Daily Current Affairs : 17-April-2024
Recently, Land Conflict Watch, a studies business enterprise focused on land disputes in India, reported a sturdy connection between land conflicts and the enforcement of the Forest Rights Act (FRA). This records sheds light on ongoing tensions affecting many groups across the country.
Key Findings from the Analysis
Land-Related Conflicts and FRA
- Number of Conflicts: Out of 781 documented conflicts, 264 are linked to areas wherein the Forest Rights Act is a important issue.
- Impact on Communities: These conflicts at once affect forest-living communities, impacting about 2.1 lakh hectares of land and about 6.1 lakh people.
Reasons Behind the Conflicts
Several factors contribute to these land conflicts:
Conservation and Forestry Projects
- Approximately 44% of the conflicts rise up from conservation efforts, which include activities like tree plantations.
Non-Implementation of FRA
- A astonishing 88.1% of conflicts result from the non-implementation or violation of key provisions within the FRA, which consist of:
- Prohibition on Evictions: Communities are frequently evicted before their rights claims are recognized.
- Lack of Prior Consent: Forest land is diverted for other makes use of without acquiring previous consent from local Gram Sabhas.
- Insufficient Legal Protections: Many wooded area-residing groups do not have adequate prison safeguards for his or her land rights.
Role of the Forest Department
- The Forest Department often acts as an opposing pressure in disputes, threatening the land rights of local groups.
Most Affected States
The states experiencing the highest number of FRA-related conflicts include:
- Maharashtra
- Odisha
- Madhya Pradesh
Additionally, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir face extensive wooded area rights issues, specifically in reserved parliamentary constituencies for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs).
Nature of Conflicts
- Common Land Disputes: Most conflicts in reserved constituencies contain common land, consisting of community forests and non-forested regions.
- Private Land Conflicts: Unreserved constituencies see greater disputes over personal land, particularly revenue patta lands.
Economic Activities Triggering Conflicts
Infrastructure projects are a primary purpose of land conflicts, specially in reserved constituencies. Examples encompass:
- Mining and Power Projects
- Road and Railway Development
Important Points:
- Connection to Forest Rights Act (FRA): Significant correlation between land conflicts and the enforcement of the FRA in India.
- Number of Conflicts:
- Out of 781 documented conflicts, 264 are linked to FRA-related issues.
- Impact on Communities:
- Conflicts affect forest-dwelling communities across approximately 2.1 lakh hectares and 6.1 lakh people.
Reasons Behind the Conflicts:
- Conservation and Forestry Projects:
- Approximately 44% of conflicts arise from conservation efforts like tree plantations.
- Non-Implementation of FRA:
- 88.1% of conflicts stem from the violation of FRA provisions, including:
- Prohibition on Evictions: Communities are evicted before their rights are recognized.
- Lack of Prior Consent: Forest land is diverted without local Gram Sabha consent.
- Insufficient Legal Protections: Many communities lack adequate legal safeguards.
- 88.1% of conflicts stem from the violation of FRA provisions, including:
- Role of the Forest Department:
- Acts as an opposing force in disputes, threatening community land rights.
Most Affected States:
- Key States: Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh have the highest number of FRA-related conflicts.
- Additional States: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir also face significant forest rights issues, particularly in constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs).
Nature of Conflicts:
- Common Land Disputes: Most conflicts involve community forests and non-forested commons in reserved constituencies.
- Private Land Conflicts: Higher disputes over private land in unreserved constituencies.
Economic Activities Triggering Conflicts:
- Infrastructure Projects: Major cause of conflicts, particularly:
- Mining and Power Projects
- Road and Railway Development
- Collection of Minor Forest Products: Past conflicts have arisen over this issue as well.
Why In News
Recently, Land Conflict Watch, a data research agency that tracks land-related conflicts in India, has noted a significant correlation between land conflicts and the enforcement of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), highlighting the urgent need for effective implementation of this legislation to protect the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
MCQs about Understanding Land Conflicts in India
-
Which of the following is the primary reason for land conflicts in constituencies related to the Forest Rights Act?
A. Lack of infrastructure
B. Conservation and forestry projects
C. Urban development
D. Industrialization
-
Which state has the highest number of conflicts related to the Forest Rights Act?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Maharashtra
C. Gujarat
D. West Bengal
-
What is a major issue that contributes to the violation of the Forest Rights Act?
A. Excessive funding for forestry projects
B. Lack of legal representation for communities
C. Prohibition on evictions
D. Lack of prior consent for land diversion
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
