Special focus should be laid on the interests of the intended beneficiaries under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, said the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. He said this while addressing officials during a meeting held to review implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 here on Monday.
Rawat said that forest dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers in Uttarakhand have been living in the forests for many generations. To honour their rights, the facilitation made for them under the Act should be specially focussed upon. Efforts should also be undertaken effectively to ensure that the difficulties faced by the people concerned are minimised. The directions issued by the Central Government in this regard from time to time should also be taken into cognisance, he said.
Rawat directed that to expedite execution of plans related to development of infrastructural facilities and community services in various areas, a committee comprising officials of forest, revenue, law, social welfare and Udham Singh Nagar district magistrate should be formed.
Along with MLA Kedar Singh, forest rights experts should also be included in this committee. This committee will study in detail the directions issued by Government of India and provisions of the Act, resolve the problems being faced at various levels and present its report. He also directed the additional chief secretary, forest and environment and the forest department to hold periodic video-conferences with district magistrates for resolution of the problems.
Rawat further directed that meetings of committees formed for implementation of Forest Rights Act at the village and district levels along with the state level monitoring committee should be held periodically.
Regular meetings of the committees formed at four levels from the village to State level will help in resolving the issues, he added.