Second Regional Review Conference on Implementation of the Forest Rights Act Held in Kolkata

The Forest Rights Act, 2006, is formally called the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. It recognizes rights held by forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. The law places their rights, dignity and aspirations at the centre of inclusive and sustainable development.

These rights can include recognized claims over forest land and community forest resources. The process involves claims being received, reviewed and either recognized through titles or rejected under the Act and Rules. Once recognized, rights should be entered in official Revenue and Forest records with accurate maps.

The law matters because recognition is not complete when a title is distributed. The article calls for post-claim support, livelihood convergence, credit access and community management capacity. As of 31 August 2026, about 25 lakh titles had been distributed nationally, while implementation work continued.

The national figures show both the scale of the Forest Rights Act and the work still unfinished. By 31 August 2026, more than 54 lakh claims had been received across India. About 25 lakh titles had been distributed, meaning rights had been recognized for those claims. These figures cover claims under the national implementation process.

The remaining cases were divided between different stages of consideration and rejection. About 11 lakh claims were still pending, while more than 18 lakh had been rejected. The conference stressed that rejected claims should be reviewed in accordance with the Act and its Rules. It also called for reconciliation of FRA data and digitization of case records.

Pending claims were not evenly spread. The Joint Secretary identified Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Assam as having substantial pendency, concentrated in particular districts. The proposed response was district-wise, time-bound action, supported by coordinated work among Tribal Welfare, Revenue and Forest officials.

The Second Regional Review Conference examined how the Forest Rights Act was being implemented across eight eastern and central States. It focused on pending claims, rejected claims, data reconciliation, digitizing case records and recording recognized rights in Revenue and Forest records. It also reviewed Community Forest Resource Rights and Habitat Rights for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

The participating States were West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Senior officials from Tribal Welfare, Revenue and Forest Departments attended. Tribal Research Institutes and district officials also took part, especially from districts with large claim backlogs.

The conference was held in Kolkata on 9 October 2026 and followed a Southern States review in Bengaluru on 10 September 2026. Andhra Pradesh officials were invited to share practices in digitization, record integration, livelihood convergence and credit facilities. The meeting sought coordinated, district-wise and time-bound action.

When a claim is approved and the right is recognized, a title is distributed and the right should be incorporated into Revenue and Forest records. The article calls for accurate maps and digitized case records. This makes the recognized right part of the government’s formal record system rather than leaving it only in a claim file.

Recording the right also enables follow-up support. Andhra Pradesh was highlighted for creating records of rights so titleholders could access post-claim support. The article calls for convergence with programmes for productive land use, housing and livelihoods. It also mentions providing credit facilities to right holders.

The benefits therefore depend on implementation after recognition. States must connect titleholders with schemes and services, while ensuring that records are accurate. For community rights, Gram Sabhas also need capacity to prepare and carry out management plans. Recognition is presented as the beginning of secure, supported rights exercise.

Community Forest Resource Rights, or CFRR, are rights connected to a community’s forest resources rather than only to one person’s plot. The article treats their recognition as a major Forest Rights Act priority. Recognition matters because it places community forest stewardship within the rights framework and supports local participation in forest governance.

The key mechanism is a Community Forest Resource Management Plan prepared and implemented by the Gram Sabha. The Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, said Gram Sabhas need support to do this effectively. The plans can be integrated with Forest Department working and management plans, while the Gram Sabha’s authority remains central. Assistance under DA-JGUA is available for capacity building and execution.

The current challenge is turning formal recognition into functioning management. States must operationalise the joint advisory of the two ministries and help Gram Sabhas build skills. Without planning, support and coordination, CFRR may exist on paper without enabling communities to exercise the rights recognized for them.

Habitat Rights matter for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups because the article calls for PVTG-wise roadmaps designed with sensitivity and participation. These roadmaps should involve traditional institutions and the Gram Sabhas of all concerned villages. Odisha and Chhattisgarh were recognized for pioneering PVTG Habitat Rights. The approach reflects the importance of community life and customary institutions.

Unlike an individual forest-rights claim, which concerns a particular claimant and recognized land right, Habitat Rights concern the broader habitat of a PVTG community. This distinction is a general explanation of the FRA framework; the article itself emphasizes collective participation, traditional institutions and multiple villages. Habitat recognition therefore requires planning beyond a single household or plot.

Implementation remains a priority. The conference called for accelerated recognition of PVTG Habitat Rights, alongside Community Forest Resource Rights. States must prepare sensitive, PVTG-specific roadmaps and involve the relevant Gram Sabhas. This can make recognition responsive to the community’s wider habitat rather than limited to individual titles.

The Forest Rights Act changes forest governance by recognizing forest-dwelling communities as rights holders and giving Gram Sabhas a central role. Governance is not presented as a task for Forest Departments alone. Gram Sabhas are expected to participate in preparing and implementing Community Forest Resource Management Plans, while States provide support and coordination.

The main mechanism is integration. A joint advisory from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change enables Gram Sabha management plans to connect with Forest Department working and management plans. The article stresses that this integration must keep the authority of the Gram Sabha central. Capacity building is available under DA-JGUA.

This creates a shared model of governance. Communities and Gram Sabhas exercise recognized rights and prepare plans, while Forest Departments align their management systems with those plans. States must operationalise the advisory, support training and ensure accurate records. The conference linked this approach to effective CFRR implementation.