PM asks Chief Ministers to implement Forest Rights Act fast

New Delhi, Nov 4 : Underlining that the country cannot have an equitable growth without guaranteeing the legitimate rights of tribals and other marginalised sections of society, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today urged all the Chief Ministers to ensure effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act and distribution of titles within the given timeframe.

''While some States have achieved remarkable progress in the distribution of titles, others were lagging behind. In a few States, even the process of receiving claims is yet to commence. This cannot be considered as an acceptable situation,'' said Dr Singh.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Conference of Chief Ministers, State Ministers of Tribal Affairs, Social Welfare and Forest Departments on Implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 and tribal development and welfare programmes here.

''The development of our tribal areas and improvement in the economic and social condition of our tribal population is fundamentally linked to our concept of inclusive growth,'' the Prime Minister said.

He said there was need to empower the tribal communities with the means to determine their destinies, livelihood, security and above all their dignity and self-respect as equal citizens of the country, as equal participants in the processes of social and economic development.

Dr Singh said the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006, had been rightly hailed as a landmark legislation.

''It has provided for a legally enforceable way of guaranteeing rights to forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and others who have lived in our forests for centuries, but whose contribution to their protection was not acknowledged or recognised earlier. It also lays down duties for conservation and protection of biodiversity, ecological balance and our precious wildlife resource,'' he said.

He said he had written to all Chief Ministers on two occasions on this subject, urging them to speed up the process so that it could be completed in time.

The Act recognises the symbiotic relationship between the forest and the forest dweller, and attempts to deal holistically with the issue in terms not only of the recognition of rights but of livelihood opportunities and environmental protection and conservation.

''Those whose lives are dependent on the forests should be made essential partners in the processes of natural resource planning, conservation and protection. It is in this context, I would like to emphasise the importance of implementing in letter and in spirit the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas known as PESA Act,'' said Dr Singh.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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