Forest Rights Act: Sensitization programme for BDCs, DDC members held at Kishtwar

Kishtwar : A programme to sensitize the Block Development Council Chairpersons and the newly elected District Development Council members about the implementation of the Forest Right Act 2006 was held here today under the chairmanship of District Development Commissioner, Ashok Sharma.The programme was among others attended by Division Forest Officer Marwah Vijay Kumar; BDO, Mughal Maidan Arun Badyal; BDO, Nagseni Abhay Indu Sharma; BDO Drabshalla, Sobia Fatima Shad; BDO Dachhan, Abrar Ahmed; BDO Warwan, Dr. Adnan Tariq besides the BDC chairpersons and the DDC members. The event on “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006” was organized  to prepare and sesitize  the PRIs members  for implementation of Forest Rights Act in the district.The DDC briefed in detail the Plan of Action and road map for implementation of Forest Rights Act in the district. He explained the procedures to be followed in time bound manner as per the Forest Rights Act/Rules at the level of Gram Sabha, Sub Divisional level and District level Committees to recognize and vest the forest rights to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers.

It was decided to conduct the Gram Sabhas across the district by or before 8 January 2021 for formulation of Forest Rights Committees (FRC). The DDC members and BDCs were urged to participate in the Gram Sabhas in their respective areas.The Committee shall have not have less than ten and more than fifteen members from scheduled tribes & not less than one third women members.The DDC emphasized on the need to work with patience, passion and full preparation for successful implementation of the Act. The role of Gram Sabha in protection of Wildlife, Forest and Biodiversity was also highlighted in the programme.The DFO Marwah discussed typology and kinds of rights, particularly right to hold and live in forest land, community rights and right to ownership, access to collect, use and disposal of minor forest produce.The role of forest officers in convergence of Government schemes for welfare of forest dwellers was also highlighted. For this, the forest department shall support Gram Sabha to prepare and execute its own conservation and management plan.The DDC said that the spirit of the Forest Rights Act is to maintain ecological balance while ensuring livelihoods and food security to scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.