Jammu, April 20: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Monday directed officials to expedite and streamline implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, across Jammu and Kashmir.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Civil Secretariat, the Minister stressed the need for a transparent, time-bound and people-centric compliance mechanism to safeguard the rights of tribal communities.
He called for the immediate operationalisation of FRA cells at the district level, highlighting their role in claim documentation, coordination among departments and timely record management. Rana also urged stronger coordination between the revenue, forest and tribal affairs departments to remove procedural delays.
Emphasising accountability, the Minister directed officials to compile detailed data on rejected claims along with reasons, ensuring that genuine beneficiaries are not excluded and corrective steps can be taken.
Rana underlined the importance of Gram Sabhas in verifying and recommending claims, calling for better representation of tribal communities at the grassroots level. He also instructed officials to intensify awareness campaigns and training programmes to educate eligible beneficiaries about their rights and claim procedures.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Minister called for regular monitoring and strict adherence to timelines for effective implementation of the Act across the Union Territory.