A recent report highlighted the significant presence of BJP MPs in Lok Sabha seats across India, with 103 of the 153 seats being represented by them where the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006 is a pressing concern. Alongside the BJP, other political parties such as the Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, YSRCP, and National Congress Party also hold representation in various seats relating to the Forest Rights Act.
The Forest Rights Act 2006, a pivotal legislation aimed at addressing historical injustices against Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers, endeavors to acknowledge the forest rights of communities living in forests for generations. The analysis presented through the report sheds light on the intricacies of Lok Sabha seats where demands for forest rights significantly impact the electorate, with some areas seeing over 40% of voters being eligible under the FRA.
The dynamics of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections reveal a direct rivalry between the BJP and Congress in 74 constituencies out of the core FRA districts, resulting in a majority of wins for the BJP. Notably, out of India's 47 Scheduled Tribe reserved seats, 42 are fundamental FRA constituencies, with the BJP securing more victories in these areas as compared to the Congress. Despite the significance of the Forest Rights Act, government data indicates a decrease in the FRA claim disposal rate over the past five years, citing reasons such as the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges related to political will and corruption hindering effective implementation.
The analysis further delves into the concerning trend of claim rejections in various states and Union territories, highlighting rejection rates exceeding 50% in eight regions including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, and others. Notably, states like Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh have notably high rejection rates, with a limited number of titles being distributed relative to the claims received. Studies conducted on the implementation of the FRA in specific states like Karnataka reveal discrepancies, such as the allocation of small land areas for individual forest rights, posing challenges for livelihoods.