Lok Sabha Question No. 186 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Committees on Forest Right Act
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 186

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2016

## COMMITTEES ON FOREST RIGHT ACT

## 186. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the gram Sabhas in scheduled areas have been deprived from their rights of deciding over forest  clearance  for non-forest project in their jurisdiction under Forest Rights Act, 2006 and PESA and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  had  constituted  High  Level  Committee  on  status  of  Tribal communities in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said committee has submitted its report to the Government and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the main recommendations made by the said committee and the followup action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for strengthening the Forest Rights Act, 2006?

## ANSWER

## MINISTR OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR)

- (a) No, Madam.
- (b) Yes, Madam. A High Level Committee (HLC) was constituted on 14.8.2013 to prepare a position paper on the present socio-economic, health and educational status of STs and suggest  policy  initiatives  as  well  as  effective  outcome-oriented  measures  to  improve development  indicators  and  strengthen  public  service  delivery  to  STs  and  other  tribal populations. The Committee consisted of the following Members:-
- (c) & (d) The Committee has submitted its report on 29 th May,  2014,  which  contains  111 recommendations  cutting  across  various  issues  being  dealt  with  by  different  Central Ministries/Departments as well as State Governments viz. (i) Legal and Administration Framework,  (ii) Livelihood and Employment Status,  (iii) Education,  (iv) Health,  (v) Land Alienation, Displacement and Enforced Migration,  (vi) Legal and Constitutional Issues and  (vii) Delivery of Public Goods and Services.
- (e) Steps taken in the Ministry to strengthen Forest Rights Act, 2006, based on the feedback, review and recommendations of various Committees:
- (i) The Ministry has issued guidelines and clarifications from time to time to ensure that  the  provisions  of  the  Forest  Right  Act,  2006  are  not  violated.  The  close monitoring  of  implementation  of  FRA  and  providing  guidance  to  States  has resulted in the conferment of 17,02,846 individual and 43,492 community titles comprising 43.92 lakh hectares of forest land as on 31.05.2016.
- (ii) In order to expedite recognition and vesting of community rights, the Ministry has issued  guidelines  dated  23.4.2015  and  22.9.2015,  based  on  experience  and feedback  from    the  States  and  other  stake  holders.  This  has  resulted  in  43,492 community titles being issued thus far.
- (iii) Attention of low performing States has been drawn to the speedy implementation of Forest Right Act and their progress is monitored through video conferencing and monthly progress reports.
- (iv) Further,  the  right  holders  under  FRA  are  also  being  linked  to  the  different development  programmes  of  the  Central  and  State  Governments  for  their sustainable livelihood.

- 1) Prof. Virginius Xaxa

-Chairman

- 2) Dr. Usha Ramanathan

-Member

- 3) Dr. Joseph Bara

-Member

- 4) Dr. K. K. Misra

-Member

- 5) Dr. Abhay Bang

-Member

- 6) Ms. Sunila Basant

-Member

- 7) Secretary, M/o Tribal Affairs

-Member Secretary

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