Forest Rights Act fails badly to protect Adivasis

- Citing non-availability of forest maps, forest officials are denying land pattas to tribals, says the newly book launched on ‘Advasis’
Rights’

As per the FRA, 2006, Gram Sabhas are vested with the power of giving community titles to adivasis. In stark contrast to this, community titles
over 9.43 lakh acres were granted to Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSSs) under the Forest Management Scheme

Rajamahendravaram: Adivasi leaders lamented that the Forest Rights Act, 2006 framed to reverse injustice meted out to tribals has not yielded
positive results in the last decade. Under the aegis of Agency Girijana Sangham, a book titled ‘Policy and Performance of Forest Rights Act
(FRA)’ authored by Dr Palla Trinadha Rao was released by MLC T Ratna Bai at a function held here at Hotel Surya on Saturday. Noted adivasi
leaders who participated in the book inaugural ceremony commented that the act failed the protect the interests of advasis. Dr Palla Trinadha
Rao is a tribal rights activist and lawyer fighting for the cause of tribal rights.

The government needs to safeguard the rights of tribals and forest lands owned by them spreading over 37.55 lakh acres in the state, the book
noted. As per the provisions of the FRA, the entire land of 37.55 lakh acres should have been brought under the governance of Gram Sabhas
for maintenance.

The forest rights of tribals encompassing mere 1.98 acres are recognised, which constitutes only 5 percent of the total forest resources in the
State. The government failed to pass orders in the rejected cases to the claimants in order to enable them to prefer appeals against such
rejections under the FRA.

The State has failed to recognise the rights of habitations, in particular, vulnerable tribal groups like Khond Porjas, Gadabas, Savaras and
Konda Reddis in the forest areas of the State, Trinadha Rao lamented. Further, the government utterly failed to recognise the rights of tribals
living in national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves in the State.

The forest department officials are denying the tribals their justified forest rights by way of creating unwarranted objections, he said.

Under the pretext of non-availability of forest maps, forest officials are reluctant to grant land pattas to tribals. Citing double entries, 4391
claims made by tribals for possessing 10,653 acres were rejected by the forest officials in Paderu Division, the book pointed out.

Beating the spirit of the FRA, 2006 Act, and the government is diverting the forest land towards the construction of irrigation and mining
projects, the book author criticised. As per the FRA, 2006, Gram Sabhas are vested with the power of giving community titles to adivasis. In
stark contrast to this, community titles over 9.43 lakh acres were granted to Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSSs) under the Forest
Management Scheme.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs declared in 2013 that such titles are illegal and directed the government to withdraw the titles given to VSSs. In
defiance of the directive from the Centre’s Tribal Affairs, the government continues to issue titles in the name of VSSs.

The book launching ceremony was presided over by Chadala Veerapu Reddy, district leader of Agency Girjana Sangham.

Besides, tribal leaders representing various groups, leaders of human rights forum and APCLC(AP Civil Liberties Committee attended the book
inaugural function.