Forest Rights Act (FRA):
Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment have jointly decided to give more powers to the tribal communities in managing the forest resources. A “Joint Communication” to this effect has been signed.
- The Joint Communication, pertains to effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, which is commonly known as Forest Rights Act (FRA).
- The Act recognizes and vests the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling scheduled tribes (FDSTs) and other traditional forest dwellers (OTFDs) who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.
- It provides a framework for recording the forest rights so vested and the nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest land.
- The act identifies four types of rights:
- Title rights
- Use rights
- Relief and development rights
- Forest management rights
