Around 5.36 lakh forest rights claims have been acknowledged in the past five years under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, aimed at rectifying historical injustices by acknowledging land and resource rights of forest-dwelling communities, as per information shared in the Lok Sabha. Between March 1, 2021, and March 1, 2026, a total of 11.35 lakh forest rights claims were filed, with 5.36 lakh claims recognized, including individual and community claims.
Out of the filed claims, 5.88 lakh are still pending at different levels, with 4.89 lakh individual claims and 46,687 community claims recognized. The Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Uikey, highlighted that Uttar Pradesh alone saw 434 claims filed in the last five years, with 4,605 claims recognized, following the reconsideration of previously rejected claims.
The implementation of the Forest Rights Act primarily rests with state and Union Territory administrations, according to Uikey. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has urged states and UTs to expedite the consideration of claims under the FRA and resolve any bottlenecks in a time-bound manner. MoTA has also conducted training programs and workshops to enhance the understanding of statutory procedures among state officials and relevant stakeholders.
