Budgam, Sep 10: The Forest Department has initiated a fresh public interaction programme with Scheduled Tribes and forest-dwelling communities to facilitate the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and address issues related to pending claims.
Talking to media on the sidelines of an awareness-cum-interaction programme at Monu, Charar-e-Sharief, Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle, Saurabh Sharma, IFS said the department would continue working with forest-dwelling communities while ensuring protection and conservation of forests.
Sharma said the public interaction initiative would be taken forward at the block level across the forest divisions, particularly to help people who are facing difficulties or confusion in claiming their rights under the FRA.
“Wherever people are facing problems in getting their rights, we will help and guide them,” he said, adding that the concerned staff would explain the complete process involving Forest Rights Committees (FRCs), Gram Sabhas, Sub-Divisional Level Committees (SDLCs) and District Level Committees/Authorities (DLCA).
He said the Tribal Department has now been designated as the nodal department for the process, while its nodal officers, the district administration and DFOs would coordinate to address issues related to claims.
The Conservator said one of the major grievances raised by people during the interaction was the lack of clarity regarding the status of their claims and delays in their processing.
“We will take up the matter with the district administration to find out where claims are pending and what issues are preventing their disposal,” Sharma said.
He also urged members and chairpersons of Forest Rights Committees from different villages to compile details of pending claims and submit a list to the concerned forest authorities so that their status could be verified and necessary assistance provided.
Sharma said the initiative would benefit both local communities and forest conservation by helping authorities distinguish between legitimate forest rights holders and illegal encroachments.
He stressed that the objective was to ensure that genuine rights are recognised while simultaneously protecting forests, adding that the department would continue such interactions with the public across different areas—(KNO)
