Forest Rights Milestone: Jammu and Kashmir Allocates Land to Tribes

The Jammu and Kashmir government has distributed over 65,490 kanals of forest land to scheduled tribes including Gujjars and Bakerwals. However, 39,906 out of 46,090 claims for the same have been rejected due to insufficient evidence. The majority of land titles were issued in Jammu, with Rajouri and Poonch leading the count.

The Jammu and Kashmir government announced the distribution of over 65,490 kanals of forest land to scheduled tribes like Gujjars and Bakerwals, marking a significant implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in the Union Territory.

Minister for Forests and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana, responding to an Assembly query, stated that while 64,706.72 kanals were distributed among the scheduled tribes (STs), 784.19 kanals were allocated to other traditional forest dwellers. Out of the total, Rajouri and Poonch districts saw the highest allocation, with STs largely receiving titles in Jammu region, although claims were largely rejected due to insufficient proof.

The distributive effort highlighted uneven land title issuance across districts, with no forest land allotted to STs in Srinagar and minimal issuance in Baramulla, Ganderbal, Udhampur, and Kulgam districts, emphasizing a need for more equitable allocation.

(With inputs from agencies.)