20.07.23

Empowering Forest-Dependent Communities: Fourteen Community Forest Resource Rights Claims Submitted in Simdega

Marking the culmination of a long and challenging journey, Mr Sandip Chowdhury, National Coordinator at the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), successfully submitted 14 Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) claims to the Sub-District Level Committee (SDLC) in Simdega district, Jharkhand, on 14 June 2023. This milestone was achieved owing to the unwavering commitment of six IoFE field interns—Chandrakanta, Sunita, Asraf, Shiv, Vinod, and Sudama––and the resilient local forest-dependent communities, who persevered through scorching summer conditions. Currently, the CFRR claim filing process is underway in over 50 villages in Simdega, with 21 claims undergoing joint verification in Jaldega block, and two additional claims under preparation.

In theory, obtaining a CFRR title is a straightforward three-tier process: claims must be filed at the block, sub-divisional, and district levels. However, in practice, this process faces several delays, primarily due to inconsistent understanding of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006—commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA)—and limited support from forest departments.

The CFRR claim filing process began in Simdega in January 2023, with the collection of essential documents and the formation of Forest Right Committees (FRCs). Owing to the dedication of the field team, 14 claims were successfully submitted at the block level by March 2023. However, due to confusion over certain terms in the FRA, the forest department rejected these claims, providing written objections outlining their concerns.

Determined to overcome these hurdles, the team sought guidance from experts well-versed in the FRA and held consultations with higher officials. With their support, the objections raised by the Simdega Forest Department during the joint verification stage were successfully addressed. In accordance with the provisions of the FRA, the Gram Sabhas played a crucial role in this process. They passed appropriate resolutions in their second meeting held in June, effectively nullifying the objections. Additionally, seven Community Forest Resource Management Committees (CFRMCs) were established to further strengthen the efforts.

As a result of these collective endeavours, 14 claims were resubmitted to the SDLC. This experience has been invaluable, leading to the establishment of well-defined systems and processes. With this solid foundation, the CFRR claim filing process is set to make steady progress and achieve even greater success, paving the way for local value creation, close to the forests themselves.