09-November-2024
Strengthening Forest Rights in Lahaul, HP: A Collaborative Effort
To accelerate the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in Lahaul, the district administration of Lahaul and Spiti, in collaboration with ISB, organized a two-day orientation program in Keylong and Udaipur. The sessions aimed to equip key stakeholders with the knowledge and tools required for filing and securing Community Forest Rights (CFRs).
Despite FRA's existence for nearly two decades, claim generation in Himachal Pradesh has been slow, particularly in tribal areas like Lahaul. This initiative marks a step toward systematic claim generation, capacity building, and institutional support. The district administration has also allocated office space for an FRA Cell to assist Gram Panchayats and Forest Rights Committees (FRCs) in the process.
Keylong FRA Orientation (7 November 2024)
The first session in Keylong was attended by the Block Development Officer (BDO) Dr. Vivek Guleria, Sadar Kanungo Sher Singh, SDLC representatives, Gram Panchayat Secretaries from ten Panchayats, Patwaris, and FRC representatives.
The session began with an overview of the MoU signed between ISB and the district administration, outlining its primary objectives:
Facilitating large-scale CFR claim generation under FRA 2006 in Lahaul.
Supporting the formation of CFR Management Committees (CFRMCs) and developing sustainable forest management plans.
Establishing women-led enterprises focused on seasonal forest produce to create economic opportunities.
ISB team members provided a historical background on FRA 2006 and explained its implementation challenges. The discussion highlighted that while individual forest rights (IFR) claims have been processed in some areas, CFR claims remain largely unaddressed.
A detailed step-by-step demonstration of the CFR claim filing process was conducted, emphasizing the role of FRCs. The FRA Cell will provide ongoing training, resource materials, and support, but FRCs must lead the initiative at the village level.
During the session, IoFE team introduced the use of technology in claim generation, discussing the possibility of adapting ISB's digital tools for claim tracking and documentation in Himachal Pradesh.
Participants shared insights on the current status of claims in their villages, noting that while IFR claims have been filed, CFR claims have not gained momentum. The BDO emphasized that while FRA grants communities' legal rights over forest resources, it also entails responsibilities for conservation and sustainable management. A decision was made to form a WhatsApp group to facilitate coordination between Panchayat Secretaries and the FRA Cell.
The session concluded with a commitment to conduct village-level meetings with all FRCs to assess claim statuses, reconstitute inactive FRCs, and initiate filing processes.
The second session in Udaipur, led by SDM Keshav Ram and Naib Tehsildar Mehar Singh, reinforced similar themes while addressing district-specific challenges. The meeting was attended by FRC representatives, SDLC members, Gram Panchayat Secretaries, and officials from the revenue and forest departments.
Amit Upmanyu reiterated the critical gaps in FRA implementation, noting that procedural complexities have hindered CFR claims. Drawing from past experiences in Pangi tehsil, where ISB assisted in filing 48 CFR claims, he emphasized that a structured, collaborative approach between local administration, ISB, and community institutions can replicate this success in Lahaul.
Satya Prasanna provided a technical breakdown of the CFR claim filing process, detailing the roles of FRCs, SDLCs, and DLCs. He emphasized that while the FRA Cell will facilitate training and provide resource materials, FRCs must take the lead in the claim generation process at the village level.
The SDLC members provided updates on the upcoming SDLC meeting, where 48 IFR claims were set for review and approval. However, they noted that CFR claim generation remained critically low and needed to be prioritized.
FRC representatives discussed challenges in filing claims, highlighting documentation gaps and procedural roadblocks. Many villages had only initiated IFR claims, with little progress on community-level claims.
Naib Tehsildar emphasized the importance of CFR claims and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to expedite the process. The SDM highlighted the economic potential of Lahaul's rich biodiversity, including herbs, medicinal plants, and seasonal forest products. He stressed that CFRs provide communities with the legal framework to sustainably manage and benefit from these resources.
To ensure institutional continuity, the SDM operationalized the FRA Cell in Udaipur and allocated office space within the Tehsil office. The meeting concluded with a directive to conduct village-wise meetings with FRCs to:
Assess the status of FRCs and reconstitute non-functional committees.
Review claim progress and documentation requirements.
Finalize a roadmap for CFR claim filing across Lahaul.
The FRA orientation program in Keylong and Udaipur marked an important step toward securing community tenure in Lahaul. By establishing a dedicated FRA Cell, providing technical training, and setting clear action points for FRCs, the initiative has laid the groundwork for large-scale CFR claim generation.
With structured support from the district administration and ISB, Gram Panchayats and FRCs now have the institutional backing to navigate the claim filing process. Moving forward, efforts will focus on scaling up CFR claims, providing continued training, and integrating technology for streamlined tracking.
Through sustained collaboration, communities in Lahaul can assert their legal rights over forest resources while ensuring long-term ecological and economic benefits.