Implement forest rights Act: PM asks CMs

New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to the Chief Ministers of all the states seeking their cooperation for the effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The Act requires State governments to constitute committees that will process the cases and ensure distribution of land rights. The Prime Minister urged the state governments to set up, at the earliest, State and District Level Monitoring Committees and local level committees so that the work can be commenced promptly.

Dr Singh also asked the states to ensure wide publicity of the provisions of the act at the local level.

While implementing the act, it should be ensured that adequate protection is provided to critical wildlife habitats as provided for in the Act.

Panchayati Raj Ministry would be writing separately to the states to organise Gram Sabhas across the country on an appointed day to ensure that the provisions of the act were made widely known to Members of the Gram Sabha and Panchayats which would play a critical role in its implementation.

Needless to stress, while implementing the Act, it should be ensured that adequate protection is provided to critical wildlife habitats as provided for in Section 4 of the Act, Dr Singh said.

UNI SN SHB AS1817