JharFRA: Claiming Rights, Simplifying Process

18.12.25

The Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE) works to strengthen forest governance by supporting forest-dependent communities to secure their legal rights and improve their livelihoods. A core focus of our work is supporting the effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006—commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

Since 2022, we have partnered with the Government of Jharkhand to address long-standing challenges in implementing the Act, particularly in relation to Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), through process reforms and digital innovation. This collaboration led to the development of JharFRA, a state-owned digital platform launched under the Abua Bir Abua Dishom (ABAD) Abhiyan to support CFRR claim processing.

This report documents the implementation of JharFRA in Simdega district between February and October 2024. It analyses how state-led, technology-enabled reforms can improve transparency and efficiency in recognising CFRR, while also highlighting the challenges of scaling such initiatives. The report offers new insights for policymakers, practitioners, and civil society organisations working on FRA implementation in Jharkhand.