MoTA reviews Forest Rights Act implementation with 5 southern states

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) convened a regional conference in Bengaluru with five Southern States to review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, addressing pending claims, digitization, and Community Forest Resource Rights.

Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department (Photo/@TribalAffairsIn)

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) convened the first Regional Review Conference on the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) at Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It brings together senior functionaries of the Tribal Welfare, Revenue and Forest Departments of the five Southern States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, to review the status of implementation and deliberate upon a coordinated way forward. Proceedings commenced with a Welcome Address by Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, who apprised the gathering of the objectives of the Conference and extended a formal welcome to the dignitaries and delegates, followed by a presentation of traditional tribal dance by artistes representing the tribal communities of Karnataka. This was followed by the Keynote Address of the Joint Secretary, MoTA, and the Special Address of the Secretary, MoTA.

National Overview and Key Directives

The Joint Secretary apprised the Conference that, as on 30 June 2026, over 54 lakh Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claims have been received nationally, with approximately 25.42 lakh titles distributed over nearly 238 lakh acres, while over 10 lakh claims remain pending and 19,845 Community Forest Rights (CFR) stand recognised; the Southern States were called upon to accord priority to time-bound disposal of pending claims, recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights and Habitat Rights of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), and incorporation of recognised rights in land records. The Director, FRA, MoTA, apprised the Conference of the national scenario of FRA implementation, with particular focus on progress made by the Southern States, covering issues such as pendency of claims, incorporation of Records of Rights, recognition of Habitat Rights, recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), and the support being extended by the Ministry in this regard. The Deputy Secretary, MoTA, thereafter apprised the Conference of the need for digitisation of FRA records and introduced the National-level FRA Portal, currently under development, and urged States to utilise the Portal and integrate their existing FRA records through Application Programming Interface (API).

State-wise Implementation Status

Officers of the five Southern States thereafter apprised the Conference of the status of FRA implementation in their respective States, the Ministry stated.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, of 2,95,176 applications received, 16,700 Forest Rights Titles have been distributed, and 15,553 claims remain under verification; delay in constitution of Taluk and Zilla Panchayats has affected functioning of the Sub-Divisional and District Level Committees, and re-verification of rejected claims through 'Mahajaru' committees is in progress, with FRA beneficiary data being integrated with the State's FRUITS and Bhoomi platforms for scheme convergence.

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, 15,838 titles issued in Phase-I stand digitised, while 41,692 fresh claims received under Phase-II are under verification, supported by a State-wide FRA Atlas, dedicated District FRA Cells and structured capacity-building of Forest Rights Committees.

Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, as on 31 August, 2,27,300 Individual and 1,225 Community titles stand distributed against 2,90,874 claims received, with an integrated land-record and welfare-delivery model linking the Giribhumi FRA portal with the State's revenue and banking systems.

Telangana

In Telangana, 2,30,735 Individual and 102 Community titles have been distributed against 6,55,249 claims received, supported by a fully digitised Online RoFR Title Granting System integrated with the BhuBharathi revenue portal, and conferred the SKOCH Award of Excellence (Gold, 2024).

Kerala

In Keralam, 29,545 Individual and 286 Community titles have been recognised, with pendency of 1,616 individual and 108 community claims attributed mainly to survey and verification processes, and six Forest Villages converted into Revenue Villages.

Future Roadmap and Ministry's Directives

The Ministry called upon the Southern States to ensure time-bound disposal and reconciliation of pending and rejected claims, accelerate recognition of Community Forest Resource Rights and PVTG Habitat Rights, complete incorporation of recognised rights in revenue and forest records, and strengthen convergence with livelihood and welfare schemes, with State-specific roadmaps and timelines which were worked out by the respective States. (ANI)

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