Under the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA), the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has so far sanctioned the setting up of 324 district-level FRA cells across 18 States and union territories implementing the forest rights law.

About Forest Rights Act (FRA)

• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA) is meant to grant forest rights to Scheduled Tribes and forest-dwelling communities.
• Since its inception, implementation has been entirely under the domain of States and UTs.

About FRA Cells

• FRA Cells are administrative support units created under the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan (DAJGUA) to assist in implementing the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

• Role of FRA Cells: These cells will:
  • Assist Gram Sabhas and claimants in preparing FRA claim paperwork.
  • Help in data management, digitisation of records, and uploading to relevant portals.
  • Aid in evidence collection, Gram Sabha resolutions, and forest land demarcation.
  • Facilitate conversion of forest/un-surveyed villages into revenue villages.
  • These cells are not decision-making bodies.
  • They function under the directions of State Tribal Welfare Departments and do not interfere with statutory committees like FRCs, SDLCs, or DLCs.
• Financial Support: The FRA cells are funded by the Centre under Grants-in-aid General.

• Budget allocations: ₹8.67 lakh per district-level FRA cell.
  • ₹25.85 lakh per State-level FRA cell.
• Highest number of district FRA cells sanctioned: Madhya Pradesh (55), Chhattisgarh (30), Telangana (29), Maharashtra (26), Assam (25), and Jharkhand (24).

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