Rana directs fast-tracking, streamlining of FRA compliance in J&K

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL 

JAMMU, APRIL 20:-Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana on Monday directed officials to expedite and streamline the compliance mechanism under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu to assess the progress of the Act’s implementation in the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Commissioner Secretary Forests, Ecology & Environment, Sheetal Nanda; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Sarvesh Rai; Secretary Tribal Affairs Department, Prasanna Ramaswamy G; Director Tribal Affairs J&K, Mohd. Mumtaz Ali; Director Finance, Tribal Affairs Department, Iftikhar Chouhan; and Nodal Officer, Tribal Research Institute, Dr. Abdul Khabir, among others.

Emphasising the need for a more efficient and transparent framework, the Minister instructed officials to accelerate the recognition of forest rights and ensure the prompt operationalisation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) cells at the district level. 

He noted that these cells play a pivotal role in facilitating claim documentation, ensuring inter-departmental coordination, and enabling timely uploading of records.

“The formation of FRA cells must be fast-tracked. The entire process should be time-bound, coordinated, and people-centric, with clearly defined accountability at every stage to safeguard the interests of tribal communities,” Rana said.

Highlighting the importance of inter-departmental synergy, the Minister called for seamless convergence between the revenue, forest, and tribal affairs departments to eliminate procedural delays and administrative bottlenecks that hinder effective implementation.

It was also noted that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has designated the Tribal Affairs Department as the nodal agency for implementing the Act, replacing the Forest Department in this role. 

The legislation aims to address longstanding concerns of forest-dwelling communities by recognising both individual and community rights over forest land and resources for Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

Seeking greater transparency and accountability, Rana directed officials to compile comprehensive data on rejected claims, along with detailed reasons for such rejections. This, he said, would help ensure that genuine beneficiaries are not excluded and enable corrective measures where necessary.

The Minister further underscored the critical role of Gram Sabhas in the process, stressing the need for adequate and meaningful representation of tribal communities in these grassroots institutions, which are responsible for verifying and recommending claims under the Act.

Calling for intensified outreach, Rana instructed officials to strengthen awareness campaigns so that eligible beneficiaries are fully informed about their rights and the procedures for filing claims. 

He emphasised the need for district-level awareness drives and training programmes to educate communities about their entitlements under the Act.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of tribal populations, the Minister called for regular monitoring, periodic reviews, and strict adherence to timelines to ensure the effective and timely implementation of the Forest Rights Act across Jammu and Kashmir.