Project: CFR claim-making in Baiga Chak

The Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) claim-making process initially began in two villages of Baiga Chak, Sheetalpani and Pondi. As this process involves discussions with neighbouring villages for the demarcation and verification of traditional boundaries, other villages in Baiga Chak became involved when the claimant villages invited them to participate in joint meetings of forest rights committees. Following the submission of two claims, ATREE’s team was invited by several other villages to support their forest rights committees. So far, four villages have submitted community rights claims to the administration. The district-level committee of Dindori is processing these claims, and the four villages may soon receive CFRR titles. ATREE is now supporting forest rights committees (FRC) in the CFRR claim process in twelve villages across two districts. Additionally, the ATREE team is providing regular guidance, training, and technical support to civil society organizations and community-based groups active in M.P.

Traditional boundaries hold significant importance in the tribal culture of central India, where people visit these boundaries during important rituals. When the forests of Baiga Chak were notified as reserve forests, the forest department overlooked these traditional boundaries, leaving them formally unrecognized. Under the Forest Rights Act, village assemblies can claim CFR rights on forests that lie within their traditional boundaries. However, claiming CFR rights is challenging in Baiga Chak because the administrative boundaries of forest villages and the Forest Department’s compartments often differ from the traditional boundaries. Identifying these traditional boundaries requires extensive discussions among elders and traditional village chiefs from adjoining villages. Once agreements are sought among adjoining villages, FRCs invite officials of the Forest Department for joint verification of the CFRR claim. The CFRR area is mapped using handy mobile applications. In addition to supporting gram sabhas, ATREE has also trained the staff of the forest department, elected representatives, and district administration, emphasizing the role of administration in the verification and settlement of forest rights.

Joint meetings with representatives from neighbouring villages and joint verification of CFRR claims with the Forest Department are being conducted by the forest rights committees of claimant villages. Drawing insights from the experiences of CFRR claims in four villages and the State FRA manual of Chhattisgarh, ATREE’s Baiga Chak team developed a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Gram Sabhas to conveniently use when preparing their CFRR claims, which aids in resolving boundary conflicts and creating accurate claims. This SOP is currently being followed by organizations and groups working on forest rights. Three of the four villages that have submitted their CFRR claims have initiated the process of community management planning of forest resources. They started the management work with clear demarcation of their traditional boundaries. The village assembly of Lamotha forest village has formed rules for community patrolling to protect the forest from fire setters. The village assembly of Pondi village has restricted the Forest Department from marking trees for coupe felling. Representatives from Pondi, Shitalpani, and Lamotha have appeared at public hearings at district-level offices to demand CFRR title deeds. A group of 8 people is patrolling daily in the forest of Lamotha.