S. R. Sankaran

NEW DELHI: The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has set up a committee to frame rules for the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The 19-member committee, headed by retired bureaucrat S.R. Sankaran, has been asked to submit its draft report within three months.

The finalisation of the report would take another month before it was actually implemented, Union Tribal Affairs Secretary Meena Gupta told reporters here on Monday.

Committee members

The committee members include officials from the Ministries of Tribal Affairs, Forests and Environment, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj besides representatives of some State Governments and experts. The Forest Rights Bill was passed in the winter session of Parliament and received the President's assent on December 29, 2006.

The Act recognises and vests the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.

In this context, the Ministry has convened a meeting of the State Ministers in charge of tribal affairs on Wednesday.

Also, the Ministry is finalising the National Tribal Policy and it is shortly expected to go to the Cabinet for approval.

Tribal Sub-Plan

The Ministry has revived its Tribal Sub-Plan that had fallen into disuse over the years due to lack of implementation by the State Governments.

The States have been asked to create a separate head for the Tribal Sub-Plan — first started in 1974 — so that funds under this cannot be diverted.

According to Ms. Gupta the Ministry will also develop over 2,700 forest villages and an amount of Rs. 15 lakh per village has been earmarked for the purpose.

As many as 13 States will be covered under this scheme that seeks to provide roads, electricity and water for these villages.

Further, the Ministry has also decided to involve banks in disbursing loans to the tribals for income generation under the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation which was earlier done only through the State Scheduled Tribe Finances Corporation, and often faced blockages due to shortage of funds.

Self help groups would also be involved in disbursing loans at a low rate of interest.

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