FRA Disputes Behind Tribal Protests in Maharashtra: Centre
Govt cites pending claims, land disputes; denies forced displacement
- Durgadas Uikey cites FRA-related issues
- Over 14,700 forest rights claims pending in Maharashtra
- Land extent disputes also fuel unrest
- Govt says no forced displacement of tribal communities
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd April: The Centre on Wednesday informed Parliament that disputes related to forest rights claims and land recognition are the primary reasons behind recent tribal protests in Maharashtra, particularly in Nashik.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State Durgadas Uikey said the issues stem from implementation challenges under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA).
According to the government, concerns include verification of claims under Sections 4(1), 4(3), and 6 of the Act, as well as disputes over the extent of land recognised under Section 4(6).
Data shared by the Maharashtra government indicates that as of January 2026, there are 14,726 pending Individual Forest Rights (IFR) cases, including 6,158 claims and 8,568 appeals. The rejection rate at the district level stands at around 30%.
While the prescribed timeline for processing claims is approximately 60 days, cases involving rejections and appeals can take over six months due to procedural requirements.
The Centre clarified that land and its management fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, and Maharashtra has reported that no tribal communities have been forcibly displaced in districts such as Nashik, Dhule, Chandrapur, and others.
The state has also issued guidelines mandating Gram Sabha consent for land acquisition and project approvals, along with provisions for compensation for community forest rights (CFR) land.
Officials said steps are being taken to expedite the resolution of pending claims, including directions issued to district collectors and regular monitoring at the state level.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been providing guidelines to ensure effective implementation of the FRA, while emphasising coordination with state authorities.
