Q. Under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, who shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both?

Answer: (d) Gram Sabha

The Gram Sabha shall be the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both that may be given to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers within the local limits of its jurisdiction under this Act by receiving claims, consolidating and verifying them and preparing a map delineating the area of each recommended claim in such manner as may be prescribed for exercise of such rights and the Gram Sabha shall, then, pass a resolution to that effect and thereafter forward a copy of the same to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee.
According to Section 6(7) of FRA, the State Level Monitoring Committee has to perform the following functions:
- Monitor the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights.
- Submit to the Nodal Agency, the returns and reports demanded by it.
According to Section 11 of the FRA, the following may be the Nodal Agency:
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Any officer or authority authorized by the Central Government on this behalf.
The State Governments/UTs ensure that no eligible claim is rejected.