J&K tribal population to get their due

After a long delay, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006
This will elevate the socio-economic status of a sizeable section of the 14 lakh population of tribals and nomadic communities, including Gujjar-Bakerwals and Gaddi-Sippis in the Union Territory.
It will help in ensuring a dignified life to the tribal population.
Tribal people have close ties with forests and sadly there was no legal framework.
The move will address the prolonged suffering of tribal people and also ensure forest conservation.

Context

In the past few years, there were growing cases of eviction of tribals from forest land in parts of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region.
The government termed them “illegal encroachers” but the regional parties accused the Forest Department of acting above the law in these cases.
Union Territory saw the arbitrary demolition of Gujjar and Bakerwal houses during a forest reclamation drive in contravention of the Forest Rights Act of 2006.
In the latest drive in Shopian on August 3, around 30 FIRs were lodged against encroachers, and seven booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in south Kashmir.