New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at delivering long-overdue justice, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has issued a strong directive to all state governments, urging them to clear the massive Forest Rights Act backlog. NextMinuteNews has learned that despite the act being in place for nearly two decades, a staggering 15% of all claims filed nationwide—affecting lakhs of Adivasi and forest-dwelling families—remain pending.
The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, is a landmark law designed to correct the “historical injustice” against forest communities by formally recognizing their rights to land and resources. However, its implementation has been inconsistent, and this latest push from the Centre highlights the urgency of resolving the pending claims.
The Staggering Scale of the Backlog
According to official ministry data, of the approximately 44.75 lakh claims filed for individual and community forest rights, around 6.7 lakh claims are still awaiting verification and approval. This bureaucratic delay leaves countless families in a state of perpetual uncertainty, unable to access government welfare schemes, secure loans, or invest in their land for fear of eviction.
Sources within the ministry revealed that the directive calls for a multi-pronged approach to expedite the processing of these claims.
A Renewed Push to Clear Pending and Rejected Claims
The Centre has instructed states to launch special, time-bound drives and set up dedicated camps at district and sub-divisional levels. A key focus of the directive is the alarmingly high rejection rate, which currently stands at over 42% nationally.
State governments have been asked to suo motu review rejected claims, especially where the reason for rejection was procedural or flimsy. This aims to ensure that no genuine claimant is denied their rights due to a lack of documentation or official apathy.
A Matter of Dignity and Livelihood
The slow pace of FRA implementation has long been a major concern for activists and community leaders.
“For a family living in the forest, a land title is not just a piece of paper; it is their identity, their security, and their future,” says Archana Soren, a tribal rights activist. “This 15% backlog represents a failure of the state machinery to deliver on a constitutional promise. The Centre’s intervention is welcome, but the real test will be the political will shown by state governments on the ground.”
The reasons for the backlog are complex, ranging from a lack of awareness among officials and claimants to systemic resistance from forest departments, which have historically viewed forest dwellers as encroachers.
Technology and Conservation: The Path Forward
The directive also encourages the use of modern technology, such as high-resolution satellite imagery and GIS mapping, to aid District Level Committees (DLCs) in verifying claims accurately and swiftly.
This renewed impetus is critical not just for social justice but also for environmental conservation. Global studies have repeatedly shown that forests managed by indigenous communities with secure land tenure exhibit lower rates of deforestation. By empowering these communities, the Forest Rights Act serves as one of India’s most potent tools for climate action.
As the directive reaches chief secretaries across the nation, the clock is ticking. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this push can finally break the administrative inertia and deliver justice to the guardians of India’s forests.
