Himachal Minister Pushes for Faster Forest Rights Act Implementation
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has issued clear instructions to government officers. He wants them to speed up the processing of cases related to the Forest Rights Act of 2006. The minister emphasized that coordinated and proactive efforts are absolutely essential for the successful implementation of this important legislation.
Review Meeting Focuses on Timely and Transparent Benefits
Negi chaired a meeting in Shimla to review the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act across the district. During this session, he personally assessed the progress of various cases filed under the act. The minister directed officials to ensure that all welfare benefits reach eligible individuals and communities in a time-bound and completely transparent manner.
He stressed that the effective execution of the Forest Rights Act is a shared responsibility. All concerned government departments must work together to achieve the act's goals.
Officials Receive Directives on Pending Cases
During the review meeting, Minister Negi sought detailed feedback from sub-divisional officers. These officers represented areas including Rohru, Jubbal, Chopal, Shimla Rural, and Kupvi. The discussion focused specifically on the status of pending Forest Rights Act cases in their respective jurisdictions.
Negi provided clear instructions to the attending officials. He asked them to follow a well-defined roadmap. The objective is to address and resolve the majority of pending claims by March 2026.
District Receives Hundreds of Claims, Committees Established
Reports presented at the meeting revealed specific numbers for Shimla district. The district received a total of 262 individual and community claims at the gram sabha level. Out of these, 196 cases have already been forwarded to sub-divisional level committees for further processing.
The minister also reviewed the institutional framework supporting the act's implementation. Officials noted that 2,266 forest rights committees have been constituted across Shimla district. This includes 473 committees in Shimla Rural, 371 in Theog, 277 in Chopal, and additional committees in various other subdivisions.
Forest Rights Act Recognizes Historic Livelihood Dependencies
A detailed presentation during the meeting highlighted the core purpose of the Forest Rights Act. The legislation formally recognizes the land and forest rights of scheduled tribes and other eligible communities. These are communities that have resided on forest land for at least three generations prior to December 13, 2005. Their traditional dependence on forests for livelihood is a key criterion for eligibility under the act.
Minister Negi's directives aim to ensure that these legal rights are processed efficiently and delivered to the people without unnecessary delay.
