SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Forest Rights Coalition (JKFRC) has formally requested a transparent and time-bound process for reviewing rejected claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The coalition also seeks the establishment of robust institutional frameworks to safeguard the rights and traditional livelihoods of forest-dwelling, tribal, and pastoral communities across the Union Territory.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that these demands were articulated during an interaction and consultation event held at the Banquet Hall in Srinagar. The meeting was organized by the JKFRC in collaboration with the Gujjar-Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference and included the presence of the Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana.
The consultation brought together a diverse group of participants, including tribal and social activists, representatives from indigenous communities, pastoralists, and grassroots workers actively involved in the implementation of the FRA, the protection of traditional livelihoods, community conservation efforts, the pursuit of social justice, and initiatives for climate resilience.
During the meeting, the JKFRC presented a memorandum to the Minister, detailing a proposed roadmap aimed at ensuring the implementation of the FRA is transparent, participatory, accountable, and fully compliant with existing legal provisions.
A key recommendation put forth by the Coalition was the formation of a Union Territory-level Advisory Committee on Forest Rights. This committee would comprise experts, researchers, practitioners, community representatives, and members of civil society organisations, including the JKFRC itself. Furthermore, the coalition called for strengthening the Sub-Divisional Level Committees and District Level Committees through regular oversight, enhanced accountability mechanisms, and meaningful engagement with forest-dwelling communities.
The JKFRC also urged for consistent inter-departmental coordination meetings involving the Forest, Revenue, Rural Development, and Tribal Affairs departments, alongside grassroots organizations. Such meetings, they argued, would be crucial for resolving procedural challenges and addressing implementation bottlenecks effectively.
A significant concern highlighted by the participants was the substantial number of forest rights claims that have been rejected. The JKFRC advocated for a systematic and claimant-friendly review mechanism, operating under the FRA and its associated Rules. This mechanism should ensure that every claimant is informed of the specific reasons for the rejection of their claim and that eligible claims are reconsidered through due legal process.
Additionally, the coalition called for the institution of regular district-level FRA meetings, increased cooperation with Gram Sabhas, the implementation of awareness programs, capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders, and periodic monitoring of progress. The JKFRC emphasized that the Gram Sabha should be recognized as the primary authority in the entire process of claim adjudication.
The Coalition further proposed the establishment of quarterly Union Territory-level reviews to assess the progress of FRA implementation and ensure that its benefits reach communities directly on the ground, rather than remaining confined to official documents and administrative offices.
A proposal was also put forward for a dedicated Gujjar-Bakerwal State Advisory Board. This board would include representation from traditional pastoralists, subject matter experts, researchers, civil society members, and relevant government departments. The proposed body would be tasked with addressing critical issues related to forest rights, traditional grazing practices, seasonal migration routes, Community Forest Resource rights, customary livelihoods, climate resilience, and the preservation of pastoral knowledge.
Minister Javed Ahmed Rana assured the attendees that the legitimate rights of traditional forest dwellers would be upheld. He stated that these communities have a rightful stake in the forests and their rights must be protected, while also underscoring the importance of forest conservation as a shared responsibility.
Rana emphasized the need for a balanced, participatory, and legally compliant approach, viewing communities as essential partners in conservation efforts. He directed that rejected claims be reviewed strictly in accordance with the FRA and its Rules, ensuring that no eligible forest dweller is denied their rightful claim due to procedural oversights.
The Minister also instructed the Director, Tribal Affairs, to initiate the process for constituting the necessary committees and to organize a Union Territory-level workshop on the FRA, to be followed by similar programs at divisional, district, and grassroots levels. He stressed the importance of training and sensitizing field-level Forest officials to ensure the FRA is understood and implemented in its true spirit.
Dr. Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, chairman and founding member of the JKFRC, advocated for recognizing forest-dwelling and pastoral communities as rights-holders, knowledge-holders, and active partners in ecological stewardship, rather than mere recipients of government schemes. He argued that effective nature conservation requires coexistence with communities that have historically lived in harmony with these landscapes.
Dr. Rasool highlighted the invaluable ecological knowledge and traditional adaptation strategies possessed by pastoral communities, positioning them as crucial partners in building climate-resilient mountain ecosystems. He called for a paradigm shift from exclusion to coexistence, urging that the FRA be implemented effectively on the ground.
Zahid Parwaz Chowdhury, convener of JKFRC and president of the Gujjar-Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference, stated that the success of the FRA would ultimately be determined by the delivery of justice to every forest dweller, regardless of their location.
Chowdhury also called for enhanced Forest Rights Committees, Gram Sabhas, Sub-Divisional Level Committees, and District Level Committees, alongside a transparent review of rejected claims and urgent attention to Community Forest Resource rights. He emphasized that community participation should be an integral part of governance, not just an occasional consultation.
Ch Mustafa Rahi, former DDC Kalaroos and founder of JKFRC, drew attention to the difficulties faced by forest-fringe and remote communities, advocating for improved access to education, healthcare, transportation, connectivity, and essential services. He stressed that development in ecologically fragile mountain regions must be environmentally responsible and compatible with local ecosystems.
Participants in the consultation voiced concerns regarding forest rights claims, rejected cases, the functioning of Forest Rights Committees, access to basic services, pastoral livelihoods, and community participation. They also challenged the perception that pastoral communities pose a threat to forests or wildlife, underscoring their deep historical connection with these natural environments.
The Coalition reiterated that traditional systems of seasonal migration, grazing, and ecological adaptation hold significant potential for providing valuable insights and solutions amidst the challenges of climate change and increasing pressure on mountain ecosystems.
The consultation concluded with a unified emphasis on fostering a model of conservation where the protection of nature and the rights of local populations mutually reinforce each other. The JKFRC and Gujjar-Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference pledged to continue their constructive engagement with the government while advocating for indigenous rights, pastoral livelihoods, community forest rights, ecological protection, and climate resilience.
The Chenab Times News Desk