The National Advisory Council (NAC) has recommended some amendments in the Forest Rights Act (FRA) pertaining to community rights, individual rights and the role of villages in the implementation of rights.
In a meeting on Monday, the council discussed the progress of implementation of the rights and has sent the amendments to Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules. The proposed amendments have been sent to the ministry of tribal affairs and the ministry of environment and forests for comments.
?We discussed FRA in detail especially community rights that have been put on the back burner. We also looked at individual rights and discussed how the rejections are not valid. All issues are being taken up again and we have sent the amendments to the ministries especially tribal affairs because the responsibility of implementation lies with them ,? NAC member NC Saxena told FE.
Forest management, minor forest produce rights and the role of Gram Sabhas especially with respect to diversion of land for projects and monitoring and grievance redressal were also discussed by the members.