{"id":44394,"date":"2025-01-06T04:40:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T23:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=44394"},"modified":"2025-05-06T10:59:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T05:29:21","slug":"52-villages-allege-violation-of-forest-rights-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/52-villages-allege-violation-of-forest-rights-act\/","title":{"rendered":"52 Villages Allege Violation of Forest Rights Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in the News?<\/li>\n<li>Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary<\/li>\n<li>About Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006<\/li>\n<li>News Summary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in the News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A patent agent has been removed from the Register of Patent Agents for \u201calleged professional misconduct\u201d by a committee formed by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Basic Details:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Location: Situated in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh.<\/li>\n<li>Established: The sanctuary was declared a protected area to conserve the rich biodiversity of the Vindhyan region.<\/li>\n<li>Geographical Features: Nestled in the Vindhyan mountain ranges, it is characterized by rugged terrain, rocky cliffs, and dense forests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Flora:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vegetation Type:<\/strong> The sanctuary boasts a mixed forest type, predominantly dry deciduous forests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Species:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Trees:<\/strong> Teak, Sal, Bamboo, Tendu, Mahua, and Palash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shrubs and Grasses:<\/strong> Various medicinal plants and grass species form the undergrowth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Significance:<\/strong> The flora not only supports wildlife but also sustains local communities with forest products like fruits, timber, and medicinal plants.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fauna:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mammals:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Herbivores: Chital (Spotted Deer), Nilgai (Blue Bull), and Sambar Deer.<\/li>\n<li>Carnivores: Leopards, Jackals, Indian Fox, and Wild Boar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Birds:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Peafowl, Indian Roller, Crested Serpent Eagle, and various migratory birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reptiles:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Indian Cobra, Monitor Lizard, and other reptiles native to central India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nearby Major River:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Durgavati River<\/strong>, after which the sanctuary is named, flows in the vicinity, providing water for the flora and fauna.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Facts:<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Area:<\/strong> Approximately 24 square kilometres.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Importance for Conservation:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Acts as a corridor for wildlife movement in the <strong>Vindhyan region<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Plays a role in maintaining ecological balance and preserving biodiversity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eco-Tourism Potential:<\/strong> Offers opportunities for eco-tourism, bird watching, and trekking, contributing to local livelihoods.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenges:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Human encroachment and deforestation.<\/li>\n<li>Illegal poaching and habitat degradation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>About Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Forest Rights Act, 2006<\/strong> (officially known as the <i><strong>Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers<\/strong> (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act<\/i>) is a landmark legislation aimed at recognizing and securing the rights of forest-dwelling communities in India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Objectives:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Recognition of Rights<\/strong>: To recognize the historical rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) over forests they depend on for their livelihood.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protecting Livelihoods<\/strong>: Ensuring the sustainable use of forest resources by local communities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Empowering Communities<\/strong>: Granting legal rights to forest land and resources to these communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Types of Rights Recognized:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Individual Rights: Ownership and access to forest land for cultivation and habitation.<\/li>\n<li>Community Rights:\n<ul>\n<li>Use of minor forest produce (e.g., bamboo, honey, lac).<\/li>\n<li>Grazing rights and access to water bodies.<\/li>\n<li>Management and conservation of forests by local communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Community Forest Resource Rights: Rights to protect, regenerate, and manage forests sustainably.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Features:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ownership of Land: <\/strong>Recognizes land up to 4 hectares per family for cultivation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protection Against Eviction: <\/strong>Prevents eviction of forest dwellers without proper recognition and settlement of rights.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Role of Gram Sabha: <\/strong>Empowers the Gram Sabha (village assembly) to determine the rights of individuals and communities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conservation Focus: <\/strong>Encourages sustainable management of forests while protecting biodiversity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenges:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Delayed Implementation<\/strong>: Slow progress in recognizing rights across states.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof of Eligibility<\/strong>: Difficulty in providing documentary evidence by forest-dwelling communities.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conflict with Conservation Laws<\/strong>: Balancing rights with wildlife and forest conservation initiatives.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Opposition from Industries<\/strong>: Resistance from industries reliant on forest resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>News Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA)<\/strong> has directed the Madhya Pradesh government to address complaints from 52 villages in Damoh, Narsinghpur, and Sagar districts alleging violations of the <strong>Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006<\/strong> and <strong>Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), 2006<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Villagers claim they were forcibly relocated and denied forest rights after the notification of the <strong>Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve<\/strong> in September 2023.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Issues Highlighted:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Non-Recognition of Forest Rights:<\/strong> Villagers allege restricted access to forest resources and farms without the settlement of their claims under the FRA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forced Relocation Allegations:<\/strong> Relocations reportedly lacked free, prior, and informed consent, as mandated by law.<\/li>\n<li><strong>State\u2019s Position:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>Divisional Forest Officer (DFO)<\/strong> of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary denied allegations of forced eviction, stating relocation packages were offered to eligible families.<\/li>\n<li>Of the 93 villages in the reserve, 40 were relocated since 2014, while 8 are currently in the process of relocation.<\/li>\n<li>The reserve, spread across <strong>2,339 sq. km<\/strong>, was formed by merging the <strong>Rani Durgavati<\/strong> and <strong>Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuaries<\/strong> to compensate for the <strong>Ken-Betwa River Linking Project<\/strong>, which submerged 100 sq. km of prime forest in the <strong>Panna Tiger Reserve<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>MoTA emphasized the need to respect community rights under FRA and WLPA, urging consultation with <strong>Gram Sabhas<\/strong>, district collectors, and forest departments.<\/li>\n<li>The National Tiger Conservation Authority was also asked to issue directives safeguarding tribal interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q1.What is Minor Forest Produce?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u00a0Minor Forest Produce (MFP) is a term for non-timber forest products that come from plants. These include: bamboo, brushwood, canes, honey, waxes, lac, tendu\/kendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, roots, and tubers.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q2. What is the role of NTCA?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body tasked with the management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/forced-eviction-forest-rights-madhya-pradesh-9760820\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>52 villages in Madhya Pradesh have complained of non-recognition of forest rights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44394","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44394\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}