The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has withdrawn its recent circular on Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights after massive tribal protests across the state.

About the Circular 

• Designation of Nodal Agency: The circular proposed to make the Chhattisgarh Forest Department the nodal agency for implementing Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights, which traditionally falls under the jurisdiction of the Tribal Development Department.
• Reference to National Working Plan Code: It invoked the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023 under the guise of promoting “scientific forest management,” potentially undermining community-led forest governance.
• Advisory Nature with Implementation Gaps: The department claimed the circular was advisory in nature, aiming to address inconsistencies in CFR rights implementation and seeking to integrate CFR management with national forest planning standards.

Concerns Raised Against the Circular

• Violation of FRA and Constitutional Provisions: Activists alleged the circular undermined the Forest Rights Act, Gram Sabha supremacy, and constitutional safeguards under the Fifth Schedule and PESA Act.
• Jurisdictional Overreach: Designating the Forest Department as the nodal agency was seen as an illegal encroachment on the authority of the Tribal Development Department.
• Threat to Community Control: The circular was viewed as an attempt to centralize forest management, risking the dilution of community rights over 20,000 sq. km of forest land.

Conclusion

The withdrawal of the circular marks a significant victory for tribal communities, reaffirming their constitutional and legal rights under the FRA and PESA, and emphasizing the central role of Gram Sabhas in community-led forest governance and sustainable management.

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