--------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gram Sabhas in all Village Panchayats of Goa on Thursday 28th Feb --------------------------------------------------------------------- It is learnt that the Directorate of Panchayats has requested all Village Panchayats to convene Gram Sabhas on* Thursday 28th Feb at 11am* to discuss about the Forest Rights Committee and also to undertake the formation of the same.
This Committee is required to be set up as per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 and Rules 2007. The Act envisages determination and vesting of a number of forest rights, individual as well as community rights, in the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. The whole process for determination of forest rights would start at the level of the Gram Sabha, which will be scrutinised at the Sub-Divisional Level Committee, after which the District Level Committee will approve/ award forest rights. The various Committees under the Act are to be constituted by the State Government. One of the important features of the Act is the identification and notification of *Critical Wildlife Habitats* for which a State Level Committee has to be constituted. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India www.tribal.gov.in has nominated the Social Welfare Department in each State, including Goa as the Nodal Agency. On 28th February will the Gram Sabha which has been called at such SHORT NOTICE and on a week day have the benefit of the officials of the Social Welfare Department or the Forest Department being there as resource persons to brief the villagers about the Act & Rules ? Will they be able to provide guidance on the formation of the Forest Rights Committee ? Without sufficient inputs & guidance being provided, will it result in the Gram Sabha be adjourned ? ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------------------------------- __._,_.___
