Expedite Forest Rights Act implementation, STs to get land rights: Minister

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has directed officials concerned to expedite the work related to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. He chaired a meeting regarding the implementation of the Act here. He said that the Forest Rights Act had received the presidential consent in 2006 and come into effect from January 1, 2008.

Negi said that the performance of all officers and employees involved in the FRA work, from the panchayat secretary level to district committees, would be reflected in their annual confidential reports (ACRs). He added that the responsibilities and accountability of patwaris and kanungos be clearly defined under the Service Guarantee Act.

The minister said that under the FRA, land rights would be granted to the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other traditional forest dwellers, who had been residing on forestland for at least three generations prior to December 13, 2005, and were dependent on forest resources for their livelihood needs.

He reviewed disaster relief matters and issued necessary instructions to the officials. Special Secretary (Revenue) DC Rana and senior officers of the Tribal Development Department attended the meeting while Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul Raveesh, Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar and other senior officers from various districts participated in it virtually.

Himachal Tribune