Order Restricting Non-Forest Agencies from Forest Rights Work Revoked Following Statewide Protests
Raipur: In response to widespread protests across tribal regions, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department has officially rescinded a contentious directive that barred non-forest entities—such as government departments, NGOs, and private stakeholders—from engaging in Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) activities.
Minister Acts After Growing Backlash
The withdrawal was announced on Thursday following a directive from Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, who intervened in the wake of public outrage. The now-revoked advisory, issued on May 15, had granted the forest department supervisory authority over CFRR lands—sparking concerns that it undermined the Gram Sabha’s constitutional authority under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Forest Rights Act and Decentralized Governance
The FRA empowers Gram Sabhas to conserve, manage, and protect community forest resources, and to veto projects that threaten the local ecosystem, biodiversity, or tribal livelihoods. Critics argued that the May advisory contradicted these provisions by reasserting centralized control, eroding local autonomy that is central to the FRA framework.
Statewide Tribal Mobilization Forces Policy Reversal
Tribal communities, backed by civil society organizations, launched large-scale protests in districts including Nagri, Ambikapur, Kanker, Gaurela, Narayanpur, Gariaband, Pithora, Balod, and Bastar. Protesters described the directive as “unconstitutional” and “anti-tribal,” demanding its immediate withdrawal through mass mobilizations and formal memorandums.
‘Typographical Error,’ Says Forest Department
The controversial order was issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) V. Sreenivasa Rao, citing a 2020 central communication that allegedly designated the forest department as the nodal agency. However, in light of the backlash, the department later clarified that the reference was a “typographical error,” which had been addressed in a corrigendum issued on June 23. Despite this correction, both the original directive and the corrigendum have now been formally withdrawn.
Forest Rights Progress So Far
The department, in its statement, emphasized its commitment to FRA implementation, noting:
4,78,641 individual forest rights titles issued
4,349 community forest resource rights titles granted
Over 20 lakh hectares of forest land recognized under rights claims
Awaiting Central Guidelines for CFRR Implementation
Justifying the initial order, the department explained that it was meant as an interim measure to align community forest governance with the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023, in the absence of detailed central guidelines. The state has now formally requested the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to issue:
Model CFRR implementation plans
Operational guidelines
Training modules for Gram Sabhas and stakeholders
The Road Ahead: Reinforcing Decentralized Forest Governance
While the Forest Department has maintained that the directive was procedural, tribal leaders argue the episode underscores the urgent need for decentralization and strict adherence to the FRA. With the withdrawal in place, the focus now shifts to the central ministries, whose delay in releasing CFRR-specific guidelines continues to hinder consistent and community-led implementation on the ground.
