Forest Rights Act: DC Rajouri discusses modalities for effective implementation on ground level

Rajouri: To ensure the effective implementation of provisions of Forest Rights Act in the district, the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Mohammad Nazir Sheikh on Saturday convened a meeting with the concerned officers here in the Conference Hall of the PWD Dak Bunglow.

The Deputy Commissioner, while speaking at the meeting, briefed in detail the action plan and road map for implementation of Forest Rights Act in the district. He explained the procedures prescribed in the Forest Rights Act/Rules for formation of Gram Sabha, Sub Divisional level and District level Committees to recognize and vest the forest rights to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.

Earlier, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajouri threw light on various aspects of the legislation, especially the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources. The role of different departments in achieving the objective of the Schedule Tribes & other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 was also explained in depth.

It was apprised that FRA recognizes rights of forest dwellers (ST/OTFD) on ancestral lands and their habitat which were not adequately recognized and it also includes responsibility and authority for sustainable use, conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance.

The meeting was also apprised about the rules including the preamble, the forest dwelling communities, the constitution and functions of the 3-tier system of committees at the district, sub divisional and gram Panchayat level and the procedure to be followed for inviting, acknowledging and processing the claims under the Act.

The meeting decided that special training cum awareness programmes for the members of the Forest Right Committees and resource persons of the Revenue, RDD and Forest Department shall be organised for effective implementation of the Forest Right Act in the district.