Madhya Pradesh

• 08 Jan 2025

Violation of Forest Rights Act in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) took cognizance of petitions and complaints from 52 villages regarding non-recognition of forest rights and forceful eviction attempts around the Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. 

 Key Points 

• Restrictions and MoTA’s Directive: 
  • The villagers alleged that after the notification of Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve in September 2023, forest rights claims were denied, and forceful relocations occurred, violating the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 and Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972. 
  • Villagers claimed restrictions on accessing forest resources, produce, and farms. 
  • MoTA’s letter emphasized that denying communities their rights is a violation and advised that the issues be resolved in consultation with state forest departments, and district collectors. 
  • The letter was also directed to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, district collectors, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority for appropriate action and safeguarding community interests. 
• Legal Framework for Relocation: 
  • The Wildlife Protection Act allows the creation of ‘inviolate’ areas for tiger conservation, but only after recognizing and settling the rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities. 
  • Relocation of villagers can only occur voluntarily after their rights are recognized, in accordance with both FRA and WLPA. 
  • MoTA stressed the importance of Gram Sabha consent and community participation in relocation decisions for critical wildlife habitats. 

 The Forest Rights Act, 2006 

• It was introduced to formally recognise and grant forest rights and occupation in forest lands to forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have resided in these forests for generations, even though their rights had not been officially documented. 
• It aimed to address the historical injustices faced by forest-dwelling communities due to the forest management policies of colonial and post-colonial India, which failed to acknowledge their long-standing symbiotic relationship with the forests. 
• Additionally, the Act sought to empower forest dwellers by enabling them to access and utilise forest resources sustainably, promote biodiversity and ecological balance, and protect them from unlawful evictions and displacement. 

 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 

• It provides a legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals and plants, management of their habitats, regulation, and control of trade in wild animals, plants, and products made from them. 
• The act also lists schedules of plants and animals that are afforded varying degrees of protection and monitoring by the government. 
• India's entry to the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was made easier by the Wildlife Act.