Forest Rights awareness campaign reaches Samba
Jk News Today
Samba, January 03:
Maintaining that Forest Rights Act-2006 extended to Jammu and Kashmir recently will not only provides the safeguards to rights and interests of Scheduled Tribe groups especially Gujjars , Bakerwals and Gaddis but will boost the tribal economy as well , said Noted Tribal researcher Dr. Javaid Rahi while addressing an awareness programme held at Hira Nagar, Samba about the process which is going to be rolled out for inviting applications from eligible forest dwellers / tribes.
The programme was presided over by Chowdhary Gulzar Ahmed Khatana Ex-SSP while a large people from nomadic Gujjars- Bakerwals of Samba and adjoining areas participated.
On the occasion Dr. Javaid Rahi has given one and a half hour long presentation in Gojri on Forest Right Act . He guided the members of Gujjars and Bakerwal nomadic communities about the nature of evidence required for recognition of Forest Rights vesting in respect of forest land and how to stake claims before Gram Sabha, the Sub-divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee.
He said the implementation of FRA involves recognition and vesting of the forest rights in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest dwellers who have been residing in such forest for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.
He said this is a biggest relief that under the said Forest Rights Act , rights of traditional forest dwellers are stand protected against forced displacements, evictions from forest lands which the Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis were facing for the last many decades.
Dr Rahi said tribal are now entitled for ownership rights, cultivation rights and to use minor forest produce except timber, access to water resources, besides they will now have grazing rights on Forest lands, as well.
Ch. Gulzar Khatana in his presidential address stated more such awareness programmes are required to guide nomadic tribes about their rights.
He thanked tribal elders for taking interests in awareness programme and informed that next programme will be held in Kathua shortly. He also thanked tribal scholar Dr. Javaid Rahi for spearing time to guide nomads in Gojri about FRA and other newly introduced schemes.
