Strategy for land rights to tribals decided

Bhopal, Jan 09: The strategy for implementing Forest Dwellers Rights' Act regarding schedule tribes and other traditional forest dwellers has been decided. As per the strategy, weeklong meetings would be held at villages from January 26 under the provisions of the Act. Trained nodal officers would hold discussions on various articles and provisions of the Act at these village meetings. The state government has issued instructions to district collectors to take immediate action to start the process of implementation of the Act and finish the task within the deadline.

It may be mentioned that Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and 2007 has been notified. This Act is also available on Union Tribal Works Ministry's web site www.tribal.nic.in. According to instructions, village meetings would be held for a week from January 26, 2008 as stipulated by the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and 2007.

Instructions have also been issued that discussions should be held by trained nodal officers about the provisions and rules of the Act at these village meetings. Director, Tribal Regional Development Schemes has been instructed to immediately form the panel of non-government members and public representatives as per the provisions of the Act for forming sub-divisional committees. Director, Tribal Regional Development Schemes has also been instructed to send the names of district-level panel of non-government members and public representatives.

As per the large-scale programme of making people aware of the provisions and rules as laid down in Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and 2007, instructions have been issued to select master trainers from districts at the divisional headquarters and sent them for imparting training to villagers. These nodal officers would apprise the villagers about the rules and provisions of the Act at the village meetings. Action would be ensured at the village meetings to discourage new encroachments, discussions would be held and all the members would be informed about points of implementation. Instructions have been issued to train the members to exercise caution in the recording of rights of larger scale.