Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]
(a) State Forest Department
(b) District Collector/Deputy Commissioner
(c) Tahsildar/Block Development Officer/Mandal Revenue Officer
(d) Gram Sabha
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
According to Chapter IV of the FRA, 2006, the Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both.
Gram Sabha:
- Gram Sabha is the authority for Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers within the local limits of its jurisdiction.
- It receives claims, consolidates and verifies them, prepares a map delineating the area of each recommended claim in such manner as may be prescribed for the exercise of such rights.
