The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

Contents: The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 : An analysis/R.K. Upadhyay. 1. Preliminary. 2. Forest rights. 3. Recognition, restoration and vesting of forest rights and related matters. 4. Authorities and procedure for vesting of forest rights. 5. Offences and penalties. 6. Miscellaneous. Annexures. Status report on implementation. Procedure for diversion of forest land.

“The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is a far reaching legislation enacted by he Indian Parliament which reflects the shift in the Indian Forest Policy at the turn of the millennium. From the extremely anti-people stance that marked the Indian forest laws from the days of the British Raj right up to the end of the twentieth century, the Government of India has now pushed trough the Recognition of Forest Rights Act in Parliament despite huge outcries from the pro-conservation lobby. The act firmly contradicts the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and confers right to members of the Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers who have resided in the forests for centuries. It overturns previous acts and allows forests dwellers and tribals to hold forest land for habitation, cultivation for livelihood, community rights, rights of ownership, including collection and disposal of minor forest produce in forest areas. It is hoped that all those concerned will find the act useful fro reference and analyses.”