A group of 40 retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers hailing from various regions across the country unveiled a guidebook they have meticulously crafted. This guidebook serves as a comprehensive tool, aimed at illustrating effective strategies to counteract the misuse of the Forest Rights Act and to ensure the safeguarding of precious forest lands.
The guidebook, titled “Foresters’ Guide on Forest Right Act (RoFR),” was officially launched on August 15 via a video conference, led by BK Singh, a retired principal chief conservator of forests from Karnataka, in collaboration with other retired colleagues. This publication follows a recent letter penned by these retired officials to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The letter raised concerns about irregularities, the misapplication of the FRA, encroachments, and the transfer of extensive tracts of forest land without proper validation and documentation.
BK Singh emphasized that the guide was conceived to aid forest field officers responsible for FRA implementation, thereby ensuring its appropriate execution and preventing its misappropriation by ineligible claimants—particularly those who encroached upon forest land after the stipulated cut-off date of December 13, 2005. The guide delves into the intricacies of FRA implementation, highlighting the role of foresters at the levels of gram panchayats and divisions or districts. Additionally, it sheds light on the Act itself, along with the rules and guidelines issued by the Central government.
