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forest rights act news

Latest from forest rights act

Rights groups alarmed over Himachal forest official's letter on FRA, write to Centre

india news

Published on Apr 17, 2025 09:02 AM IST

PTI |

Tribal groups claim Centre's forest encroachment data to NGT 'false', undermines FRA

india news

Published on Apr 03, 2025 11:44 AM IST

PTI |

Over 745,000 forest rights claims pending across states: Minister tells RS

According to the data presented in the Rajya Sabha, Telangana has the highest number of pending claims, with around 329,000 unresolved claims

According to data provided by the minister, the total number of claims settled across all states and union territories stands at 2,503,453 (FILE PHOTO)

india news

Published on Mar 19, 2025 10:35 PM IST

ByVrinda Tulsian

Put communities in charge of conserving sacred groves

For sacred groves and other ecosystems to thrive, a paradigm shift is needed: one that empowers local communities and embraces diversity in management practices

Motorists ride through the Shola-grassland forests or cloud forests in Nilgiris district, India, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) (AP)

opinion

Published on Jan 06, 2025 08:45 PM IST

ByGautam Aredath

Chhattisgarh civil groups question ban on Moolvasi Bachao Manch

The civil groups described the government’s move as an alarming misuse of state power aimed at suppressing activism and intimidating protesters advocating for tribal rights

The Chhattisgarh government claimed that the Moolvasi Bachao Manch had been continuously opposing the development activities in Maoist-affected areas and the camps established for the operation of security forces. (Representational image)

cities

Published on Nov 20, 2024 06:13 PM IST

ByRitesh Mishra

Empower communities to fix forest governance

Tardy devolution of rights under FRA and issues undermining gram sabhas’ capabilities to exercise these rights wherever recognised need to be addressed

Apart from having wider environmental implications, forest degradation also poses a real challenge to forest-based livelihoods (Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times

opinion

Published on Sep 05, 2024 09:09 PM IST

ByGautam Aredath, Sharachchandra Lele

Forest Rights recognition major issue in 153 LS constituencies, says analysis

Of the 153 core FRA constituencies, the BJP won 103 seats, while the Congress won only 11 seats in the 2019 general elections

There are 47 ST reserved seats in India out of which 42 are core FRA constituencies, as per the analysis. (Representative Image)

india news

Published on Apr 13, 2024 01:39 PM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

Chhattisgarh: 17 villages of Hasdeo Aranya get Community Forest Management rights

These titles have been recognised in areas that were marked for nine coal blocks in Korba district including Paturia, Gidhmudi, Madanpur South, and coal bearing areas

In 2021, the residents of these villages participated in the 300-km padyatra to Raipur to meet the governor and the chief minister with a demand to protect the forests. (Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Mar 19, 2024 10:36 AM IST

ByRitesh Mishra

Jal Jangal Jameen: Why these three words can’t be separated from India’s tribes

A history of the slogan that has carried forward from Indian Independence to the present, and what it means to the tribal communities and forest dwellers

Statue of Komaram Bheem at Tank Bund Road, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, India(Praveen Kumar Myakala/Wikimedia Commons)

analysis

Updated on Feb 07, 2024 08:35 PM IST

BySai Thakur

The janjatiya way to nation-building

The Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebration underscores the government’s dedication to the well-being and empowerment of marginalised groups.

Bhagwan Birsa Munda wasn’t just a protector of the forest. He stood as a guardian of socio-cultural values, sacrificing himself alongside his comrades in the fight against the British. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Published on Nov 15, 2023 10:17 PM IST

ByArjun Munda

Forest conservation is the law. What does a new bill seek to amend?

The Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 is expected to be tabled in the Parliament's Monsoon session. Key provisions of the bill have come under fire

One of the proposed clauses in the bill exempts prior clearance for strategic developmental projects of national importance on forest land situated within 100 km of international borders, which will include ecologically fragile regions of Himalayas that are home to a variety of endemic wildlife like the red panda(Parveen Kaswan)

analysis

Updated on Jul 20, 2023 07:56 PM IST

ByJayashree Nandi

Never-ending injustice: Forest Villages of Madhya Pradesh

Authored by Sharachchandra Lele, Distinguished Fellow and Venkat Ramanujam, post-doctoral research associate, Centre for Environment & Development, ATREE.

Adivasis cultivating land at the edge of a Forest Village.

ht insight

Published on May 19, 2023 05:14 PM IST

ByHindustan Times

Further felling of trees in Aarey will destroy sustenance of remaining Adivasis

The Bhoyes, whose eviction has been stayed by a 2018 High Court order, are now the only family from Prajapur to continue practicing indigenous land use; harvesting fruits, tubers and a few vegetables for personal consumption and sale. The natural resources that allow them to do so are now under threat, with the MMRCL prepared to fell 124 trees in the area, of which 75 are tended to by the Bhoyes.

Mumbai, India - April 11, 2023: Contrary to what many believe, the 177 additional trees that the MMRCL is now seeking to cut in Aarey Colony for Metro-3, are not actually located in the contentious depot plot. They can be found some distance away on a hillock in Prajapur Pada, an Adivasi settlement, which has been practising agriculture and horticulture on project affected lands for decades. At least 75 of the earmarked trees, including jamun, jackfruit, chickoo and banana varieties, are situated on the land of the Bhoye family, belonging to the Kokna Scheduled Tribe, in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (Photo by Satish Bate/Hindustan Times) (Satish Bate/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Apr 12, 2023 12:41 AM IST

ByPrayag Arora-Desai

J&K government to implement Forest Rights Act

The Act, which grants and safeguard the rights of forest dwellers,was not applicable in the UT for the last 14 years

cities

Updated on Nov 19, 2020 12:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times/Jammu | ByPress Trust of India, Jammu

Chhattisgarh govt makes forest department as nodal agency for forest rights, activists describe move as ‘illegal’

A press release issued by the Chhattisgarh government on Saturday stated that the Forest Department has been made the nodal agency for the matter of community forest resource rights in the state.

File photo: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.(HT Photo)

india news

Updated on May 31, 2020 02:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | ByRitesh Mishra | Edited by Sparshita Saxena

Odisha rehabilitation policy revision to increase one-time assistance next week

The revision is in line with the understanding that the CPI is a better indicator of inflation that affects an average household.

Odisha government is planning to revise the rehabilitation policy to increase the monetary relief given to the affected.(PTI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jan 15, 2020 07:04 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Bhubaneswar | ByDebabrata Mohanty

Heavy encroachment led to rejected forest claims: FSI

The need for an FSI survey arose after a bench led by Justice Arun Mishra on February 13 this year ordered eviction of forest dwellers whose claims had been rejected.

The need for an FSI survey arose after a bench led by Justice Arun Mishra on February 13 ordered eviction of forest dwellers whose claims had been rejected. (HT File)

india news

Updated on Dec 18, 2019 11:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByBhadra Sinha and Jayshree Nandi

Indian liberals are adrift today. Here is a way out

Liberals have become over-reliant on State institutions. That mechanism is gone. They must work with society

Focusing on the economy isn’t enough. They must engage with identity concerns(Hindustan Times)

analysis

Updated on Oct 21, 2019 08:26 PM IST

ByRuchi Gupta

Terror of wild elephants in MP, two dead in four days

The forest department, which is issuing warning continuously for the past three days, issued fresh warning on Saturday that more elephants are coming from the Chhattisgarh.

The elephant movement created panic among the villagers of Barahpan, Urati, Jaraha, Gobha and other villages and they left their houses abandoned.(HT image)

india news

Updated on Oct 13, 2019 11:23 AM IST

Bhopal | ByHT Correspondent

Shifting the Metro depot alone will not save Aarey

Aarey’s fate is precarious: the car depot will take away 3% of the area; even if the car depot is shifted out, 97% of the area has no protection

The construction of a car depot at Aarey Colony for the Metro project has been opposed by environmentalists, local citizens, students and politicians.(HT FILE)

cities

Updated on Sep 22, 2019 11:41 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManoj R Nair

India has adopted a coloniser’s approach to tribal populations

The proper implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act) of 2006 is an opportunity for India to demonstrate a model of conservation where historic missteps are addressed while being strategic about our commitment to climate and biodiversity action.

The Supreme Court of India’s ruling in February ordering the eviction of forest dwellers and tribes from India’s forests was based on petitions that deem these communities “encroachers”. They blame the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights Act) of 2006 for the denudation of forests.(ARBINDA MOHAPATRA/HT PHOTO)

analysis

Updated on Sep 04, 2019 12:40 PM IST

BySmitha Rao

Why NTCA’s tiger action plan is a giant leap | Analysis

A wiser move would be to adopt the NTCA’s model of benefit-sharing with indigenous people living on the fringes of reserves, as laid down in the forest rights act (FRA).

The draft was described to be draconian by several forest-rights activists because it gives major powers to forest officers, including the use of firearms and greater immunity from prosecution.(HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Aug 07, 2019 11:44 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

Tiger numbers can increase even with human cohabitation

The application by nine academics was submitted to the Supreme Court in July as part of a petition seeking proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA).

A judicial magistrate’s court in Chamrajnagar upheld their community rights, including the crucial forest conservation and management right among others.(Sushil Prajapati/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 10:02 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

SC/ST welcome budget, skeptical if allocations will be directly beneficial

The absence of any provision to speed up processing of claims under the 2006 Forest Rights Act was also a point of concern, the activists noted.

budget

Published on Jul 07, 2019 07:08 AM IST

New Delhi | ByDhrubo Jyoti

UK university honour for forest rights activist Madhu Sarin

Announcing the honorary graduates for 2019, the university said Sarin played a key role as a member of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity in India, which was instrumental in drafting the Forest Rights Act of 2006.

Madhu Sarin, a leading Indian figure in the area of forest rights, rural development and gender justice, is to be honoured with a honorary doctorate in civil law by the University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich.

world news

Updated on Jun 16, 2019 07:35 AM IST

London | ByPrasun Sonwalkar

NDA 2.0: Environment ministry to fast-track draft policies on land banks, forest cover

The environment ministry is expecting state governments to send their comments on the draft amendment to the Indian Forest Act, which among other things, empowers forest department officials to arrest without warrant and carry arms.

Public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private companies may be given a chance to raise these trees and earn from it,” a senior official said.(Anushree Fadnavis/HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 05, 2019 11:02 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

This tribal hamlet at Aarey may get electricity for first time since Independence

Residents of Naushachapada have not applied for community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act

Adivasis of Nausachapada celebrate after getting NOC from Bombay Veterinary College.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jun 04, 2019 12:52 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByYesha Kotak, Mumbai

Don’t dilute the RTI and the forest rights Acts

It is also important to remember that both these laws were the product of sustained, grassroots-level social movements. Consequently, perhaps the surest remedy against possible future dilution may lie not in judicial challenges (although that remains important), but in popular mobilisation.

Based upon the principle that ecological conservation is best achieved in cooperation with indigenous forest dwellers – and by recognising them as rights-bearers, the FRA takes away power from forest bureaucracy, and vests it in some of the most vulnerable and marginalised citizens of our polity(AP)

analysis

Published on May 28, 2019 07:41 PM IST

ByGautam Bhatia

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Care to take a look at our green manifesto, groups tell parties

Members of Yeoor Environmental Society said they have started tweeting their suggestions to various parties. Rohit Joshi, founder of the society, said they expect around 2,000 people for the protest.

Around 35 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and citizen groups will take to the streets on Saturday demanding the inclusion of environmental issues in the election manifestos of political parties.(Photo by Samir Jana / Hindustan Times)(HT Photo)

elections

Published on Mar 30, 2019 02:27 AM IST

Mumbai | ByHT Correspondent

In rejection of forest rights claims, duplications cited

The Supreme Court, while hearing an 11-year-old public interest case by wildlife activists challenging the FRA, has sought information on the process followed by states for rejection or recognition of claims in detailed affidavits.

State governments have attributed the high rate of rejection of forest rights claims largely to duplication of claims — either by one forest dweller making multiple claims or persons from the same family making separate claims.(Mujeeb Faruqui/HT File Photo)

india news

Published on Mar 06, 2019 11:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByJayashree Nandi

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forest rights act news

Latest from forest rights act

Rights groups alarmed over Himachal forest official's letter on FRA, write to Centre

Tribal groups claim Centre's forest encroachment data to NGT 'false', undermines FRA

According to the data presented in the Rajya Sabha, Telangana has the highest number of pending claims, with around 329,000 unresolved claims

For sacred groves and other ecosystems to thrive, a paradigm shift is needed: one that empowers local communities and embraces diversity in management practices

The civil groups described the government’s move as an alarming misuse of state power aimed at suppressing activism and intimidating protesters advocating for tribal rights

Tardy devolution of rights under FRA and issues undermining gram sabhas’ capabilities to exercise these rights wherever recognised need to be addressed

Of the 153 core FRA constituencies, the BJP won 103 seats, while the Congress won only 11 seats in the 2019 general elections

These titles have been recognised in areas that were marked for nine coal blocks in Korba district including Paturia, Gidhmudi, Madanpur South, and coal bearing areas

A history of the slogan that has carried forward from Indian Independence to the present, and what it means to the tribal communities and forest dwellers

The Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebration underscores the government’s dedication to the well-being and empowerment of marginalised groups.

The Forest Conservation Amendment Bill 2023 is expected to be tabled in the Parliament's Monsoon session. Key provisions of the bill have come under fire

Authored by Sharachchandra Lele, Distinguished Fellow and Venkat Ramanujam, post-doctoral research associate, Centre for Environment & Development, ATREE.

The Act, which grants and safeguard the rights of forest dwellers,was not applicable in the UT for the last 14 years

A press release issued by the Chhattisgarh government on Saturday stated that the Forest Department has been made the nodal agency for the matter of community forest resource rights in the state.

The revision is in line with the understanding that the CPI is a better indicator of inflation that affects an average household.

The need for an FSI survey arose after a bench led by Justice Arun Mishra on February 13 this year ordered eviction of forest dwellers whose claims had been rejected.

Liberals have become over-reliant on State institutions. That mechanism is gone. They must work with society

The forest department, which is issuing warning continuously for the past three days, issued fresh warning on Saturday that more elephants are coming from the Chhattisgarh.

Aarey’s fate is precarious: the car depot will take away 3% of the area; even if the car depot is shifted out, 97% of the area has no protection

A wiser move would be to adopt the NTCA’s model of benefit-sharing with indigenous people living on the fringes of reserves, as laid down in the forest rights act (FRA).

The application by nine academics was submitted to the Supreme Court in July as part of a petition seeking proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA).

The absence of any provision to speed up processing of claims under the 2006 Forest Rights Act was also a point of concern, the activists noted.

Announcing the honorary graduates for 2019, the university said Sarin played a key role as a member of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity in India, which was instrumental in drafting the Forest Rights Act of 2006.

The environment ministry is expecting state governments to send their comments on the draft amendment to the Indian Forest Act, which among other things, empowers forest department officials to arrest without warrant and carry arms.

Residents of Naushachapada have not applied for community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act

It is also important to remember that both these laws were the product of sustained, grassroots-level social movements. Consequently, perhaps the surest remedy against possible future dilution may lie not in judicial challenges (although that remains important), but in popular mobilisation.

Members of Yeoor Environmental Society said they have started tweeting their suggestions to various parties. Rohit Joshi, founder of the society, said they expect around 2,000 people for the protest.

The Supreme Court, while hearing an 11-year-old public interest case by wildlife activists challenging the FRA, has sought information on the process followed by states for rejection or recognition of claims in detailed affidavits.

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