Shadow Correspondent
Budgam, OCT 22:
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, organised a interaction programme with Scheduled Tribe (ST) beneficiaries and Forest Rights Act title holders of Sub-Division Khans ahib in district Budgam to raise awareness about the Forest Rights Act (FRA), facilitate awareness regarding the process of filing and obtaining forest rights claims, and highlight various welfare initiatives aimed at the socio-economic development of tribal communities.
Under Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Shambhu Nath Pal, attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Upon his arrival at the venue, he inspected stalls showcasing locally cultivated products and other items produced by members of the Scheduled Tribe community. The exhibition highlighted the local livelihood activities, traditional skills and economic potential of the tribal population.
During the programme, Shambhu Nath Pal held detailed deliberations on the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, with particular emphasis on Community Forest Rights (CFR) and Individual Forest Rights (IFR). He sensitised the participants about the objectives and scope of the Act and explained the procedure for filing claims, documentation required, and the process involved in securing eligible forest rights under the prescribed framework.
He also interacted with the beneficiaries and emphasised the importance of awareness, proper guidance and coordination among the concerned departments to ensure that eligible members of the Scheduled Tribe community are able to understand and access the benefits available to them under the Act.
Dr. Basharat Hussain, Secretary Tribal Affairs Advisory Board, also addressed the gathering and spoke about the significance of the Forest Rights Act and its potential to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of tribal communities. He highlighted the benefits of the Act and stressed the need to enhance awareness among eligible beneficiaries so that they could avail themselves of their entitlements in accordance with the prescribed provisions.
Earlier, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Khansahib, Jahangir Ahmad Giri briefed the visiting officer about the demographic profile of the Scheduled Tribe population in the region, their socio-economic conditions and the developmental initiatives being undertaken for their welfare. He also outlined various government welfare schemes and departmental interventions aimed at promoting community development, improving livelihood opportunities and ensuring the overall upliftment of tribal households in the subdivision. The programme also provided an opportunity for beneficiaries to share their experiences and express their views regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act. Several FRA beneficiaries spoke about the benefits they had received after obtaining their forest rights and expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the District Administration Budgam and the Sub-Divisional Administration Khansahib for their support and facilitation.
The beneficiaries highlighted the importance of such interaction programmes in bridging the gap between the administration and the community, addressing concerns at the grassroots level and ensuring that information about government initiatives reaches the intended beneficiaries.
The interaction programme witnessed the participation of officers from departments, including the Deputy Director, Employment, Budgam; Tehsildar, Khansahib; District Coordinator, National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM); and other district and sub-divisional officers.
