Promulgation of the Forest Rights Act 2006, is a major step towards protecting the rights of the Adivasis, who form 8.2 per cent of our population in 17 States. When the UPA Government came to power in May 2004, its Common Minimum Programme (CMP) had made a commitment that ownership rights will be conferred on all those people from the weaker sections who work in the forests, in respect of minor
forest produce including tendu patta and will take all measures to reconcile
the objectives of economic growth and environmental conservation, particularly as far as tribal communities dependent on forest are concerned.Moreover, the CMP stated that the effective systems of relief and rehabilitation would be put in place for tribal and other groups displaced by development projects; the tribal people alienated from land would be rehabilitated and the rights of tribal communities over mineral resources, water sources, etc as laid down by law would be safeguarded. In a sense the Forest Rights Act 2006 fulfills the UPA commitment. After the Scheduled Tribes Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005 was tabled in Parliament on 13 December 2005, there was for more than a year public debate on its merits. Following the recommendations
of the Joint Parliamentary Committee and a Group of Ministers, the bill was titled : “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006� and it was passed by the Lok Sabha on 13 December 2006. The President of India gave his assent on 29 December 2006 and it came into force on 2 January 2007. The Forest Rights Act 2006 has several positive features.