Parliament Question: Seasonal Migration of Van Gujjar Tribal Community

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 3012 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 06/08/2026 SEASONAL MIGRATION OF VAN GUJJAR TRIBAL COMMUNITY 3012. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government had issued a letter on 5 June 2025 directing the State Government of Uttarakhand and the district administrations to expedite the recognition of the rights of Van Gujjars over seasonal grazing areas in response to the harassment faced by them during their seasonal migration, if so, the details thereof; (b) the action taken by the Tribal Department of the State Government of Uttarakhand in response to the issues raised in the said letter; and (c) whether the Government has formulated any future plan to safeguard forest-dependent pastoral communities undertaking their annual seasonal migration, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY) (a) & (b): Yes, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) had issued letters on 5 June 2025 to the State Government of Uttarakhand and the district administrations of Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Udhamsingh Nagar, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital and Tehri Garhwal. Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Uttarakhand has informed that they have taken cognizance of the matter and directed the concerned District Administrations to resolve the issues. (c): The Ministry has been exhorting the State Governments and UT Administrations to ensure that no rightful beneficiary is deprived of their forest rights, including the community rights of traditional seasonal resource access of nomadic or pastoralist communities as stipulated under FRA Section 3(1)(d). *****