**Executive Summary**
This document is the response from the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha regarding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in Kerala, to be answered on December 4, 2025. It provides details on the titles granted under the FRA, efforts to reduce delays in processing claims, and financial support provided for setting up FRA cells. The response includes an annexure with district-wise details of titles distributed and the extent of forest land involved as reported by the State Government of Kerala, as on October 31, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Implementation of FRA and Review Process:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs issues guidelines for FRA implementation.
* State governments are responsible for implementation; the FRA is implemented in 20 states, including Kerala, and 1 UT.
* Review meetings are held regularly with the State Tribal Welfare Department and other concerned authorities to reduce delays.
* **Claim Processing and Redressal:**
* Representatives, social workers, and officials from relevant departments are utilized in Gram Sabhas to assist with applications.
* The State Government has instructed three-level committees (Grama Sabha, SDLCs, DLCs) to suo moto consider rejected applications after informing claimants, ensuring an opportunity to be heard.
* Grama Sabhas, SDLCs, and DLCs are directed to meet frequently to avoid delays.
* **Titles Granted:**
* As of October 31, 2025, 29,422 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) titles and 282 Community Rights titles have been granted in 12 districts of Kerala.
* Segregated data for Community Rights (CR) and Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights has not been provided by the State Government of Kerala.
* District-wise details of titles granted and the extent of forest land are provided in an Annexure.
* **Community Rights Claims:**
* The State Government is taking steps to resolve delays in granting Community Rights titles in coordination with the State Forest Department.
* 49 Community Rights claims are pending in the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency.
* **Habitat Rights for PVTGs:**
* Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Kerala have not been granted habitat rights under FRA.
* **Land Extent:**
* The average extent of land granted per beneficiary in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency is 1.33 acres under IFR and 117 acres under CR.
* **FRA Cells:**
* The Ministry of Tribal Affairs provides financial support for setting up dedicated FRA cells at the state and district levels under the 'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DA-JGUA).
* MoTA has approved ₹129.89 Lakhs for setting up FRA cells at the state (1) and district (12) levels.
* The list of districts where FRA is being implemented is provided in an Annexure.
**Impact Analysis**
**Kerala State Government**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for implementing the FRA and reducing delays in processing claims.
* Needs to coordinate with the State Forest Department for resolving delays in granting Community Rights titles.
* Is receiving financial support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to set up FRA cells at the state and district levels.
* **Action Required**
* Expedite the process of granting Community Rights titles, particularly in the Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency.
* Provide segregated data for Community Rights (CR) and Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights.
* Ensure effective utilization of financial support for setting up FRA cells.
**Tribal Communities/Forest Dwellers**
* **Impact**
* Benefit from the granting of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Rights (CR) titles.
* May face delays in processing claims, but measures are being taken to reduce these delays.
* Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) have not been granted habitat rights, impacting their access to traditional habitats.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to engage with the Gram Sabhas, SDLCs, and DLCs to ensure claims are processed effectively.
* Advocate for the granting of habitat rights for PVTGs.
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the FRA at the national level.
* Provides guidelines and financial support to state governments for effective implementation.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to monitor the implementation of the FRA in Kerala and provide necessary guidance and support to the State Government.
* Ensure that habitat rights are granted to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006: Central law granting rights to forest dwellers; the core legislation discussed in the document.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Nodal ministry administering the Forest Rights Act and providing support to states for its implementation.
Kerala: The state where the implementation of the Forest Rights Act is specifically being questioned and reported upon.
Individual Forest Rights (IFR): Rights granted to individuals under the Forest Rights Act to use and manage forest resources.
Community Rights (CR): Rights granted to communities under the Forest Rights Act to use and manage forest resources collectively.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 890
TO BE ANSWERED ON- 04/12/2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT IN KERALA
890. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:
Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has reviewed the implementation of the Forest Rights Act
(FRA) in Kerala including recommendations to reduce delays in processing claims, if so,
the details thereof,
(b) the details of Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Rights (CR) and
Community Forest Resource (CFR) titles granted in Kerala as on 31 October, 2025,
district-wise;
(c) whether there has been a delay in the grant of Community Rights titles in Kerala, if
so, the reasons therefor and the details of pending CR claims in Wayanad Parliamentary
Constituency;
(d) whether Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are being granted habitat
right in Kerala, if so, the details thereof, including claims filed and the habitat rights
granted in Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency;
(e) the average extent of land granted per beneficiary under IFR, CR, CFR titles in
Wayanad Parliamentary Constituency; and
(f) whether the Government has established FRA cells in Kerala, if so, the district-wise
details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI DURGA DAS UIKEY)
(a): Ministry of Tribal Affairs, being the Nodal Ministry for administering the
legislative matters of “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers
Recognition of Forest Rights Act 2006” (in short FRA), has been issuing directions and
guidelines from time to time on various aspects to ensure proper implementation of the
Act. As per FRA and the rules made thereunder, the state governments are responsible
for the implementation of various provisions of the act, and it is being implemented in
20 states (including Kerala) and 1 UT. Further review meetings are regularly being heldfrom time to time with the State Tribal Welfare Department, DC/DMs, and ITDP
POs/PAs and with concerned authorities to reduce delays in processing claims.
Further, as informed by the State Government, in Kerala, the Representatives, Social
Workers, Forest, Revenue and Scheduled Tribes Development Department officials are
utilized in the Gram Sabhas to make available the revenue records and other important
documents required for considering the applications. Necessary directions have also been
given by the State Government to the three level committees i.e., in case of claims
rejected at the Grama Sabha level, the SDLCs and in case of claims rejected at SDLC
level, the DLCs have been instructed by the State Government of Kerala to suo moto
consider applications pertaining to the rejection orders after intimating the claimants
accordingly. In both the cases this procedure provides the claimants an opportunity of
being heard as per section 6, FRA Act and Rule 12A of Forest Right Rules. Grama
Sabhas, SDLCs and DLCs have been directed by the State Government of Kerala, to
meet as often as necessary so that no delays are encountered in carrying out the business
under the Act.
(b): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, FRA is being implemented in 12
districts, and a total of 29,422 Individual Forest Rights (IFR) titles and 282 Community
Rights titles (inter alia includes all types of community rights) have been granted.
Further, the segregated data of Community Rights (CR) and Community Forest Resource
(CFR) rights have not been reported by the State Government of Kerala. The district-
wise status of titles granted along with the extent of forest land for which titles are
distributed is at Annexure.
(c): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, steps are being taken by the State
Government to resolve delays if any in coordination with State Forest department
especially for preparation of maps etc. There are 49 CR claims pending in the Wayanad
Parliamentary Constituency.
(d): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups (PVTGs) in Kerala have not been granted habitat rights under FRA.
(e): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the average extent of land granted
for beneficiary under IFR is 1.33 acre and CR is 117 acre in Wayanad Parliamentary
Constituency.
(f): Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been providing financial support to the districts under
'Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan' (DA-JGUA)’ for setting up dedicated
FRA cells at the state and district/subdivision levels for a period of two years. As per the
proposal received from State Government of Kerala, MoTA approved an amount of Rs.
129.89 Lakhs for setting up FRA cells at the state level (01) and at the district level (12)
(where FRA is being implemented); the list of districts is at Annexure.Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) and (f) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question
No. 890 to be answered on- 04/12/2025
District wise details of titles distributed and the extent of forest land for which titles
distributed (individual and community), as on 31.10.2025, as reported by State
Government of Kerala, is given below:
Extent of Forest land for which
Titles Distributed
titles distributed (in Acres)
S. No. District
Individual Community Total Individual Community Total
1 Kannur 1121 0 1121 1685.28 0 1685.28
2 Wayanad 5017 131 5148 3542.25 12602.53 16144.78
3 Kozhikode 11 8 19 6.87 NA 6.87
4 Malappuram 945 0 945 710.36 0 710.36
5 Palakkad 2061 40 2101 4158.20 167685.68 171843.88
6 Thrissur 867 21 888 899.89 560144.13 561044.02
7 Ernakulam 1164 9 1173 2280.02 NA 2280.02
8 Idukki 8488 9 8497 14631.93 11468.80 26100.73
9 Kottayam 1406 2 1408 1566.28 36415.00 37981.28
10 Pathanamthitta 1174 0 1174 759.66 0 759.66
11 Kollam 1158 14 1172 983.76 NA 983.76
Thiruvananthapura
12 6010 48 6058 7569.60 NA 7569.60
m
TOTAL 29422 282 29704 38794.10 788316.14 827110.24
(NA: Not Available with State Government)
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