Lok Sabha Question No. 1858 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Individual and Community Forest Rights Titles under FRA, 2006
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.-1858

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 11.12.2025

## INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY FOREST RIGHTS TITLES UNDER FRA, 2006

1858. SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  Individual  and  Community  Forest  Rights  (CFR)  titles  granted  under  the  Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 in Korba district were subsequently cancelled or withdrawn by the District Authorities between 2018 and October 31, 2025 and if so, the exact number of such cancellations or withdrawals;
- (b) whether the Government is providing any financial or technical support to strengthen the Gram Sabhas in Chhattisgarh to prevent the Forest Department from encroaching upon the Community Forest Resource management powers vested under the FRA and PESA Acts and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action on the reported unlawful cancellation of CFR rights in  villages  like  Ghatbarra  (Hasdeo),  which  was  allegedly  carried  out  to  facilitate  coal  mining expansion and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government would intervene to restore these constitutional rights, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (d)  :   As  per  the  provisions  of  Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest  Dwellers (Recognition  of  Forest  Rights)  Act,  2006  (in  short,  FRA)  and  Rules  made  thereunder,  the  State Governments and UT Administrations are responsible for implementation of various provisions of the Act and are being implemented in 20 States (including Chhattisgarh) and 1 UT. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) monitors the Monthly Progress Reports submitted by States/UT. As reported by the State Government of Chhattisgarh, the status of FRA implementation in Korba, there are a total of 1,10,290 claims (Individual- 1,07,890 and Community- 2,400) have been received, out of which a total of 58,773 (53.28%) (Individual- 57,141 and Community- 1,632) titles have been distributed. A total of 50,749 (46.01%) claims have been rejected, and 768 claims are pending.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has extended, financial support to State Governments under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) for strengthening Gram Sabhas and Community Forest  Resource  Management  Committees,  including  for  the  preparation  and  implementation  of community-led forest management plans.

As stipulated under Section 6 (6) of FRA, ' the decision of the District Level Committee on the record of  forest  rights  shall  be  final  and  binding '.  Further,  no  such  information  is  available  with  this Ministry regarding cancellations or withdrawals of any granted rights under FRA in Korba District and  cancellation  of  CFR  rights  in  villages  like  Ghatbarra  (Hasdeo).  State  Governments,  the implementing authority are regularly urged to uphold the provisions of the Act and other safeguards in their true letter and spirit.

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