Lok Sabha Question No. 2446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-13
Subject: Land for Tribals in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Ganapathy Rajkumar P

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2446

To Be Answered On- 13/03/2025

## LAND FOR TRIBALS IN TAMIL NADU

2446. Dr. Ganapathy Rajkumar P:

Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any data on tribal land owned by tribals in Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there have been several disputes among tribals and forest departments on tribal land and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken for permanent solution to award land to tribals in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## (SHRI DURGA DAS UIKEY)

(a) to (c): 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). Therefore, the data on tribal land owned by tribals in Tamil Nadu is not centrally maintained.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), being the Nodal Ministry for administering the legislative matters of 'Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006' (in short FRA), has been issuing directions and guidelines from time to time on various aspects of the Act to ensure proper implementation of  the  Act.   As  per  FRA  and   rules  made  thereunder  respective  State  Governments/UT  Administrations  are responsible for the implementation of various provisions of the Act. The Act is being implemented in 20 States (including Tamil Nadu) and 1 UT, while the States submit  Monthly Progress Report.

As per the information from FRA implementing States/UTs ( including Tamil Nadu) up to 28th February, 2025, a total of 25,03,453 titles have been distributed, comprising 23,85,334 individual and 1,18,119 community titles,  covering  an  area  of  1,92,42,489.72  acres  of  forest  land-  5,070,496.95  acres  for  individual  titles  and 14,171,992.76 acres for community titles.

To resolve issues related to coordination with officials of the forest department MoTA and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, have issued advisories  addressed to all Chief Secretaries of States/UTs . Further  State Level Monitoring Committee headed under the chairmanship of Chief secretary , as detailed under FRA Act and Rules can  resolve all field level issues including disputes if any with forest department. Further to address any disputes pertaining to Forest Rights claims in the forest areas, FRA and its rules provide several safeguards to the claimants, which are:

- i. Section 6 (2) of FRA stipulates that ' Any person aggrieved by the resolution of the Gram Sabha may prefer a petition to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and dispose of such petition. Provided that every such petition shall be preferred within sixty days from the date of passing of the resolution by the Gram Sabha: Provided further  that  no  such  petition  shall  be  disposed  of  against  the  aggrieved  person,  unless  he  has  been  given  a reasonable opportunity to present his case '.
- ii. Section 6 (4) of FRA stipulates, 'Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Sub-Divisional Level Committee may prefer a petition to the District Level Committee within sixty days from the date of decision of the SubDivisional  Level  Committee  and  the  District  Level  Committee  shall  consider  and  dispose  of  such  petition: Provided that no petition shall be preferred directly before the District Level Committee against the resolution of  the  Gram  Sabha  unless  the  same  has  been  preferred  before  and  considered  by  the  Sub-Divisional  level Committee: Provided further that no such petition shall be disposed of against the aggrieved person, unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity to present his case'.
- iii. FR, Rule 10 stipulates that the function of the State Level Monitoring Committee shall monitor the process of recognition, verification, and vesting of forest rights in the State and address the field-level problems.
- iv. FR  Rule  12  (3),  stipulates  that,  ' If  there  are  conflicting  claims  in  respect  of  the  traditional  or  customary boundaries  of  another  village  or  if  a  forest  area  is  used  by  more  than  one  Gram  Sabha,  the  Forest  Rights Committees of the respective Gram Sabhas shall meet jointly to consider the nature of enjoyment of such claims and submit the findings to the respective Gram Sabhas in writing: Provided that if the Gram Sabhas are not able to resolve the conflicting claims, it shall be referred by the Gram Sabha to the SubDivisional Level Committee for its resolution. '

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