Ms. Chopra’s remarks came at a regional conference in Bengaluru over the implementation of the 2006 law, days after the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s own office memorandum, claiming that the FRA has “no provision for Gram Sabha consent” to divert forest land, led to severe criticism from Opposition leaders and Adivasi and forest dweller organisations alike.
Following this, opposition leaders like Jairam Ramesh, who is also the former Environment Minister, and rights organisations like the Campaign for Survival and Dignitiy have called this position of the Ministry “shocking” and demanded it withdraw this position, which they said was factually and legally incorrect.
In her remarks on Thursday , the Tribal Affairs Secretary also referred to the recent joint advisory issued by MoTA and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, “enabling integration of Community Forest Resource Management Plans with Forest Department working and management plans”.
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