Establishment of Ashram Schools aimed at creating and improving educational facilities in Tribal areas

Sharavana 29, 1935 An amount of Rs.201 crore has been released by Govt. of India during the last three years from 2010-11 to 2012-13 for establishment of Ashram Schools aimed at creating and improving educational facilities in Tribal areas in ten states of Andhra Pradesh , Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha , Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttrakhand.

Mechanism for marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain as a measure of social safety for MFP gatherers

The Union Cabinet today approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for marketing of non-nationalized / non monopolized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development of a value chain for MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP). This will be a measure towards social safety for MFP gatherers, who are primarily members of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) most of them in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.

In addition, the scheme will ensure that the tribal population gets a remunerative price for the produce they collect from the forest and provide alternative employment avenues to them. An estimated 100 million forest dwellers depend on the Minor Forest Produce for food, shelter, medicines, cash income, etc.

It seeks to establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns for forest dweller’s efforts in collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc, while ensuring sustainability of the resource base. It also seeks to get them a share of revenue from the sales proceeds with costs deducted.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme will have Rs. 967.28 crore as Central Government share and Rs. 249.50 crore as the States share for the current Plan period.

The scheme would cover 12 MFPs, which are not nationalized in States having Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in accordance with Fifth Schedule of Constitution. These are Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. The 12 MFPs are Tendu, Bamboo, Karanj, Mahuwa Seed, Sal Leaf, Sal Seed, Lac, Chironjee, Wild Honey, Myrobalan, Tamarind, and Gums (Gum Karaya).

The responsibility of purchasing MFP on MSP will be with State designated agencies. To ascertain market price, services of market correspondents would be availed by the designated agencies particularly for major markets trading in MFP. The scheme supports primary value addition as well as provides for supply chain infrastructure like cold storage, warehouses etc. Emphasis on scientific harvesting along with interventions stated in the scheme can sustain the process while ensuring higher returns to the collector. This package of intervention can help in organizing unstructured MFP markets.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of the scheme. The Minimum Support Price would be determined by the Ministry with technical help of TRIFED.

Background:

The Prime Minister, in his Independence Day speech had announced that a scheme would be formulated to ensure fair and remunerative price to MFP gatherers.

The Minor Forest Produce (MFP), also known as Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), is a major source of livelihood and provides essential food, nutrition, medicinal needs and cash income to a large number of STs who live in and around forests. However, MFP production is highly dispersed spatially because of the poor accessibility of these areas and competitive market not having evolved. Consequently, MFP gatherers who are mostly poor are unable to bargain for fair prices.

Tribal Welfare Programmes

The details of the various Special Area Programmes under implementation in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are as :

(i) Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plans (SCA to TSP):

SCA is provided to 22 TSP States including West Bengal. Funds under this programme are released for employment-cum-income generation activities and the infrastructure incidental thereto, for tribals below the poverty line, thereby raising their economic and social status, including that of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Funds are also released as an extension of SCA to TSP for the development of 2413 forest villages in 12 States including 170 such villages in the State of West Bengal, in order to provide its inhabitants with basic facilities and services including inter-alia health care, primary education, irrigation, rain water harvesting, safe drinking water, sanitation and approach roads.

(ii) Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India:

This scheme covers all 22 TSP States and 4 tribal majority States, namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. Under this scheme, funds are released to the State Governments for raising the level of administration in Scheduled Areas for the welfare of Scheduled tribes. A part of the grant is used for setting up of Eklavya Model Residential Schools, for providing quality education to ST students from classes VI to XII.

Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan in 2013-14

A total of Rs 1200 crore has been earmarked for 2013-14 by Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan being implemented in the states as a special area programme fully funded by the centre. This is an increase of 11% over last year’s allocation as there is provision for 120 crore more for incentive projects based upon states performance in effective implementation of T.S.P.

The fund meant for 22 states will be utilized for employment-cum income generation activities among tribals and development of infrastructure in tribal areas which will raise the economic and social status of tribals . Sectors like agriculture , horticulture, land reforms, watershed development, animal husbandry, ecology & environment, development of entrepreneurship in small scale industries, small scale trading and improving connectivity in tribal areas will be given priority.

Based upon the yardstick of percentage of tribal population in a state in the total tribal population of India, the highest amount of Rs 175.25 crore has been earmarked for Madhya Pradesh followed by Odisha (133.21 crore) and Jharkhand (121.87 crore).

State-wise Allocation under the Programme SCA to TSP during 2013-14

                                                                                 (Rs. In Lakh)

S.N.	States	Allocation
1	2	3
1	Andhra Pradesh	5789.00
2	Assam	6233.00
3	Bihar	1306.00
4	Chhattisgarh	9478.00
5	Goa	237.00
6	Gujarat	8448.00
7	Himachal Pradesh	1768.00
8	J&K	2163.00
9	Jharkhand	12187.00
10	Karnataka	2471.00
11	Kerala	549.00
12	Madhya    Pradesh	17525.00
13	Maharashtra	7728.00
14	Manipur	1583.00
15	Odisha	13321.00
16	Rajasthan	8377.00
17	Sikkim	437.00
18	Tamil  Nadu	651.00
19	Tripura	2145.00
20	Uttrakhand	198.00
21	Uttar Pradesh	894.00
22	West Bengal	4512.00
Total		108000.00
For normal projects		108000.00
For Incentive Projects		12000.00
Total		120000.00

Revision in ceiling on annual family income for eligibility under the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of ‘Top Class Education’ for Scheduled Tribe students

The Union Cabinet has given its  approval to increase the total family income ceiling under the central sector scholarship scheme of “Top Class Education” for Scheduled Tribe (ST) students” from the existing Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 4.50 lakh per annum, with effect from the selection year 2013-14.

The enhancement of the ceiling of the annual total family income from all sources will enable larger number of ST students avail benefits of the scheme. This will also act as a major incentive for ST students pursuing higher and technical education.
The decision does not entail any additional burden. The expenditure on account of revision of the scheme would be met under the existing budget allocation for each year.
The Central Sector scholarship scheme of “Top Class Education” for ST students’ was approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held in May 2007 and came into force with effect from 2007-08. The objective of the scheme is to provide adequate financial support to ST students for pursuing professional education in selected premier institutions of the country.

Integrated Tribal Development Project

There are 192 Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDPs) / Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) spread over 19 States / Union Territories in the country. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs releases grant to the State Governments for the implementation of the schemes/ programmes for Scheduled Tribes meant for their socio-economic development and protection against exploitation. The concerned State Governments implement these schemes/ programme by releasing funds to their administrative units viz. ITDPs / ITDAs etc. and details of funding and implementation of items of work of these schemes / programmes, are maintained by these States. Since the responsibility of monitoring their administrative units, also rests with the State, such details are not maintained in the Ministry.

50,000 youth in 24 naxal affected districts to get jobs under ROSHNI

The Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has launched a new skill development scheme called Roshni for rural youth from 24 most critical left-wing extremism affected districts in the country.

The initiative aims at skilling and placement of fifty thousand youth from these districts. Six districts each from Jharkhand and Odisha, five from Chhattisgarh, two from Bihar and one each from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have been chosen for the scheme, which will be implemented at a cost of Rs 100 crore over the next three years.

The projects shall be funded jointly by the central and state governments in the ratio of 75:25 and the national level agencies shall be designated to act as monitoring and coordinating agencies for Roshni.At least 50 percent of the candidates covered under the scheme shall be women and special efforts will be made to proactively cover Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups on a priority basis.

Beneficiaries aged between 18-35 years with requisite aptitude depending upon the trade or job requirements are to be selected as per the Participatory Identification of Poor. Training will be imparted through public-private and public-public partnerships. Educational institutions, corporate entities, entities that train and place for improved public service delivery, commercial and not for profit training providers will be roped in for implementing this scheme. Four training models with duration ranging from 3 months to one year shall be taken up to meet the diverse needs of youth depending on their entry level qualifications.

Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme

V. Kishore Chandra Deo, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs & Panchayati Raj launched the “Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme” of National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) for economic upliftment of Schedule Tribe forest dwellershere today. On the occasion, a Radio Partnership MoU was also signed between NSTFDC and All India Radio (AIR) for coverage of Scheduled Tribes related schemes. In his speech, Shri Kishore Chandra Deo said that this is a significant scheme for economic development of Scheduled tribes. He said the Forest Rights act recognized and regularized the preexisting rights of ST forest dwellers and under this scheme, financial assistance will be provided them at concessional rate for their empowerment. He also said that the MoU between NSTFDC and AIR will help to impart information about Scheduled Tribes related schemes.

The Government enacted a Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Under this act, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional forest Dwellers have been given the right to hold the forest land for habitation or for self-cultivation or for carrying out any other traditional activity for their livelihood. Most of the Scheduled Tribes are poor and need financial support for productive utilization of land for their livelihood.

In order to provide concessional finance to the Forest Dwelling STs, the NSTFDC has formulated the new Tribal Forest Dwellers Empowerment Scheme. NSTFDC would generate awareness, provide training and assist in market linkage apart from providing financial assistance at concessional rate of interest of 6% p.a. to the beneficiaries. This assistance would be made available through 33 State Channelizing Agencies of NSTFDC and certain PSU Banks/ Regional Rural Banks having refinance agreements with NSTFDC.

The Radio Partnership MoU between NSTFDC and AIR will cover events organized by NSTFDC for socio economic empowerment of STs. The broadcast can be in 23 languages and 146dialects throughout the country. The coverage will be in the form of Radio Report with in-house/news reel programmes. As AIR is having foot print over the entire country and is covering more than 99% of population, this partnership will facilitate creation of larger awareness about programmes of NSTFDC throughout the country.

Smt. Ranee Narah, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs. Smt. Vibha Puri Das, Secretary of the Ministry, Shri Gur Saroop Sood, CMD, NSTFDC, Shri L. M. Mandloi, DG General, AIR and Dr. Sadhana Rout, JS of the Ministry were also present on the occasion.

Prevention of Atrocities Against SCs/STs

The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment held a meeting of Ministers in-charge of SC/ST Development Departments in the States/UTs, on 20.02.2013, at New Delhi, to discuss issues related to amendments in the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) {PoA}Act, 1989. The views expressed largely related to the following areas:-

(i) Prompt registration of cases under the PoA Act by police and accountability of investigating officer.

(ii) Setting up of exclusive special courts for speedy trial of cases under the PoA Act,

(iii) Disposal of cases by courts within a time frame,

(iv) Counter cases by accused against victims,

(v) Review of element of `mens –rea` presently incorporated in certain sections of the PoA Act,

(vi) Willful neglect of duties required to be performed by public servants under the PoA Act.

Towards effective implementation of provisions of the PoA Act, due Central assistance is provided to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under a Centrally sponsored Scheme, mainly for strengthening of the enforcement and judicial machinery, inter caste marriages, awareness generation, and relief and rehabilitation of the affected persons.

Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST Students

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students studying in classes IX&X w.e.f. 01-07-2012.

The Scheme aims at improving participation of ST children in classes IX and X of the Pre Matric stage, so that they perform better and have a better chance of progressing to the Post Matric stage of education. The rates of Scholarship are Rs.150/- per month for day scholars and Rs.350/- per month for hostellers, for a period of 10 months in a year and books and ad hoc grant of Rs.750/- per year for day scholars and Rs.1000/- per year for hostellers. Additional allowance for ST students with disabilities is also admissible to those students who are studying in private unaided recognized schools. The scholarship is, however, available to only those ST students who are not getting any other Centrally funded Pre-Matric Scholarship and whose parents’/guardian’s annual income does not exceed Rs.2.00 lakh. The Scheme is implemented through the State Governments and UT Administrations who receive 100% Central Assistance over and above the committed liability of the State Governments/UT Administrations.

Details of Central Assistance released to State /UT - wise under the Scheme during 2012-13 (as on 11/03/2013) are as under:-

Sl. No.	Name of the State	Central Assistance Released (Rs. in lakh)
1	Andhra Pradesh	500.00
2	Assam	90.00
3	Chhattisgarh	593.00
4	Gujarat	500.00
5	Himachal Pradesh	20.00
6	Jharkhand	1472.00
7	Karnataka	260.00
8	Madhya Pradesh	3400.00
9	Maharashtra	251.00
10	Mizoram	70.00
11	Odisha	3128.00
12	Sikkim	4.00
13	Tamil Nadu	26.00
14	Tripura	340.00
15	Uttrakhand	26.00
16	West Bengal	260.00
17	Dadar & Nagar Haveli	33.00
	Grand Total	10973.00

Industrial Projects in Tribal Areas

As per provisions of the Panchayats (extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, Gram Sabhas located in the Schedule-V areas are to approve of the plans, programmes and projects for social and economic development before such plans, programmes and projects are taken up for implementation by the Panchayat at the village level. They are responsible for identification or selection of persons as beneficiaries under the poverty alleviation and other programmes.

The act also provides that the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be consulted before making the acquisition of land in the Scheduled Areas for development projects and before re-settling or rehabilitating persons affected by such projects in the Scheduled Areas; the actual planning and implementation of the projects in the Scheduled Areas shall be coordinated at the State level; the recommendations of the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be made mandatory prior to grant of prospecting license or mining lease for minor minerals in the Scheduled Areas.

As per Section 4(k) of the Act, recommendations of the Gram Sabha or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be made mandatory prior to grant of prospecting license or mining lease for minor minerals in the Scheduled Areas and Section 4 of the Act provides that prior recommendation of the Gram Sabhas or the Panchayats at the appropriate level shall be made mandatory for grant of concession for the exploitation of minor minerals by auction.

Joint Committee on forest rights Act

The Ministry of Environment & Forests and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs had constituted a Joint Committee in April 2010 to study in detail the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA) including factors that were aiding/ impeding its implementation and recommend necessary policy changes in the future management of the forestry sector in India which might be necessary as a consequence of the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.

 The Committee has submitted its report to the Government. The report includes inter-alia recommendations/ suggestions relating to process and institutions of the FRA, individual and community forest rights, future structure of forest governance, enhancing livelihoods through non-timber forest produce and convergence of development programmes for tribals and forest dwellers. 

 

The Ministry had issued comprehensive guidelines to the State Governments/UT Administrations on 12-07-2012 and amended the Forest Rights Rules, 2008 on 6th September, 2012 to remove impediments and ensure effective implementation of the Act at the ground level. The recommendations/ suggestions of the Joint Committee were also taken into consideration while issuing the guidelines and making amendments in the Forest Rights Rules.

Constitution of Forest Rights Committees

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 does not contain any provision for constitution of Forest Rights Committee by the State Governments. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008, notified by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 1.1.2008 for implementing the provisions of the Act, however, provide for constitution of Forest Rights Committee by the Gram Sabha for assisting the Gram Sabha in the functions assigned to it under the Act. The requisite implementation status thereof, State/ UT-wise, is given below.

(As on 31.1.2013)

States/ UTs which have constituted the Forest Rights Committees	States/ UTs which are yet to constitute the Forest Rights Committees
1. Andhra Pradesh	1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Assam	2. Manipur
3. Bihar	3. Meghalaya
4. Chhattisgarh	4. Nagaland
5. Goa	5. Sikkim
6. Gujarat	6. Daman & Diu
7. Himachal Pradesh	7. Dadra & Nagar Haveli
8. Jharkhand
9. Karnataka
10. Kerala
11. Madhya Pradesh
12. Maharashtra
13. Mizoram
14. Odisha
15. Rajasthan
16. Tamil Nadu
17. Tripura
18. Uttar Pradesh
19. Uttarakhand
20. West Bengal
21. A & N Islands

          

As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules, 2008, notified on 1.1.2008, the Forest Rights Committee is required to assist the Gram Sabha in its functions to -

(i) receive, acknowledge and retain the claims in the specified form and evidence in support of such claims;

(ii) prepare the record of claims and evidence including maps;

(iii) prepare a list of claimants on forest rights;

(iv) verify claims as provided in the Rules;

(v) present their findings on the nature and extent of the claim before the Gram Sabha for its consideration;

(vi) acknowledge every claim received, in writing;

(vii) prepare the claims on behalf of Gram Sabha for community forest rights in the prescribed Form.



The Rules also provide that the Forest Rights Committee shall, after due intimation to the concerned claimant and the Forest Department –

(a) visit the site and physically verify the nature and extent of the claim and evidence on the site;

(b) receive any further evidence or record from the claimant and witnesses;

(c) ensure that the claim from pastoralists and nomadic tribes for determination of their rights, which may either be through individual members, the community or traditional community institution, are verified at a time when such individuals, communities or their representatives are present;

(d) ensure that the claim from member of a primitive tribal group or pre-agricultural community for determination of their rights to habitat, which may either be through their community or traditional community institution, are verified when such communities or their representatives are present;

(e) prepare a map delineating the area of each claim indicating recognizable landmarks; and

(f) record its findings on the claim and present the same to the Gram Sabha for its consideration.

The Rules further provide that if there are conflicting claims in respect of the traditional or customary boundaries of another village or if a forest area is used by more than one Gram Sabha, the Forest Rights Committees of the respective Gram Sabhas shall meet jointly to consider the nature of enjoyment of such claim and submit the findings to the respective Gram Sabha in writing. The absence of the Forest Rights Committees is thus likely to hamper the verification of the claims

The Ministry has brought about appropriate changes in the Rules on 06.09.2012 and issued comprehensive guidelines on 12.7.2012 to ease out the problems and hindrances encountered in the implementation of the Act, and to provide unencumbered excess to rights already conferred by the Act. After the amendments in the Rules, the Ministry also organized five regional consultations on Forest Rights Act, 2006 followed by a National meeting at New Delhi, wherein the amendments in the Rules were explained to the functionaries of the State Governments and the State Governments were directed to make special efforts for expeditious implementation of the Act.

Promotion of Tribal Art and Culture

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs runs a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Research & Training-Grants-in-Aid to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), under which funds are provided to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for various activities performed by these institutes which include, conducting research on different aspects of tribal life including their languages and art and culture and also setting up of tribal museums for exhibiting tribal artifacts and promotion of tribal culture. 

 

The Scheme does not envisage direct assistance to tribal artists. Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with Ministry of Culture also organizes a National Tribal Festival to showcase a holistic picture of tribal culture and heritage in all its vibrancy and colour. The Festival provides glimpses of rich cultural heritage through unique forms of tribal folk dances. 

 

 The Ministry of Tribal Affairs also supports State Government/ Union Territories in organizing tribal festivals in their own environment. The Ministry of Culture has no specific scheme exclusively for providing financial assistance to tribal artists. 

 

 The financial assistance by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the States/UTs for Tribal Research Institutes/Organizing Tribal Festivals during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme-wise and State/UT-wise are annexed. 

 

The scheme is in ongoing scheme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the promotion of art and culture of tribals. Sahitya Academy, an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, has a project office namely. North East Centre for Oral Literature (NECO) at Agartala exclusively for the cause of promotion and upliftment of tribal culture. 

 

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, inter alia, undertakes research and documentation on the contextual aspects of culture including life style, oral traditions, and folkore and art practices of communities including tribal art and culture. The Zonal Cultural Centres, inter-alia, make special efforts to encourage tribal arts. The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya carries out programmes for popularization of cultures of India, of which preservation and promotion of art and culture of tribes living in different areas of the country is an important and integral part. 

 

The Anthropological Survey of India carries out anthropological research, covering various social, cultural and biological aspects of the people of India. There are eight zonal museums in the country, which display artifacts belonging to different communities of India, many of which focus on tribal communities and their culture.

Posts earmarked for STs lying vacant in the Central Public Sector Enterprises

As on date, 285 posts earmarked for SCs and 423 posts earmarked for STs are lying vacant in the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Department of Heavy Industry of the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.

Praful Patel, Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, said that most of the CPSEs having vacant posts for reserved category are sick/ loss making and have been referred to BIFR.

 No recruitment is being made in these CPSEs. In other CPSEs, the vacant posts of reserved category are due to non-availability of suitable candidates in spite of repeated advertisements/efforts.

Skill Improvement of Tribals

Handicraft and handloom products manufactured by the tribals are regularly marketed by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) through Tribal Artisan Melas and other outlets. Training and development facility in this regard is also being provided to the tribals by TRIFED.

As reported by TRIFED, lack of reliable and high quality power supply is at present not posing problem in making of handicraft and handloom products by small enterprises run by members of these communities.

As reported by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, various locally available renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, micro hydel can be effectively utilized to meet power/energy requirements in remote and tribal areas. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy have also reported that they are giving subsidy of Rs.3500 to 10,000 per biogas plant depending upon its capacity and 30% of cost of solar systems to promote them in rural areas including tribal areas.

Forest Dwelling Tribes

Demographic details in respect of the people residing in the forest areas in the country are maintained by the respective State Governments / Union Territory Administrations. The schemes/ programmes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are meant for the socio-economic development of all the Scheduled Tribes in the country, including those living in the forest areas. 

This Ministry is implementing a programme for development of forest villages since 2005-06 for integrated development of forest villages with a view to raise the Human Development Index (HDI) of the inhabitants of the Forest Villages and for provision of basic facilities and services in 2,474 forest villages/ habitations spread over 12 States. Under the programme, funds are released out of Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Plan for infrastructure work relating to basic services and facilities viz. approach roads, healthcare, primary education, minor irrigation, rainwater harvesting, drinking water, sanitation, community halls, etc. for development of Forest Villages.



The Union Government took note of the fact that the forest dwellers had been precluded from asserting their genuine claims to forest resources which traditionally belonged to them. The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 was enacted to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. This Act not only recognizes the right to hold and live in the forest land under the individual or common occupation for habitation or for self-cultivation for livelihood but also grants several other rights to ensure their control over forest resources which inter alia include right of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce; community rights such as nistar; habitat rights for primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities; right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use.

Appropriate changes in the Rules have been brought about on 06.09.2012 and guidelines have been issued on 12.07.2012 to ease out the problems and hindrances encountered in the implementation of the Act, and to provide unencumbered access to rights already conferred by the Act.

The funds allocated to the State Governments and utilization reported by them during the last three years and the current year under the development of forest villages programme is as under:

Development of Forest Villages Under SCA to TSP during 2009-10 to 2011-12

      

SN	States	2009-10	2010-11		2011-12
		Released	Released	Utilized	Released	Utilized
1	2	11	12	13	14	15
1	Assam	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
2	Chhattisgarh	0.00	1500.00	336.07	1297.18	0.00
3	Gujarat	0.00	1351.96	0.00	0.00	0.00
4	Jharkhand	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
5	Meghalaya	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
6	Madhya Pradesh	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
7	Mizoram	0.00	0.00	0.00	202.50	0.00
8	Odisha	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
9	Tripura	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
10	Uttarakhand	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
11	Uttar Pradesh	0.00	151.14	0.00	0.00	0.00
12	West Bengal	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Total		0.00	3003.10	336.07	1499.68	0.00
Note: No funds have been released so far during 2012-13 for Development of Forest Village