Question Q15GS2GS2

How far have Forest Rights Act, 2006 and PESA Act, 1996 been successful in attaining their desired objectives? What needs to be done to improve their implementation on ground?

Main Body

Forest rights act (FRA 2006) and PESA act (1996) was enacted for welfare of scheduled tribe and other forest deliveries by providing economic security and political participation. Positive circumstance of desired objectives: FRA act: (1) Providing individual rights and community rights over forest land (2) Income security by access to minor forest produce and marketing It - for income - to come out of poverty (undoing historical injustice of denial) (3) Opportunities for development: - By providing health and educational facilities near forest village - Connectivity needs (Linear project development) PESA act - extending PRI to ST schedule areas. (4) Formation of gramsabha and devolution of Power to identify beneficiaries.

5Managing rights over minor water bodies and their approval for mining minor minerals. (6) Grass democracy for bottom to top policymaking and inclusiveness in political participation. Problems with FRA and PESA: (1) Absence of documents and denial of benefits: - Nearly [illegible] claims were cancelled in 2023 due to absence of documents under FRA act. (2) Bureaucratization - role of forest officers: - Not devolving power to gramsabha - Insensitive towards their needs and bureaucratic capacity. - (e.g.) Under only few states like chhattisgarh devolved community rescure right under FRA (3) Development led displacement. According to world bank after war, development led displacement is second factor in people movement. - Panna - (KEN - Betawa link project led displacement - (4) DIFFICULTY: For them to master minor forest produce (reduced income security) (5) FRA - dependent on government for fund and functionality (6) Vested - interest and land grabbing by powerful groups (Ineffective role of gramsabha - inclusion and exclusion errors) Way Forward: (1) Kerala model - providing document to tribals in wayanad area. This reduces exclusion problems. (2) Effective Functioning of PRI: by devolving Powers and fund to grassroot level - sensitization of bureaucracy. (3) FRA - income security: TRIFED initiative creating foresward and railcoard for minor forest good to improve market access and sustainable-income. (4) Minimising development led displacement and even if displaced proper compensation should be provided. Respecting and following tribal panchayat doctrine - is the need of the hour.

354 words1 paragraphs

Conclusion

Respecting and following tribal panchayat doctrine - is the need of the hour.

13 words

Open original scan

Page 36

Topper

MUTHUARASI M

AIR 2252025

Subject & Paper

GS2GS2

Topic

Welfare Schemes for Vulnerable Sections - Performance, Mechanisms, Laws and Institutions

Scheduled and Tribal Areas

Forest Rights and Tribal Welfare

Writing Stats

367

Total words

Paragraphs

formal

Tone