On the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti and Himachal Day, environmental and social organisations in Himachal Pradesh, alongside forest rights activists, raised serious concerns regarding the state’s Forest Department’s persistent disregard for the rights of forest-dependent communities.
These groups strongly criticised a letter issued by the state’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to district officials, arguing that it deliberately undermines implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006.
The timing of this communication appears particularly contentious, coming as the state government has been making concerted efforts to enforce the legislation, with Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi personally conducting training sessions for officials on FRA provisions.
Environmental campaigners described the Forest Department’s letter as ‘unnecessary and contrary to statutory provisions’, maintaining that it represents yet another attempt to delay implementation of a law that has remained largely inactive in Himachal for 17 years, despite being successfully enforced in states including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
This protracted delay, they argue, has left countless forest-dependent families in legal limbo, severely compromising their livelihoods and land rights.
Activists particularly contested the department's assertion that recognising forest rights would lead to deforestation and ecological damage — a claim they say fundamentally misrepresents the FRA's purpose of redressing historical injustices by restoring tribal and forest-dwelling communities’ traditional role as custodians of sustainable forest management.
The organisations emphasised that the FRA already incorporates a transparent, three-tier verification process involving Gram Sabhas, revenue and forest officials, and elected panchayat representatives.
They argued that the Forest Department's unilateral directive to district committees constitutes not only inappropriate overreach but potentially unlawful interference, as the department holds no statutory authority to issue such instructions. They also rejected what they termed the department's ‘deliberately misleading’ interpretation of eligibility criteria, particularly its resistance to recognising Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs).
The legislation clearly defines OTFDs as those who can demonstrate residence on forest land for at least three generations prior to December 2005 — a category encompassing many of Himachal’s marginalised communities, including Scheduled Castes (comprising 26 per cent of the state’s population).
Activists accused the department of scaremongering by suggesting that granting rights to OTFDs would prove ‘dangerous’, characterising this as a transparent attempt to withhold lawful entitlements from vulnerable groups.
Campaigners noted that the state government had already established over 17,500 Forest Rights Committees in 2016, with numerous community-led forest management initiatives now operational.
They contended that the Forest Department's sudden reinterpretation of settled matters creates unnecessary confusion and actively obstructs the law's implementation. They further dismissed the department's reference to Supreme Court jurisprudence as factually inaccurate, observing that no judicial ruling has ever invalidated the FRA, which remains fully constitutionally valid.
Particular consternation was expressed regarding the department's arbitrary stance on apple cultivation — an economic mainstay for thousands of Himachali families. While the FRA explicitly recognises rights for ‘livelihood-based cultivation’ (including horticulture), the department has systematically rejected apple farmers’ claims — a policy that activists argue flagrantly violates the legislation's intent. They warned that such actions directly threaten the economic survival of forest-dependent communities already facing significant hardship.
The coalition of organisations — including Himlok Jagriti Manch, Sirmour Van Adhikar Manch, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan and Himdhara Environmental Group — demanded immediate withdrawal of the PCCF's letter. They urged both the state government and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to intervene, ensuring the Forest Department complies with the FRA’s provisions.
“The department must cease viewing local communities as adversaries,” their joint statement asserted.
“Himachal’s forests flourish when traditional stewards are properly empowered. Recognising their rights doesn't threaten the environment — it represents our most effective conservation strategy, particularly amidst growing climate emergencies,” it added.
They noted that many communities already protect forests independently, arguing that formal recognition of their rights under the FRA would only strengthen these efforts. The activists concluded by observing that the legislation already contains robust safeguards, rendering the Forest Department’s interference both unwarranted and unlawful.