Minister Javed Rana Calls for Fast-Tracking Forest Rights Act Implementation in Jammu Kashmir  | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Monday directed officials to expedite and streamline the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 across Jammu and Kashmir.

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

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

The Minister stressed the need for a transparent and time-bound framework to accelerate the recognition of forest rights and operationalisation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) cells at the district level. He said these cells are crucial for documentation, coordination among departments, and timely record management.

He instructed that the formation of FRA cells be fast-tracked and implementation made accountable at every stage to protect the rights of tribal communities.

Highlighting inter-departmental coordination, Rana called for closer synergy between the revenue, forest, and tribal affairs departments to reduce delays and remove procedural bottlenecks.

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

The Minister also directed officials to maintain detailed records of rejected claims, including reasons for rejection, to ensure transparency and prevent exclusion of genuine beneficiaries.

Emphasising the role of Gram Sabhas, he called for stronger representation of tribal communities in the verification and recommendation process under the Act.

Rana further instructed officials to intensify awareness campaigns, including district-level drives and training programmes, to educate eligible beneficiaries about their rights and claim procedures.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he called for regular monitoring, periodic reviews, and strict adherence to timelines to ensure effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act across the Union Territory.