Lok Sabha Question No. 2459 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Forest Resources
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: M.K. Vishnu Prasad

## 2459. DR. VISHNU PRASAD M.K.:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  Government  is  planning  to  make  some  changes  in  the  Model  Guidelines  for Conservation, Management and sustainable use of community forest resources; if so the details thereof and its impact on the Vulnerable Tribal Groups; and
- (b) whether it is a fact that Government is planning to create a data bank of tribal land and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No- 2459

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 13/12/2021

## FOREST RESOURCES

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) A Committee has been constituted headed by Dr. N. C. Saxena (Retd IAS) to examine and recommend Model Guidelines for Conservation, Management and sustainable use of Community Forest Resources (CFR Guidelines in short) under Forest Rights Act, 2006 for Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) including Vulnerable Tribal Groups'.

The above said Committee is already deliberating over a suggestive CFR Guideline for the purpose of providing a clear understanding of the concept pertaining to Community Forest Resource (CFR) / detailed procedural aspects etc. to encourage implementation of the community forest management and conservation regime in the spirit of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and this is a part of the ongoing process of the implementation of the said Act.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is already seized of the need for conservation, management and sustainable use of Community Forest Resources under Forest Rights Act, 2006 and hence, on 23.4.2015, MoTA issued Guidelines under Section 12 of the Act with regard to  recognition and vesting of Community Forest Resources (CFR) and its management under FRA, 2006 and subsequently, on 22.9.2015, MoTA also issued advisory to all State Governments to make an assessment on the potential CFR area in their jurisdiction and to direct the District Level Committees (DLCs) at the various Districts that necessary steps be taken to ensure that CFR rights are recognized in all villages with forest dwellers.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is committed to ensure implementation of the Act in accordance with the Act and Rules there under. As a part of this commitment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India have issued a joint communication on 6 th July.2021, addressed to all the State Governments,  except  Mizoram  and  Nagaland  where  the  FRA  is  not  applicable,  regarding  the  expeditious implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in accordance with statutory provisions and procedures thereunder.

- (b) No, Sir. Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources (DoLR) is the nodal Ministry at the Centre which plays a monitoring role in the field of land reforms. Land and its management fall under the exclusive legislative and administrative jurisdiction of States as provided under the Constitution of India [Seventh Schedule List  ii  (State  List)  -  Entry  No.  (18)].  Land  acquisition,  rehabilitation  and  resettlement  are  done  by  the  State Governments.

*****