Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 18: By reviewing implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 in J&K, the chief secretary, BVR Subramanyam today showed mirror to Mehbooba Mufti for her “dubious” role in supporting STs of the erstwhile state of J&K.
When Mehbooba Mufti was in power, she never showed any interest in implementing the Forest Right Act in J&K to give power to the STs. Except exploiting sentiments of the poor Gujjars and Bakerwals, Mehbooba did nothing to politically empower STs of J&K. During her tenure in power, Mehbooba never initiated any step to provide political reservation to STs in J&K.
The Forest Rights Act of 2006 provides for granting of rights to forest dwellers across the country. This central Act was, however, not applicable or implemented in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 14 years. It became applicable to J&K only after 31st October, 2019, hence, recognising the rights of forest dwelling communities for the first time in the Union Territory.
It was decided in today’s meeting that the ‘survey of claimants' by the Forest Rights Committees for assessing the nature and extent of rights being claimed at village level be completed by 15-01-2021, for their further submission to the respective Sub-Divisional Committees. The Sub-Divisional Committees shall complete the process of scrutiny of claims and preparation of ‘record of forest rights’ by or before 31-01-2021. Similarly, the District Level Committees shall consider and approve the record and grant forest rights by 01-03-2021.
It was informed that under the Act, the forest dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers will be provided with the rights over forest land for the purpose of habitation or self-cultivation/livelihood; ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce, and entitlement to seasonal resources among others. However, the rights conferred under this Act shall be heritable but not alienable or transferrable. |
