The Vidarbha Livelihood Forum, a consortium promoting Forest Rights Act (FRA), has opposed the state governments decision to set up convergence committees to prepare management plans to effectively and transparently implement community forest rights (CFRs) offered under the FRA.
Till the end of August 2021, of the 11,842 CFR claims, the district level committees (DLCs) have approved 8,133 in Maharashtra. For better monitoring and effective implementation, the tribal development department issued a GR on November 22,
directing to set up convergence committees at gram panchayat, taluka and district levels.
These committees will prepare management plans of CFR villages and work will be done as per the plan. The plans will have to be approved by the taluka level and district level committees, which will include officials from the forest, revenue, Irrigation, PWD, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, animal husbandry and departments.