Govt Designates Tribal Affairs Department as Nodal Agency for FRA Implementation ; Tribal Affairs Minister Terms the Decision as Landmark

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

JAMMU DECM, 12:-Tribal Affairs Minister Javed Ahmed Rana has warmly welcomed the Government’s decisionto designate the Tribal Affairs Department as the Nodal Department for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 across Jammu & Kashmir.

Describing the move as a historic and corrective intervention, the Minister emphasized that this landmark step was originally proposed and consistently championed by him, reflecting the long-standing aspirations of tribal communities who have sought a more community-centric, accessible and responsive institutional mechanism for the implementation of FRA.

Rana highlighted that transferring FRA responsibilities from the Forest Department to the Tribal Affairs Department will usher in fair, transparent and time-bound recognition of individual and community forest rights, ensuring that tribal voices remain central to all related processes.

He added that this decision marks a significant milestone achieved under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Sahib.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment to advancing tribal welfare, the Minister assured that every necessary step will be taken to ensure the benefits of FRA reach every eligible tribal family across Jammu & Kashmir, empowering communities to secure their rightful entitlements and move forward with dignity and confidence.