By IANS,
New Delhi: The states’ lack of awareness about the Forest Rights Act, its poor implementation and forest dwellers being looked upon as disadvantaged and asset-less – these are some of the major findings of a joint committee that inquired into the status of the legislation’s implementation.
The committee, which was set up by the tribal affairs ministry and the environment and forests ministry, Monday submitted its report to Tribal Affairs Minister Kantilal Bhuria in the presence of Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh.
In its findings, the committee said that in 11 states the process of implementing the act has not even begun. States like Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh considered the act a means to ‘distribute’ forest land and set a deadline for it. The act, however, does not mention any deadline for its implementation.
The report noted the lack of trained staff for implementation of the act at the grassroots level. It stated that forest officials have been found to have evicted forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes without honouring their forest rights.
In its recommendations, the committee has highlighted the need for greater participation of the civil society in spreading awareness about the act.
It said that both the tribal affairs and forests ministries should work out a set of instructions so that evictions do not take place in violation of the Forest Rights Act and at the same time also ensure that fresh encroachments do not take place.