Procedure for Recognition of Forest Rights

LOK SABHA

Demographic details in respect of the people residing in the forest areas in the country are maintained by the respective State / Union Territory Governments.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, administered by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, seeks to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. The forest rights of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers that are to be recognized and vested are specified in Section 3 of the Act.

The procedure for recognition and vesting of the forest rights under the Act is laid down in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008 notified on 1.1.2008. As per these Rules, the claimants under the Act have to submit their claims to the Gram Sabha in the prescribed form. The Gram Sabha, assisted by a Forest Rights Committee, has to recommend claims to Sub-Divisional Level Committee after which the District Level Committee has to approve/award forest rights.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Dr. Tushar A. Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

VBA/RS