New Delhi: November 24, 2011

As per the information available with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the States have progressed in varying degrees in implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. As per the information collected from the State/UT Governments, till 31 October, 2011, more than 31.49 lakh claims have been filed and more than 12.30 lakh titles have been distributed under the Act. More than 13 thousand titles were ready for distribution.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has notified the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008 on 1 January, 2008 for implementing the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The Forest Rights Act, 2006 was notified for operation with effect from 31 December, 2007. As per the provisions of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder, the responsibility for implementation of the Act lies with the State Governments. The details of the claims filed, titles distributed, claims rejected and disposed off under the Act since operationalisation of the Act and upto till 31 October, 2011 are: – out of a total number of 28,08,494 claims disposed of, 15,77,829 claims (56.18%) were rejected.

The above information was given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Mahadeo Singh Khandela in written reply in the Rajya Sabha on November 24, 2011.

 

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