Applications rejected to be reviewed

C.M. Shri Chouhan to take stock of ground realities

Bhopal:Monday, August 24, 2009:Updated 21:18IST The Chief Minister, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that applications rejected under the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act 2006 would be reviewed once again at a high level meeting.
Shri Chouhan said that he himself and the Forest Minister would meet forest dwellers at their dwelling places so as to apprise themselves of ground realities of the implementation of the Act. Shri Chouhan was addressing a state - level land right convention organised by the Ekta Parishad at the local Gandhi Bhavan, here today.
Shri Chouhan said that the State Government is committed to provide title deed to the eligible persons under the implementation of the aforesaid Act. Simultaneously, the State Government is fully alert to not to allow encroachment on forest land alongwith effective implementation of the Forest Act.
The Chief Minister said that he has also ordered an enquiry into the land acquired under the Bhoo Daan Programme and its allotment under it. Shri Chouhan informed that an Act would be enacted soon in the state under which it would not be allowed to sell the land holdings of small farmers without the permission of the state government. Similarly, the State Government is also committed to ensure strict compliance of the provisions pertaining to the transaction of land of tribals by the non-tribals.
Referring to the expansion of schemes relating to women empowerment and social security of workers of all the categories, Shri Chouhan sought the cooperation of Ekta Parishad in the effective implementation of these schemes at the field level.
The Chief Minister observed that the efforts towards empowerment of women are incomplete without their participation in the decision making process.
The Chief Minister handed over 27 thousand applications received under the Forest Right Act to the Minister of State for Forest, Shri Rajendra Shukla. Shri Chouhan said that suitable action would be taken on these applications by a five member committee comprising Minister of State for Forest, Tribal Welfare Minister, Minister of State for Tribal Welfare, representatives of Ekta Parishad and State Government.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister released a book entitled “Ped Paudhon Ki Baat.”
The Minister of State for Forest, Shri Rajendra Shukla said that Madhya Pradesh has done a pioneer work in the implementation of the Forest Right Act in the country.
Earlier, National Convenor of the Ekta Parishad Shri Ran Singh Parmar commended the State Government for effective implementation of the Act in the state. State convenors from 12 states, members of the National and State Councils and a large number of forest dwellers were present on the occasion.