Tribal Affairs Secretary says community rights have potential to ‘strengthen gram sabha-led forest governance’

Union Tribal Affairs Secretary Ranjana Chopra on Thursday (September 10, 2026) called for State governments to pay “greater attention” to recognising community forest rights and community forest resource rights under the Forest Rights Act of 2006, pointing to their “potential to strengthen Gram Sabha-led forest governance and community-based livelihoods”.

Ms. Chopra’s remarks came at a regional conference in Bengaluru over the implementation of the 2006 law, days after the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s own office memorandum, claiming that the FRA has “no provision for Gram Sabha consent” to divert forest land, led to severe criticism from Opposition leaders and Adivasi and forest dweller organisations alike.

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At the regional conference, which was held to review the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in the southern States of India, Ms. Chopra said, “Recognition of rights must translate into tenure security, sustainable livelihoods and convergence with development schemes, leading to the empowerment of tribal communities.”

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been facing criticism over the position it has taken on Gram Sabha consent for diversion of forest land and the FRA. This came after The Hindu reported that the Tribal Affairs Ministry had distanced itself from all issues related to Gram Sabha consent in an August 31 communication to the Union Power Ministry. This distancing came even as the two Ministries were discussing the issue of how requiring 100% Gram Sabha consent under the FRA had become a “critical bottleneck” delaying large government projects.

Explained | Why is MoTA distancing itself from Gram Sabha consent for forest clearance?

Following this, opposition leaders like Jairam Ramesh, who is also the former Environment Minister, and rights organisations like the Campaign for Survival and Dignitiy have called this position of the Ministry “shocking” and demanded it withdraw this position, which they said was factually and legally incorrect.

In her remarks on Thursday , the Tribal Affairs Secretary also referred to the recent joint advisory issued by MoTA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, “enabling integration of Community Forest Resource Management Plans with Forest Department working and management plans”.

Also Read | Ministry by ministry, India’s forest rights regime is fraying

“Habitat rights of PVTGs embody living systems of culture, livelihood and traditional knowledge,” the Secretary said, adding that the recognition of these rights should be “undertaken with sensitivity and active community participation”.

During the FRA review of southern states, the Tribal Affairs Ministry stressed the need to digitise FRA records and also introduced the new national-level FRA portal.