Days have passed since the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sought suggestions for bringing in amendments to the Forest Rights Act(FRA), Kerala is yet to start working on the proposals.
It was on July 20 that the Ministry of Tribal Affairs invited suggestions and objections on the draft on Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012. The Ministry has already issued certain guidelines in this regard to states and Union Territories.
The amendments are meant for laying down the procedure for identification of hamlets, increasing mandatory tribal membership of Forest Rights Committees, reducing the requirement of quorum of two-thirds in the grama sabha meetings, allowing transportation of minor forest produce within and outside the forest region and determining the process for recognition of rights including community rights. Kerala, which is facing a lot of issues related to the Act, has a major task ahead.
“Forest Rights Act committees have not been formed in many parts of the state. Also, the dispute with the forest officials in this regard has been continuing in many parts of the state. In Palakkad, there are about 130 such cases. The tribes in Wayanad, Idukki and Attappady have not been given either the individual or the community rights. In certain places like Kurichyad in Wayanad, the tribals were relocated even though the Act is applicable,” pointed out Rajendra Prasad, tribal activist of Thamp NGO.
However the state is yet to start working on the proposals. “We have been carrying out regular reviews of the Act. Implementation of the Act and issues related to it have been discussed during the review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary.
However, we are yet to get any communication regarding the Ministry’s notification on the amendments to the Forest Rights Act,” said C A Latha, director, Scheduled Tribes Development Department.
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