA was enacted to recognize historical injustices against forest-dwelling communities and restore their rights. It also protects traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.
The FRA, passed by the Lok Sabha in 2006, has two basic components. A tribal family can claim Individual Forest Rights (IFR) for the land they have been cultivating for generations. Additionally, the Act specifically mentions Community Forest Rights (CFR), allowing the tribal communities to use and manage forest resources to achieve the objectives of conservation and regeneration.
As per the status report of the MoTA, Maharashtra allotted over 38.71 lakh acres of forest towards IFRs and CFRs till September 2024. The state is second highest in the country after Chhattisgarh, which distributed 61 lakh acres of forest towards IFRs and CFRs. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh distributed more than 23.67 lakh acres of titles. The states which top the chart include Gujarat (14 lakh acres), Telangana (11.27 lakh acres), Odisha (10.68 lakh acres), and Andhra Pradesh (9.81 lakh acres).
The land titles in tribal-dominated states, especially in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, speak volumes about the increasing distribution of forest land. In Maharashtra, under the IFR category, over 3.90 lakh claims were received, and 1.98 lakh titles were granted, towards which the state allotted 5.68 lakh acres of forest. Even though Maharashtra is second highest in distributing FRA titles, the state stands fifth when it comes to awarding IFRs.
As per the MoTA, Chhattisgarh distributed over 9.47 lakh acres of forest land under IFRs. This was followed by MP (9 lakh acres), Odisha (6.72 lakh acres), Telangana (11.27 acres), Maharashtra (5.68 acres), Tripura (4.69 lakh acres), and Andhra Pradesh (4.54 lakh acres).
"The FRA was a transformative policy for tribal communities, providing them with legal recognition and protection of their land rights. The effective implementation of this Act is crucial for the empowerment of these communities, ensuring their sustainable development and conservation of the forests they inhabit," said Dilip Gode, executive director, Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS).
"The status report on FRA claims settlement shows significant advancements in recognizing and distributing land rights to forest-dwelling communities in India. The continued efforts in processing claims and distributing land are essential for the success of the FRA and the well-being of India's indigenous populations," says Suresh Chopne, president, Green Planet Society.
# TOP TITLE DISTRIBUTION STATES
State Forest Land
Chhattisgarh 61 lakh acres
Maharashtra 38.71 lakh acres
MP 23.66 lakh acres
Gujarat 14 lakh acres
Odisha 10.68 lakh acres
Telangana 11.27 lakh acres
Andhra 9.80 lakh acres
Kerala 8.27 lakh acres
Nagpur: Amid charges by forest and tribal rights activists about the country's apathetic implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, state-wise details obtained from the ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA), Govt of India, reveal that Chhattisgarh, followed by Maharashtra, tops the chart in the distribution of recorded forest area.
The FRA, or the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, a pivotal piece of legislation, was a significant step towards recognizing the rights of forest-dwelling communities. The FRA was enacted to recognize historical injustices against forest-dwelling communities and restore their rights. It also protects traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.
The FRA, passed by the Lok Sabha in 2006, has two basic components. A tribal family can claim Individual Forest Rights (IFR) for the land they have been cultivating for generations. Additionally, the Act specifically mentions Community Forest Rights (CFR), allowing the tribal communities to use and manage forest resources to achieve the objectives of conservation and regeneration.
As per the status report of the MoTA, Maharashtra allotted over 38.71 lakh acres of forest towards IFRs and CFRs till September 2024. The state is second highest in the country after Chhattisgarh, which distributed 61 lakh acres of forest towards IFRs and CFRs. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh distributed more than 23.67 lakh acres of titles. The states which top the chart include Gujarat (14 lakh acres), Telangana (11.27 lakh acres), Odisha (10.68 lakh acres), and Andhra Pradesh (9.81 lakh acres).
The land titles in tribal-dominated states, especially in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, speak volumes about the increasing distribution of forest land. In Maharashtra, under the IFR category, over 3.90 lakh claims were received, and 1.98 lakh titles were granted, towards which the state allotted 5.68 lakh acres of forest. Even though Maharashtra is second highest in distributing FRA titles, the state stands fifth when it comes to awarding IFRs.
As per the MoTA, Chhattisgarh distributed over 9.47 lakh acres of forest land under IFRs. This was followed by MP (9 lakh acres), Odisha (6.72 lakh acres), Telangana (11.27 acres), Maharashtra (5.68 acres), Tripura (4.69 lakh acres), and Andhra Pradesh (4.54 lakh acres).
"The FRA was a transformative policy for tribal communities, providing them with legal recognition and protection of their land rights. The effective implementation of this Act is crucial for the empowerment of these communities, ensuring their sustainable development and conservation of the forests they inhabit," said Dilip Gode, executive director, Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS).
"The status report on FRA claims settlement shows significant advancements in recognizing and distributing land rights to forest-dwelling communities in India. The continued efforts in processing claims and distributing land are essential for the success of the FRA and the well-being of India's indigenous populations," says Suresh Chopne, president, Green Planet Society.
# TOP TITLE DISTRIBUTION STATES
State Forest Land
Chhattisgarh 61 lakh acres
Maharashtra 38.71 lakh acres
MP 23.66 lakh acres
Gujarat 14 lakh acres
Odisha 10.68 lakh acres
Telangana 11.27 lakh acres
Andhra 9.80 lakh acres
Kerala 8.27 lakh acres