J&K/Rajouri (The Stellar News): Anil Bhardwaj :District Rajouri has been awarded as the Best District for the Implementation of Forest Right Act. DC Rajouri Rajesh K Shavan received award and citation from Hon’ble LG Sh. Monaj Sinha. Efforts of district administration, Rajouri headed by Rajesh K Shavan got acknowledgement at the Highest level. Few days back District Level Forest Rights Committee met under the chairmanship of the District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Rajesh K Shavan and cleared 408 claims under FRA after conducting thorough scrutiny of all the claims received from sub-divisional committees. Pertinently, the Forest Rights Act of 2006 provides rights to forest dwellers.
The Act was earlier not applicable or implemented in Jammu and Kashmir; it became applicable to J&K only after 31st October 2019, hence, the rights of forest-dwelling lying communities for the first time in this part of India. Under the Act, members of the Scheduled Tribes dwelling in the forests along with other traditional residents will have the right over forest land for habitation or self-cultivation or livelihood. While expressing gratitude towards UT administration lead by Hon’ble LG Sh. Manoj Sinha, DC Rajouri Rajesh K Shavan claimed that this felicitation is the collective effort of all the three committees including Panchayat level, Sub Division level and District level. DC Rajouri congratulated all the stakeholders and departments for this reward.
