State orders issue of land title to forest dwellers

The Orissa government today asked the district collectors to take expeditious action to issue certificate of title to the eligible scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights Act), 2006.

There were about 41,649 claimants for land title in the state covering 76,282 acres of land. This includes 28,873 cases involving 58,000 acres in Southern Revenue Division, 10,026 persons involving 16,000 acres in Northern Revenue Division and 2750 persons involving 2000 acres in Central Revenue Division. Besides, there are claims for titles over 676 acres of community land which can be given to individuals.

Sources said, the district level committee has already approved these applications which were duly recommended by the sub-divisional level committee and Gram Sabha. The collectors have been instructed to communicate the action taken in the matter like the number of titles for forest land issued along with area and number of families covered both in individual and community claims.

Though the list of eligible persons was prepared earlier after completion of due formalities, the titles (Pattas) couldn’t be distributed in case of the approved claims because of the stay order of the Orissa High Court.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers ( Recognition of Forests Rights Act), 2006 has become operational from 1 January 2008. The law provides for recognition of forest rights to scheduled tribes in occupation of the forest land prior to 13 December 2005 and other traditional forest dwellers who are in occupation of the forest land for at least three generations (75 years) prior to this date.