Recognition of Rights of the ST Forest-Dwelling Communities on the Dependent Forest Lands
Recognition of Rights of the ST Forest-Dwelling Communities on the Dependent Forest Lands
Problem
- Lack of reliable, consolidated data on Forest Rights Act
- Delays and opacity in processing forest claims
- Limited capacity of Gram Sabhas and statutory committees to make informed, evidence-based decisions
- Exclusion of forest-dwelling communities from welfare schemes
- Failure to leverage geospatial technology for transparent Forest Rights Act governance
Solution
- Development of the Forest Rights Act Atlas of Andhra Pradesh as a unified, data-driven governance tool
- Integration of geospatial, demographic and administrative datasets
- Identification of FRA-eligible villages and forest areas through GIS-based mapping
- Field validation and ground-truthing of claims
- Use of the Atlas for district-wise monitoring, action-plan preparation and scheme convergence
Outcomes
- Recognition and securing of forest rights for over 2.26 lakh households
- Grant of 1,822 Community Forest Rights covering nearly 10 lakh acres of forest land
- Improved transparency, monitoring and accountability
- Strengthened participation of Gram Sabhas in forest governance and decision-making
- Enablement of convergence of welfare and livelihood schemes
Project Details
Category: Entitlements
Project Title: Recognition of Rights of the ST Forest-Dwelling Communities on the Dependent Forest Lands
Department or District: Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh
State: Andhra Pradesh
Start Date of the Project: 2008
Website: https://aptribes.ap.gov.in/
Tribe(s) that the Project Covers: The project covers Scheduled Tribe (ST) forest-dwelling communities across Andhra Pradesh, including Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in forest interface villages, unsurveyed forest habitations and traditional forest-dependent settlements across 26 districts. It covers the following tribes: Chero, Kharwar, Oraon, Munda, Birjia, Parahia (PVTG), Asur (PVTG)
Keywords: Forest Rights Act, Individual Forest Rights, Community Forest Management, Community Forest Resource Rights, FRA Atlas, Geospatial Governance, Gram Sabha Empowerment, Giri Bhumi Portal, Tribal Welfare, Scheme Convergence
The project titled “Recognition of rights of the ST forest-dwelling communities on the dependent forest lands” is a transformative governance intervention undertaken by the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Rooted in the constitutional mandate of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the initiative addresses historical injustices by legally recognising the traditional and customary forest rights of tribal communities.
Despite the Forest Rights Act (FRA) being in force since 2008, fragmented data, slow claim processing, and unreliable village-level records have hindered its full implementation. To address these issues, the Department developed the Forest Rights Act Atlas of Andhra Pradesh as a unified, data-driven governance platform.
The Project
The intervention centers on the FRA Atlas of Andhra Pradesh, a geospatial and demographic platform that integrates forest interface land data, tribal population mapping, and claim status under the Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Forest Rights (CFR), and Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR).
The Atlas maps 16,053 revenue villages, of which 12,271 have a tribal population. It identifies 7,114 villages located in and around notified forest lands, of which 6,272 have tribal populations. It further highlights that approximately 11.91 million rural residents, including 1.62 million Scheduled Tribe individuals, live in FRA-eligible villages. Importantly, 628 habitations located within forest land without survey and settlement were identified for focused attention.
By merging spatial, demographic, and administrative records into a unified digital platform, the FRA Atlas provides real-time tracking, district-wise monitoring, and strategic action planning.
Problems that it Intends to Solve
Prior to the Atlas, implementation of the Forest Rights Act suffered from lack of consolidated data on eligible villages and forest dwellers. Processing of IFR, CFR and CFRR claims was often delayed and opaque, undermining trust in institutions.
Gram Sabhas and statutory committees lacked access to reliable spatial data, hindering the ability to make informed decisions. Many forest households were excluded from welfare schemes due to a lack of legal documentation. The absence of geospatial integration also meant missed opportunities for transparent, large-scale governance reform.
Need and Rationale
Bridging these gaps is crucial for addressing historic injustice and ensuring livelihood security, democratic participation, and environmental stewardship. Without legal recognition of forest rights, tribal communities remain excluded from agricultural support, livelihood opportunities, and financial services.
Invisible rights complicate forest governance and create ecological ambiguity. Legal empowerment through CFR and CFRR fosters community conservation and biodiversity protection. Thus, a participatory, technology-enabled system is vital to balance social justice and sustainable forest management.
Implementation Process
The FRA Atlas implementation evolved through structured reviews and policy direction. State-level reviews identified inconsistencies in district data and pending claims, prompting the development of a unified monitoring framework.
The first phase involved integrating geospatial, demographic, and administrative datasets into a consolidated digital Atlas using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Village-level data were coded using Local Government Directory (LGD) codes and overlaid with forest interface maps to identify potential Forest Rights Act (FRA) villages. Detailed demographic profiles and geographic shape files (shapefiles) were prepared for district planning.
The second phase focused on field validation and ground-truthing. District officials and Gram Sabhas verified the mapped data to ensure its legitimacy and accuracy. This participatory validation reinforced the statutory roles of Gram Sabhas and improved ownership of the process.
The Atlas was used in review meetings for claim monitoring, gap identification, and Gram Panchayat action plans. A Web GIS portal and dashboards institutionalised the system.
Integration with the Giri Bhumi portal enabled convergence with welfare schemes, including PM-KISAN, NREGS employment, crop loans, open wells, and land development works. Continuous updates and virtual reviews keep the database refined.
Solutions Implemented
The main solution was a GIS-enabled FRA Atlas that integrated spatial analytics with governance. This allowed precise village identification, IFR and CFR tracking, and claim monitoring.
Establishing one State and 15 District FRA Cells institutionalised monitoring and capacity-building, while digitising records and integrating with line departments improved inter-departmental coordination and convergence. Prioritising the conversion of forest villages into revenue villages and recognising habitat rights for PVTGs were also key steps.
Details of the Coverage
The project has recognised forest rights for over 2.26 lakh households through Individual Forest Rights titles. Additionally, 1,822 Community Forest Rights have been granted, covering nearly 10 lakh acres of forest land.
The Atlas identifies about 1.49 million hectares of forest land likely to come under Gram Sabha control for protection and conservation, benefiting an estimated 2.35 lakh households externally and involving over 1,000 officials in administration.
Innovation and Unique Features
The FRA Atlas shifts from manual records to a GIS-based governance platform. It integrates technology with participation, ensuring data supports the Gram Sabha authority.
The integration of rights recognition with welfare convergence, agricultural incentives, and credit access transforms legal entitlements into tangible improvements in livelihoods. The initiative aligns rights recognition with environmental conservation, embodying an ESG-driven development framework.
Challenges Faced
Implementation faced fragmented and inconsistent district data, limited spatial information at the habitation level, and capacity gaps among field staff in using GIS tools. Ensuring large-scale field validation required extensive coordination across departments and statutory committees.
Continuous updates are needed due to changing habitation patterns and claims. Inter-departmental data integration is ongoing for full convergence.
Outcomes
The project has secured forest rights for over 2.26 lakh households and granted 1,822 Community Forest Rights covering nearly 10 lakh acres. Transparency and accountability in FRA implementation have significantly improved through data-driven monitoring.
Gram Sabha participation in forest governance has strengthened, and the convergence of welfare schemes with legally recognised titleholders has improved service delivery and livelihood security. The Atlas has enhanced district-level planning, formulated conservation strategies, and targeted infrastructure development.