State’s decision to review pending IFR claims hailed

BHUBANESWAR: Campaign For Survival and Dignity (CSD), Odisha which played a major role in the enactment of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and works for its effective implementation in the State, welcomed the recent decision taken by the State Government’s FRA State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) to review and dispose of around 2,35,927 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claims pending and rejected at different levels like Gram Sabha, Sub-divisional Level Committee (SDLC) and District Level Committee (DLC).

As per the FRA Status of SLMC, by the end of March 31 this year, a total of 3, 28,808 IFR titles have been distributed out of the 5, 64,735 IFR claims filed at the Gram Sabha level. Out of the rest 2, 35,927 IFR claims, 1, 34,919 IFR claims have been shown as rejected (74,161 by GS, 59,446 by SDLC and 1,312 by DLC) while 28,666 IFR claims have been shown pending at the GS, SDLC and DLC level respectively.  

The CSD has urged upon the SLMC to return back all the original ‘Gram Sabha Resolutions’ along with all the IFR claims to the concern Gram Sabha or the forest rights committee (FRC) so that they can make necessary corrections and can resubmit or can file appeal at the SDLC and DLC level and can take advantage of decision taken to review the rejected and pending IFR claims in the State.