Context:
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has sought financial support from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to strengthen Community Forest Resource (CFR) management committees under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, reinforcing tribal self-governance in forest conservation.
Key Highlights:
- Policy & Institutional Background
- The Forest Rights Act (2006) recognizes historical rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).
- Provides Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights to gram sabhas for protection and sustainable use.
- In 2023, MoTA issued guidelines for community-led forest conservation plans.
- Funding Proposal
- MoTA engaging MoEFCC to finance CFR management committees.
- Funds required for:
- Hiring technical personnel
- Preparing conservation & management plans
- Capacity building and training
- Governance Framework
- Gram Sabhas must prepare conservation plans before coordination with the Forest Department.
- Emphasis on community-led management, not bureaucratic control.
- Stakeholders
- Tribal communities & forest dwellers
- Gram Sabhas
- MoTA & MoEFCC
- Forest Department
- Significance & Concerns
- Strengthens decentralized forest governance.
- Aligns with PESA Act principles and participatory conservation.
- Concerns over potential dilution of community autonomy if Forest Department dominates planning.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA): Recognizes individual and community forest rights.
- Community Forest Resource (CFR): Customary forest areas traditionally protected and conserved by communities.
- Gram Sabha: Statutory authority under FRA to initiate rights claims.
- FRA is linked to Article 21 (Right to Livelihood) and Fifth Schedule Areas.
- Difference between Joint Forest Management (JFM) (Forest Department-led) and CFR under FRA (community-led).
- CFR rights include protection, regeneration, conservation, and management.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Governance & Decentralization (GS 2):
- Strengthens grassroots democracy and participatory governance.
- Reduces historical injustices against tribal communities.
- Environment & Ecology (GS 3):
- Community-based conservation improves biodiversity outcomes.
- Supports India’s commitments under CBD and Paris Agreement.
- Indian Society (GS 1):
- Empowers marginalized tribal populations.
- Addresses land alienation and livelihood security.
- Challenges:
- Delays in CFR recognition across states.
- Bureaucratic resistance.
- Capacity gaps in Gram Sabhas.
- Way Forward:
- Dedicated financial mechanism under CAMPA or Green Funds.
- Capacity-building programs for tribal institutions.
- Clear delineation of roles between Forest Department and Gram Sabhas.
- Transparent monitoring framework.
UPSC Relevance:
GS 2 – Governance, Tribal Rights
GS 3 – Environment & Conservation
GS 1 – Tribal Issues
Prelims – FRA provisions, CFR rights