(a) whether the citizens of the villages located near forest border have the right to take their animals for grazing and bringing fodder, dried grass and fire wood with them from the forest border area; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) & (b)The rights of the citizens of the villages located near forest border for grazing of their cattle and collection of fodder and firewood are determined and provided in the records of forest settlement as rights and concessions at the time of settlement under the provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927 or relevant State Forest Act(s). One of the stated objectives of the National Forest Policy, 1988 inter alia provides for meeting the requirements of fuel-wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations. Further, under the Joint Forest Management local communities have a share in the usufructs including fodder, fuelwood and timber.
The traditional forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwelling Communities for grazing and collection of fodder and fuelwood are also recognised under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwelling Communities (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.