FOREST RIGHT ACT 2006 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: Seventeen years after the inception of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2000, also known as FRA, a group of independent researchers have found that its implementation continues to be poor.

Forest Rights Act, 2006:

• About: It recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers, who have been residing in such forests for generations, but whose rights could not be recorded.

oThe rights to hold and live in the forest land under the individual or common occupation for habitation or for self-cultivation for livelihood,

• Right of ownership: Access to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce,
• Habitat rights: For primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities; 
• Right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage: Any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.
• Criteria to claim of these rights: It can also be claimed by any member or community who has for at least three generations (75 years) had occupied forest land before the 13th day of December, 2005.
• Nature of the rights: Such rights shall be heritable but not alienable or transferable and shall be registered jointly in the name of both the spouses
• Diversion of forest land: For public utility facilities managed by the Government, such as schools, dispensaries, fair price shops, electricity and telecommunication lines, water tanks, etc. with the recommendation of Gram Sabhas.

Key Points of Study

• The researchers conducted an analysis of the 2019 general elections' parliamentary constituency-wise election data. 
• Recorded and published by: The Election Commission of India, was juxtaposed with the Forest Rights Act (FRA) potential of parliamentary constituencies based on the Census of India, 2011.
• Categorization of Constituencies

oCritical Value: Constituencies with the most significant FRA concerns.

oHigh Value: Constituencies with high FRA relevance.

oGood Value: Constituencies where FRA is of notable concern.

oMedium Value: Constituencies with moderate FRA significance.

oMarginal Value: Constituencies where FRA is the least significant issue.