Lok Sabha Question No. 890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Implementation of Forest Rights Act in Kerala
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 890

TO BE ANSWERED ON- 04/12/2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT IN KERALA

890.  SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in Kerala including recommendations to reduce delays in processing claims, if so, the details thereof,
- (b)  the  details  of  Individual  Forest  Rights  (IFR),  Community  Rights  (CR)  and Community Forest Resource (CFR) titles granted in Kerala as on 31 October, 2025, district-wise;
- (c) whether there has been a delay in the grant of Community Rights titles in Kerala, if so, the reasons therefor and the details of pending CR claims in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency;
- (d) whether Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are being granted habitat right in Kerala, if so, the details thereof, including claims filed and the habitat rights granted in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency;
- (e)  the  average  extent  of  land  granted  per  beneficiary  under  IFR,  CR,  CFR  titles  in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency; and
- (f) whether the Government has established FRA cells in Kerala, if so, the district-wise details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs,  being  the  Nodal  Ministry  for  administering  the legislative matters  of  'Scheduled  Tribes  and  Other  Traditional  Forest  Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006' (in short FRA), has been issuing directions and guidelines from time to time on various aspects to ensure proper implementation of the Act. As per FRA and the rules made thereunder, the state governments are responsible for the implementation of various provisions of the act, and it is being implemented in 20 states (including Kerala) and 1 UT. Further review meetings are regularly being held from  time  to  time  with  the  State  Tribal  Welfare  Department,  DC/DMs,  and  ITDP POs/PAs and with concerned authorities to reduce delays in processing claims.

Further, as informed by the State Government, in Kerala, the Representatives, Social Workers, Forest, Revenue and Scheduled Tribes Development Department officials are utilized in the Gram Sabhas to make available the revenue records and other important documents required for considering the applications. Necessary directions have also been given  by  the  State  Government  to  the  three  level  committees  i.e.,  in  case  of  claims rejected at the Grama Sabha level, the SDLCs and in case of claims rejected at SDLC level, the DLCs have been instructed by the State Government of Kerala to suo moto consider  applications  pertaining  to  the  rejection  orders  after  intimating  the  claimants accordingly. In both the cases this procedure provides the claimants an opportunity of being  heard  as  per  section  6,  FRA  Act  and  Rule  12A  of  Forest  Right  Rules.  Grama Sabhas, SDLCs and DLCs have been directed by the State Government of Kerala, to meet as often as necessary so that no delays are encountered in carrying out the business under the Act.

(b): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, FRA is being implemented in 12 districts, and a total of 29,422 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) titles and 282 Community Rights  titles  (inter  alia  includes  all  types  of  community  rights)  have  been  granted. Further, the segregated data of Community Rights (CR) and Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights have not been reported by the State Government of Kerala. The districtwise  status  of  titles  granted  along  with  the  extent  of  forest  land  for  which  titles  are distributed is at Annexure.

(c): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, steps are being taken by the State Government  to  resolve  delays  if  any  in  coordination  with  State  Forest  department especially for preparation of maps etc. There are 49 CR claims pending in the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency.

(d): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Kerala have not been granted habitat rights under FRA.

(e): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the average extent of land granted for beneficiary under IFR is 1.33 acre and CR is 117 acre in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency.

(f): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been providing financial support to the districts under 'Dharti  Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DA-JGUA)' for setting up dedicated FRA cells at the state and district/subdivision levels for a period of two years. As per the proposal received from State Government of Kerala, MoTA approved an amount of Rs. 129.89 Lakhs for setting up FRA cells at the state level (01) and at the district level (12) (where FRA is being implemented); the list of districts is at Annexure.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) and (f) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 890 to be answered on- 04/12/2025

District wise details of titles distributed and the extent of forest land for which titles distributed  (individual  and  community),  as  on  31.10.2025,  as  reported  by  State Government of Kerala, is given below:

| S. No.   | District            | Titles Distributed   | Titles Distributed   | Titles Distributed              | Extent of Forest land for which titles distributed (in Acres)   | Extent of Forest land for which titles distributed (in Acres)   | Extent of Forest land for which titles distributed (in Acres)   |
|----------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| S. No.   | District            | Individual           | Community            | Total                           | Individual                                                      | Community                                                       | Total                                                           |
| 1        | Kannur              | 1121                 | 0                    | 1121                            | 1685.28                                                         | 0                                                               | 1685.28                                                         |
| 2        | Wayanad             | 5017                 | 131                  | 5148                            | 3542.25                                                         | 12602.53                                                        | 16144.78                                                        |
| 3        | Kozhikode           | 11                   | 8                    | 19                              | 6.87                                                            | NA                                                              | 6.87                                                            |
| 4        | Malappuram          | 945                  | 0                    | 945                             | 710.36                                                          | 0                                                               | 710.36                                                          |
| 5        | Palakkad            | 2061                 | 40                   | 2101                            | 4158.20                                                         |                                                                 | 167685.68171843.88                                              |
| 6        | Thrissur            | 867                  | 21                   | 888                             | 899.89                                                          |                                                                 | 560144.13561044.02                                              |
| 7        | Ernakulam           | 1164                 | 9                    | 1173                            | 2280.02                                                         | NA                                                              | 2280.02                                                         |
| 8        | Idukki              | 8488                 | 9                    | 8497                            |                                                                 | 14631.9311468.80                                                | 26100.73                                                        |
| 9        | Kottayam            | 1406                 | 2                    | 1408                            | 1566.28                                                         | 36415.00                                                        | 37981.28                                                        |
| 10       | Pathanamthitta      | 1174                 | 0                    | 1174                            | 759.66                                                          | 0                                                               | 759.66                                                          |
| 11       | Kollam              | 1158                 | 14                   | 1172                            | 983.76                                                          | NA                                                              | 983.76                                                          |
| 12       | Thiruvananthapura m | 6010                 | 48                   | 6058                            | 7569.60                                                         | NA                                                              | 7569.60                                                         |
| TOTAL    | TOTAL               | 29422                | 282                  | 2970438794.10788316.14827110.24 |                                                                 |                                                                 |                                                                 |

(NA: Not Available with State Government) *****