Which of the following statements relating to the Scheduled Tribes and

Which of the following statements relating to the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 are correct ?

  • 1. The Act recognizes forest rights of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes who have been occupying the forest land before October 25, 1980
  • 2. The onus of implementation of the Act lies at the level of the State / UT Governments
  • 3. The Act seeks to recognize and vest certain forest rights in the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2016
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect as the cutoff date for recognition of rights for forest dwellers under the Act is December 13, 2005, not October 25, 1980.
– The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, aims to recognize and vest forest rights in forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations.
– The Act specifies that the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes must have been primarily residing in and depending on forests or forest lands for bona fide livelihood needs. The definition of “forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes” and “other traditional forest dwellers” in Section 2 sets the cutoff date for eligibility based on residence prior to December 13, 2005. The date October 25, 1980, is relevant to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, regarding the diversion of forest land.
– Implementation of the Act is primarily the responsibility of the State/UT Governments through various committees constituted at the Gram Sabha, Sub-Divisional, and District levels, overseen by a State Level Monitoring Committee.
The Act recognizes various rights, including the right to hold and live in forest land for habitation or cultivation, ownership of minor forest produce, community rights like grazing and access to water bodies, and conservation rights. The Gram Sabha is the statutory body for initiating the process of determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights.