Tribal affairs ministry constitutes committee on CFR guidelines under FRA

News: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has constituted a committee to examine and recommend Community Forest Resources (CFR Guideline) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA)

Facts:

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

• It seeks to recognize forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been occupying and are dependent on the forest land for generations.
• It envisions the forest rights committee of a village as the central unit in managing forest resources.
• Rights recognised under FRA:

1. Community Rights or rights over common property resources of the communities in addition to their individual rights,
2.  right of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce,
3. Rights in and over disputed land Rights of settlement and conversion of all forest villages, old habitation, un-surveyed villages and other villages in forests into revenue villages, 
4. right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which the communities have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use, 
5. right to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or displacement from forest land, 
6. Right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.