Tribal Affairs Minister Highlights Forest Rights Progress in Lok Sabha
The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, recently addressed the Lok Sabha, providing an update on the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA). The act, which aims to ensure that forest-dwelling communities have rights to the land they live on, protects individuals and communities from eviction until their claims are verified and recognized.
In his statement, Oram emphasized that according to Section 3(1) of the FRA, members of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers have the right to hold and cultivate the forest land they occupy. Additionally, Section 4(5) assures that no member of these communities can be forcibly evicted without proper recognition and verification processes being completed.
Current Status of Claims and Titles Distribution
The Minister reported that there have been no instances of displacement of applicants in relation to their claims under FRA, particularly within critical tiger habitats. This aligns with the guidelines of both the FRA and the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, ensuring that local communities provide free and informed consent during conservation efforts.
In terms of actual claims, the latest data from Madhya Pradesh revealed that the Dewas district processed a substantial amount of claims: 9,238 total claims were submitted, comprising 8,762 individual and 476 community claims. Out of these, 4,869 titles were successfully distributed, while 4,368 claims were rejected, leaving only one pending claim.
Nationally, as of October 31, 2025, a remarkable total of over 5.1 million claims have been reported at the Gram Sabha level across various states and Union Territories. This includes approximately 4.9 million individual claims and over 213,000 community claims. Of these, around 2.5 million titles have been awarded, with a notable rejection rate of about 36.33% and pending claims totaling approximately 768,820.
No Recent Applications for Tiger Project or Ecotourism
Oram also noted that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has yet to receive applications under the FRA for the Tiger Project or for ecotourism initiatives within forest regions, highlighting the decentralized nature of monitoring and implementation. These processes are overseen by State-level Monitoring Committees and District-level Implementing Committees to ensure compliance with FRA guidelines.
The data from the various states underscores efforts toward recognizing and distributing forest rights, crucial for protecting the livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities. The ongoing commitment reflects a dedication to upholding the rights enshrined in the FRA, ensuring that these communities can continue to thrive in their traditional habitats.
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