Answer:

The genesis of Forest Rights Act (FRA) lies in the historical deprivation of rights of tribal and other forest dependent communities in India. It started with the colonial rule in the 19th century. This policy of reserving forests and restricting people’s rights continued even after independence.

The Forest Rights Act seeks to recognize and vest the Forest Rights and Rights for occupation of forest land on forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded.

It goes beyond the “recognition’ of Forest Rights and empowers the forest rights holders, Gram Sabhas and local level institutions with the right to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage any community forest resource.