Jammu, 13 August (H.S.): Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today held a detailed interaction with social activists and representatives of forest-dwelling communities from different parts of the Valley and discussed issues relating to forest rights, conservation, environmental protection and development of forest-fringe areas.

During the interaction, the participants projected a range of issues being faced by forest dwellers in different areas and sought effective measures for their redressal. The activists also deliberated upon matters relating to forest conservation and increasing environmental degradation and called for long-term and sustainable interventions to protect the fragile forest ecosystem.

The participants suggested strengthening of the FRA implementation mechanism through constitution of appropriate committees, stakeholder awareness programmes, capacity building of field officials and designation of a nodal department at the district level.

Taking serious note of the suggestions, the Minister directed the Director, Tribal Affairs, to initiate the process for constitution of the requisite committees and organize a UT-level workshop on the Forest Rights Act, to be followed by similar programmes at the Divisional, District and grassroots levels.

The Minister also directed that the cases rejected under the Forest Rights Act shall be reviewed strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the rules framed thereunder, so that no eligible forest dweller is deprived of his legitimate rights.

The delegations further brought to the notice of the Minister various area-specific developmental issues, particularly relating to infrastructure and access to basic services like education and healthcare, and sought necessary interventions for improving public infrastructure and essential services in the areas inhabited by forest-dwelling communities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar