Question : Implementation of Forest Rights Act- 2006

(a) whether the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 are not being implemented in Darjeeling Hills, Terai and Dooars in West Bengal;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes changes in Indian Forest Service training to include ‘forest dwellers welfare’ as part of forest management and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Ministry has received any complaints regarding the eviction of dwellers from their lands/forest area in Darjeeling region; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a)&(b) The provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 are being implemented in the State of West Bengal.

(c)Yes, Sir. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change constituted an Expert committee for restructuring the Course curriculum for training of Indian Forest Service officers in Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun on 19.02.2019. The committee in its recommendations, submitted to the Ministry, has suggested to give more emphasis on the welfare of tribal communities by incorporating a module titled “Tribals and Forest Dependent Communities” in the IFS Probationers professional training curriculum.

(d)&(e) Forest Department of West Bengal has reported that no complaints regarding eviction of forest dwellers from their land/ forest area in Darjeeling region have been received.

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