‘Forest department is the encroacher’
When V Kishore Chandra Deo became the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs three months ago, both the ministries were in inertia.…
‘Tribals turn extremists because states are too busy making money from land’
The world’s largest democracy is facing a surge in tribal uprisings. The recent killings of Mahendra Karma and other Congress leaders in …
Polavaram fraud
The Polavaram dam on the Godavari could displace 400,000 people and submerge nearly 4,000 hectares of forestland. Most of the people threatened …
Silence on MSP for minor forest produce
Revised guidelines on minor forest produce will hurt forest-based economy of tribal communities
Shaala Sangwari: Killing two birds with one stone
The 'Shaala Sangwari' project in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district aims to employ educated Baiga tribal youth by making them teach their …
Mizoram revoked FRA due to stoppage of funding from Centre since 2014
The resolution passed by the state assembly revoking the Act notes that the Union govt declined the state government's demand of Rs 10 lakh to …
Budget 2018: NDA’s tribal development scheme reduced to tokenism
Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana was introduced in 2014 for the overall development of tribal communities
GST breather for Sal plates, Sabai ropes
Tax on these two minor forest products, a source of livelihood for millions of tribals, has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent
Arjun Munda plans Schedule V states' meet on FRA
Conference aims at creating awareness about provisions of Forest Rights Act: Tribal Affairs ministry
Mahua flower comes under minimum support price scheme
Tribal ministry adds 17 new minor forest produce to the government’s minimum support price scheme, increases MSP of some already under the …
47% vacancies reserved for Scheduled Tribes remain unfilled
Minister informs Parliament on number of backlog vacancies, decline in funds for other economic support schemes for STs
As told to Parliament (August 8, 2023): Adverse impact on environment cannot linked be with deforestation, says minister
All that was discussed in the House through the day
A decade on, only 40% of FRA claims approved
The latest status report of the FRA says most claims were rejected by either gram sabhas or district committees
Tribal affairs ministry constitutes committee on CFR guidelines under FRA
It was doing this as there had been no progress reported by states in recognising habitat rights despite its repeated clarifications
FRA comes to the rescue of people displaced by Salwa Judum
The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs decides to conduct a survey of the displaced people who had fled to Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, in order …
What’s worrying about the SC order on FRA?
The Supreme Court’s summary directions in the ongoing writ petition may have been issued without appropriate guidance from govt counsel
Anti-Posco villages in Odisha pin hope on tribal affairs minister Jual Oram
Oram is India's first tribal affairs minister and was elected in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999
COVID-19: Minor forest produce scheme can come to tribals’ rescue, say experts
The scheme provides fair price for minor forest produce through minimum support price
Forest Rights Act could play decisive role in LS polls: Report
One-fourth of constituencies in mainland India have FRA implementation as a core issue and can influence winning margins, finds a study
Government files petition seeking stay of SC order on FRA; hearing tomorrow
On February 13, SC had asked state authorities to submit affidavits explaining why evictions, wherever ordered, have not taken place
MoTA’s job is FRA, not land diversion: DG Forest
Director General of Forest and Special Secretary at environment ministry says will take up matter with MoTA
Update land records to include FRA titles allotted, MoEF&CC directs states
Activists welcome ministry’s move citing conflict between tribals and officials when land records do not record FRA titles
Ahead of SC hearing on FRA, MoEF asks states to share “encroachment” data
Forest Survey of India requests for geo-referenced locations of encroachments, but many states ill-equipped to do so
MoTA raises objections to environment ministry’s FRA compliance circular
In the circular, the ministry had clarified that FRA compliance certificates would not be required in Stage I of the forest diversion process
Extensive amendment to forest law will dehumanise forests
The proposed amendment comes at a time when forest dwellers’ rights are being threatened even when there is FRA