20-Jul-2022: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 has resulted in enhancing the income basket of the beneficiaries
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided funds to various State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to conduct studies on post implementation of “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in short FRA)”.
The study reports, inter alia, indicate that provisions of rights under FRA have resulted in enhancing the income basket of the beneficiaries and consequently their quality of life; Sizable number of women title holders have enabled the tribal women to be empowered; CFR rights have enabled Gram Sabhas in managing and conserving their own forest resources along with sale of Minor Forest Produces leading to enhanced size of income kitty; Need of Capacity building of Gram Sabha members in the context of their empowerment for forest governance, preparation of micro plans for the sustainable management of forest resource, improving livelihood opportunities, assessment of the biomass stock and biodiversity conservation; The Infrastructure in interior forest areas needs to be improved.
As per Forest Rights Act, 2006 and rules made thereunder, the responsibility for implementation of the Act lies with State Governments/UT Administrations. The implementation of the Act has been carried out since its inception as an ongoing process by various State Governments / UT Administrations. Progress in implementation of FRA in different States/UTs is furnished by the States/UTs on a monthly basis indicating the claims received, titles distributed and the extent of forest land for which titles have been distributed. Reports received from the States/UTs are compiled and put in public domain.
Government is committed for smooth implementation of the Act to ensure provision of benefits to the eligible STs and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs). Efforts have been made by the Government to address the difficulties arising in the implementation of the Act by the States from time to time by issuing suitable instructions / advisories to the State Governments. States/UTs have also been requested by this Ministry from time to time to review all rejected claims as well. MoTA always lays emphasis on recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights for the Gram Sabhas. Further, with a view to improve coordination between the Forest Departments and Tribal Welfare Departments at the State level for smooth implementation of FRA, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have also jointly issued a communication to the State Governments/UT Administrations wherein it has been, inter alia, urged to the Forest Department to provide a high level of support to enable expeditious implementation of the Act for recognition and vesting of forest rights. The joint communication was signed by Secretaries of MoTA and MoEFCC on 6th July, 2021.
This Ministry has convened a series of review-cum-consultation meetings, regional workshops, training on implementation of Forest Rights Act including virtual training of trainers programme on FRA from time to time. The capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) representatives initiated virtually by MoTA in partnership with National Tribal Research Institutes (NTRI), Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) United Nation Development Projects (UNDP) and State Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) was held from 16th to 18th June, 2021. Three days National level Virtual Training of Trainers Programme on Forest Rights Act, 2006,’ as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav organized jointly by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, National Tribal Research Institute , New Delhi, Tribal Research and Training Institute Chhattisgarh and UNDP was held from 2nd – 4th August, 2021. A two days National Consultation on ‘Potential of Forest Rights Act in the context of Tribal Development: Implementation Gaps and Way Forward’ was organised by SCSTRTI (TRI Odisha), ST & SC Development Department, Govt. of Odisha with support from Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India and in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 7th & 8th July 2022 at SCSTRTI Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Further, State Governments are also convened seminars/meetings/workshops/training etc. at their level from time to time for effective implementation of the FRA.
5-Jul-2021: Further Empowering the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers in the management of Forest resources.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have jointly decided to give more powers to the tribal communities in managing the forest resources. A “Joint Communication” to this effect is scheduled to be signed in New Delhi tomorrow at 11 AM IST at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi.
The signing ceremony will be held in a hybrid mode and will be attended by Forest Secretary, Shri Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, Tribal Secretary, Shri Anil Kumar Jha and revenue secretaries of all the states.
Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda and Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar will address the event which will also be attended by Minister of State for Environment Shri Babul Supriyo and Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta.
The Joint Communication, pertains to effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which is commonly known as Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The Act recognizes and vests the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling scheduled tribes (FDSTs) and other traditional forest dwellers (OTFDs) who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded and provides a framework for recording the forest rights so vested and the nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest land.
13-Apr-2022: Cabinet approves policy for use of land acquired under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957
With the objectives of facilitating utilization of lands which are mined out or are practically unsuitable for coal mining and for increasing investment and job creation in coal sector, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the policy for use of land acquired under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957 [CBA Act]. The policy provides for utilisation of such land for the purpose of development and setting up of infrastructure relating to coal and energy.
The CBA Act provides for acquisition of coal bearing lands and their vesting in Government company, free from any encumbrance. The approved policy provides clear policy framework for utilisation of following types of lands acquired under the CBA Act:
- Lands no longer suitable or economically viable for coal mining activities; or
- Lands from which coal has been mined out / de-coaled and such land has been reclaimed.
The Government coal companies, such as Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and its subsidiaries shall remain owner of these lands acquired under the CBA Act and the policy allows only leasing of the land for the specified purposes given in the policy. Government coal companies can deploy private capital in joint projects for coal and energy related infrastructure development activities.
The Government company which owns the land would lease such land for specific period given under the policy and the entities for leasing shall be selected through a transparent, fair and competitive bid process and mechanism in order to achieve optimal value. The lands will be considered for the following activities:
- to set up Coal Washeries;
- to set up Conveyor Systems;
- to establish Coal Handling Plants;
- to construct Railway Sidings;
- Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Project Affected Families due to acquisition of land under the CBA Act or other land acquisition law;
- to set up thermal and renewal power projects;
- to set up or provide for coal development related infrastructure including compensatory afforestation;
- to provide Right of Way;
- Coal gasification and coal to chemical plants; and
- to set up or provide for energy related infrastructure.
The lands which are mined out or are practically unsuitable for coal mining are prone to unauthorised encroachment and entail avoidable expenditure on security and maintenance. Under the approved policy, establishment of various coal and energy related infrastructure, without transfer of ownership from Government companies, would lead to generation of a large number of direct and indirect employment.
This unlocking of non-minable land for other purposes will also help CIL in reducing its cost of operations as it will be able to set up coal related infrastructure and other projects such as solar plant on its own land by adopting different business models in partnership with private sector. It will make coal gasification projects viable as coal need not be transported to distant places.
The proposal to utilise land for rehabilitation purpose would ensure proper utilization of land and would eliminate wastage of all-important land resource, avoid acquisition of fresh chunk of land for rehabilitation of Project Affected Families, eliminate loading of additional financial burden on the projects and increase profit. It will also address the demand of the displaced families as they always prefer to stay as close as possible to their original residential places. It will help in obtaining local support for coal projects and also providing land to the State Government for afforestation in lieu of forest land diverted to coal mining.
The Policy will help in realizing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat by encouraging domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence, job creation, etc. The policy will unlock land for various coal and energy infrastructure development activities that would encourage investment in backward areas of the country. Utilisation of already acquired land would also prevent fresh acquisition of land and related displacement and would promote local manufacturing and industries.
1-Apr-2022: 11 Textiles articles with certain technical specifications are exclusively reserved for production on Handlooms
The Government has promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 to protect handlooms weavers from encroachment of the powerloom and mill sector on their livelihood. 11 textiles articles with certain technical specifications are exclusively reserved for production on handlooms. Appropriate action under provisions of the Act is taken in case of violation.
Central and State Government implementing agencies conduct inspection of powerloom units to ensure that items reserved for production on handlooms are not produced on power looms. During the last three years & current year (as on 28.02.2022) implementing agencies have inspected 11,14,667 power looms and lodged 218 FIRs.
In addition, the “Scheme for Protection of Handlooms” has provisions for capacity building of State Govt. Enforcement Machinery; awareness programmes etc. in order to curb sale of fake handloom products.