Pune: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today accused the Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra of trying to obstruct the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

"In 2006, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Government passed the revolutionary Forest Rights Act (FRA) which granted Adivasi and forest-dwelling individuals and communities legal rights to manage their own forests, and economically benefit from the forest produce they collect," Jairam Ramesh said in a press release today.

"The FRA provides for both individual and community rights. In April 2011, Menda Lekha in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra became the first community to secure forest rights privileges, with the gram sabha getting control over the use of bamboo. 

The BJP and the Mahayuti have, however, obstructed the implementation of the FRA, depriving millions of Adivasis of its benefits," he said.

Ramesh said only 52% (2,06,620 claims) of the 4,01,046 individual claims filed have been granted

"Since then, the land titles distributed in Maharashtra cover only 23.5% (11,769 sq. km) of the 50,045 sq. km eligible for community rights. 

Fair, honest implementation of the Forest Rights Act is a key priority of @INCIndia’s six-point Adivasi Sankalp, announced by @RahulGandhi in Nandurbar on 12th March, 2024, during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra," he said.

Jal-jangal-zameen ka kanuni adhikaar: Settlement of pending Forest Rights Act claims (pattas) within 1 year. A transparent process to review all rejected claims will be set up within 6 months, he said.

2. Sudhaar: Withdrawal of all Anti-Adivasi amendments by the Modi Government to Forest Conservation and Land Acquisition Acts

3. Pehchaan: Notification of all habitations where STs are the largest social group as Scheduled Areas

4. Apni Dharti, Apna Raj: Establishment of state laws to implement PESA and establish true 'village self-government’

5. Swabhiman: Legal guarantee of MSP will be given to Minor Forest Produce, he said.

6. Budget Adhikaar: Share of budget for SC/STs will be legally required to be equal to their share of the population, the Congress leader said.