Chhattisgarh has emerged as a leading state in recognition of individual and community forest rights, with more than 441,000 individual and more than 46,000 community forest rights distributed to the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
In this manner, 51,06,000 acres of individual and community forest rights have been distributed to local communities. One hectare of forest land has been recognized for forest rights holders on an average, which is comparatively better than the rest of the nation.
On the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, around 1,300 community forest resource conservation rights of more than 5 lakh hectares was distributed virtually by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel through video conferencing.
The area of more than 4,41,000 individual forest rights papers distributed in the state accounts for more than 9,41,800 acres.
For the first time in the state, the government has provided consent and recognition to the Gram Sabhas, regarding the management of 26,000 hectares of forest land.
The recognized beneficiaries are also provided with various facilities like irrigation, manure-seeds and agricultural inputs by the convergence and integration of government-run schemes on their recognized forest lands.
So far, 1,49,762 beneficiaries have gained by land levelling and fencing.
Additionally, irrigation facility has been provided on more than 11,000 hectares of land, accounting to more than 41,000 beneficiaries.
Fruit and forest produce plants are being planted on the rams of the fields of forest right holders.
The provisions of the Forest Rights Act are meant to provide the Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dweller families, a life which they deserve comprising of their rights, self-reliance and respect.
Community forest rights include the right of disposal, ownership of minor forest produce, right to use fish and water bodies products, grazing, especially the habitat of vulnerable tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities.
Under the Forest Rights Act 2006, 1,158 hectares of forest land has been provided to various departments for conducting 2,309 projects regarding 13 purposes including roads and community centres, schools, dispensaries, Anganwadis and fair price shops.