National Consultative Workshop held on Forest Rights Act, 2006

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), in collaboration with the National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI), organized a National Consultative Workshop on the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, on Friday in alignment with the Prime Minister’s consistent emphasis on restoring their rights, dignity, and livelihoods. The workshop brought together policymakers, senior officials, legal experts, academicians, and civil society organizations to deliberate on critical challenges and future pathways for strengthening the implementation of the Act. In the inaugural session, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram called upon all stakeholders to share their experiences and propose actionable recommendations emerging from the deliberations. He urged States to prioritize the empowerment of STs and OTFDs through focused interventions, particularly in the protection, value addition, and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) such as Sal leaves and Mahua, noting that securing FRA rights is fundamental to ensuring sustainable livelihoods.