Question : Infrastructure Development in Tribal Forest Areas

(a) the benefits envisaged and actually realised in the aftermath of implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006;

(b) whether the tribals living in forest and nearby areas are reportedly being deprived of infrastructural facilities like roads, electricity and irrigation facilities on account of the said Act;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) whether the Government has any proposal to amend the said act for socio-economic upliftment of tribal dominated forest areas in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the other steps taken/being taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI JUAL ORAM)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.






Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 307 for answer on 08.08.2016 tabled by SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI and SHRI LAXMAN GILUWA regarding ‘Infrastructure Development in Tribal Forest Areas’.
(a) The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act, 2006 (FRA in short) was enacted with the objective of correcting the historical injustice done to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. The Act has substantially met this mandate through distribution of titles to eligible claimants under the Act. As per the information received from State Governments, a statement showing claims filed and titles distributed State-wise as on 31.5.2016 is at Annexure.

(b) & (c) No, Madam. Section 3 (2) of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act, 2006, provides for diversion of forest land for the facilities like schools, dispensary or hospital, anganwadis, fair price shops, electric and telecommunication lines, tanks and other minor water bodies, drinking water supply and water pipelines, water or rain water harvesting structures, minor irrigation canals, non-conventional source of energy, skill up-gradation or vocational training centres, roads and community centres. Clearance of such developmental projects are recommended by the Gram Sabha. Central Govt. also issues directions under Section 12 of FRA and clarifications and guidelines for proper implementation of the Act.

(d) & (e) No, Madam.





States No. of Claims received upto 31.05.2016 No. of Titles Distributed upto 31.05.2016
Individual Community Total Individual Community Total
Andhra Pradesh 400,053 10,959 411,012 167,263 2,107 169,370
Assam 126,718 5,193 131,911 35,407 860 36,267
Bihar 8,022 0 8,022 222 0 222
Chhattisgarh 860,364 0 860,364 347,789 0 347,789
Gujarat 182,869 7,228 190,097 73,163 3,875 77,038
Himachal Pradesh 5,409 283 5,692 238 108 346
Jharkhand 80,819 2,734 83,553 41,691 1,434 43,125
Karnataka 366,040 6,208 372,248 8,159 144 8,303
Kerala 36,140 1,395 37,535 24,599 0 24,599
Madhya Pradesh 569,719 40,872 610,591 200,541 23,139 223,680
Maharashtra 346,653 8,953 355,606 106,063 4,187 110,250
Odisha 611,479 13,220 624,699 375,316 5,163 380,479
Rajasthan 70,515 685 71,200 35,759 69 35,828
Tamil Nadu 18,420 3,361 21,781 3,723 0 3,723
Telangana 211,973 3,769 215,742 99,486 761 100,247
Tripura 191,376 277 191,653 122,528 55 122,583
Uttar Pradesh 92,520 1,124 93,644 17,712 843 18,555
Uttarakhand 182 182 0 0 0
West Bengal 131,962 10,119 142,081 43,187 747 43,934
Total 43,11,233 1,16,380 44,27,613 17,02,846 43,492 17,46,338


ANNEXURE


Annexure as referred to in the reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 307 for 08.08.2016

State-wise details of claims received and titles distributed as on 31.5.2016