Lok Sabha Question No. 1771 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Forest Rights Act Implementation in Kasargod District
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1771

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2024

## FOREST RIGHTS ACT IMPLEMENTATION IN KASARGOD DISTRICT

## 1771. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 has not been implemented in Kasargod district in the State of Kerala;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to implement this Act in the above district for the benefit of tribal people especially Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs), who do not own any land to build their houses or do farming; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

- (a) to (d): The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (in short FRA) seeks to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers who have been  residing  in  such  forests  for  generations  but  whose  rights  could  not  be  recorded.  As  per provisions  of  FRA  and  rules  made  thereunder,  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are responsible for implementation of various provisions of the Act.

As reported by the State Government of Kerala, FRA is being implemented in 12 districts. In Kasargod District, the State Government has constituted the District Level Committee (DLC), 2 Sub-District Level Committees, and 62 Forest Rights Committees (FRCs) in the district. However, no claims have been received and no rights have been vested.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has issued joint communication to States on 14 th March for the benefit of FRA Patta holders; which would also be applicable for Kerela including Kasargod.  The  relevant  para of the  advisory is reproduced as under.

'The individuals and PVTGs who have been given rights under Section 3(1) (a) and  3(1) (e)  of the Act should be facilitated to make use of vested forest land for availing benefits under relevant

Government Schemes, in the best possible manner. Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched PM JANMAN, wherein interventions including provision of pucca house, electricity and water apart from dovetailing with agriculture schemes are being provided to tribal families.

Thus States and UT Governments are requested to provide all necessary support and handholding to holders of forest rights under Section 3(1)(a) and PVTGs under Section 3(1)(e) of FRA 2006'

Further, Government of India has launched scheme of 'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan'  (DA  JGUA) which  inter  alia  focuses  on  effective  implementation  of  FRA  and convergence of benefits of various Government Schemes (related to housing, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Schemes of Department of  Animal Husbandry, Department of Agriculture , Department of Fisheries) to FRA Patta holders to ensure their socio economic development.

The Ministry has also given modalities to State Governments to initiate 'Mapping of Potential forest areas and preparation of FRA Atlas' which would be a monitoring and assessment tool for effective vesting of forest rights for which funding is given.

Additionally under DA JGUA; to establish an institutional framework that provides support to the districts and the gram sabhas, Ministry is also providing funds to State Governments, including State Govt of Kerala, for setting up dedicated FRA cells . The FRA cell  are aimed to support claimants  in  filing  claims  and facilitating  access  to  necessary  data  in  addition  to monitoring of progress, reporting and ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  and  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj, under  DA  JGUA  are conducting  special  capacity  building  programmes  in  all  FRA  implementing  States  (including Kerala) to generate awareness amongst all stakeholders including the forest dwelling communities/ gram sabhas about their rights under the FRA.

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