State Government has been directed to examine the alleged violation of forest rights of communities as stipulated under Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 in and around Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.

About Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006

• It was passed in the Parliament as Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
• Objective: To recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling STs and other traditional forest dwellers.
• Types of rights under FRA
  • Individual Rights: Rights of Self-Cultivation and Habitation.
  • Community Rights:
    • Grazing, Fishing and access to Water bodies in forests.
    • Habitat Rights for Particular Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
    • Community right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge.
    • Right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource for sustainable use.
• Role of Gram Sabha: Gram Sabha has authority to initiate process for determining nature and extent of forest rights.
• Role of State Governments: Entrusted with task of implementing FRA, they constitute State Level Monitoring Committee, District Level Committees and Sub-Divisional Level Committees.