JAMMU, APR 20: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, has directed officials across Jammu and Kashmir to accelerate and streamline the compliance mechanisms under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. The directive was issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to assess the current progress of the Act’s implementation within the Union Territory.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the meeting was attended by senior officials, including Commissioner Secretary Forests, Ecology & Environment, Sheetal Nanda; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Sarvesh Rai; Secretary Tribal Affairs Department, Prasanna Ramaswamy G; Director Tribal Affairs J&K, Mohd. Mumtaz Ali; Director Finance, Tribal Affairs Department, Iftikhar Chouhan; and Nodal Officer, Tribal Research Institute, Dr. Abdul Khabir. The Minister emphasized the necessity for a more efficient and transparent framework for the implementation of the Act.
Minister Rana instructed the attending officials to expedite the recognition of forest rights and ensure the prompt operationalisation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) cells at the district level. He highlighted the crucial role these cells play in facilitating the documentation of claims, fostering inter-departmental coordination, and enabling the timely uploading of essential records. “The formation of FRA cells must be fast-tracked. The entire process should be time-bound, coordinated and people-centric, with clearly defined accountability at every stage to safeguard the interests of tribal communities,” Rana stated.
The Minister further stressed the importance of inter-departmental synergy, urging for seamless convergence between the revenue, forest, and tribal affairs departments. This collaboration, he noted, is essential to eliminate procedural delays and administrative bottlenecks that currently hinder the effective implementation of the Act. It is noteworthy that the Jammu and Kashmir government has designated the Tribal Affairs Department as the nodal agency for implementing the Forest Rights Act, a role previously held by the Forest Department. The legislation itself aims to address the long-standing concerns of forest-dwelling communities by recognising both individual and community rights over forest land and its associated resources for Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
In pursuit of greater transparency and accountability, Minister Rana directed the officials to compile comprehensive data on rejected claims, providing detailed reasons for each rejection. He explained that this data compilation would be instrumental in ensuring that genuine beneficiaries are not inadvertently excluded from the benefits of the Act and would enable the implementation of necessary corrective measures. The Minister also underscored the critical role of Gram Sabhas in the entire process, emphasizing the need for adequate and meaningful representation of tribal communities within these grassroots institutions. These bodies are responsible for the verification and recommendation of claims submitted under the Act.
Minister Rana called for intensified outreach efforts, instructing the officials to strengthen awareness campaigns. These campaigns are intended to ensure that eligible beneficiaries are fully informed about their rights and the procedures involved in filing claims. He specifically emphasized the need for district-level awareness drives and training programs designed to educate communities about their entitlements under the Forest Rights Act. Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of tribal populations, the Minister called for regular monitoring and periodic reviews, along with strict adherence to established timelines, to ensure the effective and timely implementation of the Forest Rights Act throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
