Shilpi Verma, LL.B.
ABSTRACT
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act) was enacted to correct historical injustices faced by India’s forest dependent communities. The Act recognizes individual and community forest rights, aiming to balance human rights, forest conservation, and sustainable development. Challenges with its implementation on include bureaucratic misinterpretations of the law, lack of awareness, procedural inefficiencies, and insufficient training for decision-making bodies. This white paper unpacks the FRA provisions, outlining the rights, claims process, and du es of stakeholders. Using Maharashtra as a case study, the paper illustrates systemic delays, high rejection rates, and procedural hurdles, alongside the region's unique challenges like urbanization and shifting livelihoods. Recommendations focus on improving governance, simplifying the claims process, enhancing stakeholder training, and fostering collaboration among Committees and government agencies. This document serves as a practical guide for policymakers, activists, and communities to strengthen the FRA implementation, ensuring justice for forest dwellers while promo ng sustainable forest management.
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