Srinagar, Mar 12 (KNO): Days after the divisional commissioner Kashmir directed officers to settle cases of eligible persons under the Forest Rights Act, the director Rural Development department Kashmir on Saturday directed the district panchayat officers to issue schedule for holding these Gram Sabhas.
In a letter, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the director Rural Development department Kashmir has written to district Panchayat officers to unveil the schedule of holding Gram Sabhas for settling cases under the FRA.
“ ….. You are directed to issue the Gram Sabha schedule of your district, indicating date, time and venue for conduct of said Gram Sabhas, under the guidance of concerned deputy commissioner and officers of Forest department. The said schedule be issued in advance and must be given wide publicity within the concerned Panchayat halqa/block,” reads the letter.
The communique states that divisional commissioner Kashmir has directed officers of Forest and Revenue department to settle eligible cases under FRA.
Under the FRA, the processing of applications has to be done by Gram Sabha and it shall call for the claims and authorize the Forest Rights Committee to accept the claims. The Gram Sabha is the “authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both.
The Forest Rights Act 2006 recognizes the rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, on which these communities are dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs.
The law became applicable to Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory from October 31, 2019—(KNO)