Lok Sabha Question No. 4783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Forest Rights Act, 2006 in West Bengal
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Kalipada Saren Kherwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4783

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21/08/2025

## FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006 IN WEST BENGAL

## 4783. Shri Kalipada Saren Kherwal:

## Will the Minister of Tribal Affairs be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 has not been implemented in Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts of Jangalmahal region in West Bengal;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is aware that under the Forest Rights Act, tribals dwelling on their ancestral land prior to December 2005 have the right of ownership of such land; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGA DAS UIKEY)

- (a):   As per the provisions of 'The Scheduled Tribes And Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006' and Rules made thereunder, the State Governments are responsible for implementation of various provisions of the Act and are being implemented in 20 States (including West Bengal) and 1 UT. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) monitors the Monthly Progress Reports submitted by States/UTs. As reported by the State Government of West Bengal, FRA is being implemented in Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts of Jangalmahal region in West Bengal.
- (b):  The  status  of  claims  received,  titles  distributed  and  Extent  of  Forest  Land  for  which  titles  distributed alongwith claims rejected and claims pending in Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts of Jangalmahal region, as last reported by State Government of West Bengal vide their letter dated 04.09.2023 is as under:

| District           | No. of Claims received   | No. of Claims received   | No. of Claims received   | No. of Titles Distribute d ch   | No. of Titles Distribute d ch   | No. of Titles Distribute d ch   | Extent of Forest land for whi titles distributed (in Hecta res)   | Extent of Forest land for whi titles distributed (in Hecta res)   | Extent of Forest land for whi titles distributed (in Hecta res)   | Claims rejecte d   | Claims p ending   |
|--------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|
| District           | Individua l              | Com munit y              | Total                    | Indivi dual                     | Com munit y                     | Total                           | Individu al                                                       | Commun ity                                                        | Total                                                             |                    |                   |
| Jhargram           | 20753                    | 164                      | 20917                    | 9392                            | 72                              | 9464                            | 982.11                                                            | 15.73                                                             | 997.84                                                            | 11453              | 0                 |
| Purulia            | 38499                    | 1267                     | 39766                    | 7984                            | 76                              | 8060                            | 1615.76                                                           | 23.82                                                             | 1639.58                                                           | 31701              | 5                 |
| Bankura            | 34906                    | 2653                     | 37559                    | 11894                           | 210                             | 12104                           | 5464.86                                                           | 378.51                                                            | 5843.37                                                           | 24809              | 646               |
| Paschim Medinipu r | 28794                    | 1096                     | 29890                    | 5216                            | 17                              | 5233                            | 499.22                                                            | 1.52                                                              | 500.74                                                            | 24511              | 146               |

(c) & (d): Under the Forest Rights Act, the Forest-Dwelling Scheduled Tribes who have been residing on and cultivating forest land prior to 13th December 2005, are entitled to individual or community rights over such land. FRA under Section 3 (1) recognizes 13 different usufruct rights, including under Section 3(1)(a), the right to hold and live in the forest land under the individual or common occupation for habitation or for self-cultivation for livelihood.All these rights are heritable but not alienable or transferable ( Section 4(4)).

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