The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Tribal Welfare Department working on issuing title deeds

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Sunday, Nov 08, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tribal Welfare Department working on issuing title deeds

T. Ramakrishnan

Claims have been received from 15 districts
Number of claims is less in Tamil Nadu,
says official

CHENNAI: The State Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is striving to complete the spadework soon for issuing title deeds to eligible claimants under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.

At the all-India level, the deadline fixed for the distribution is December 31. Though in respect of Tamil Nadu the number of claims received is around 8,500, the Madras High Court, in its order in February 2008, granted a stay on the distribution of the deeds. Two months later, the Court permitted the State to process the verification of the claims but it stated that the distribution of the deeds should be done after getting orders from the Court.

The claims have been received from 15 districts, the maximum of which (2,898) is from Villupuram. Coimbatore accounts for 1,273; Kanyakumari — 946; Erode — 735; Dindigul — 601; Salem — 548; Dharmapuri — 450; Vellore — 380; The Nilgiris — 270; Tiruvannamalai — 120; Theni — 79; Tiruchi — 70; Namakkal — 52; Virudhunagar — 48 and Tirunelveli — 32.

So far, 765 title deeds are ready for five districts. Erode accounts for 357; Coimbatore — 264; Villupuram — 89; Vellore — 30 and Tiruvannamalai — 25.

The Centre has attached importance to the matter of issuing title deeds. The United Progressive Alliance, after assuming charge in May this year, committed itself to the completion of the distribution of the title deeds by December 31. This was evident in the address of President Pratibha Patil to Parliament.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh twice wrote to Chief Ministers. M. Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, in his reply to Dr. Singh a few months ago, assured him that the State would take expeditious action.

It was against this backdrop that a conference of Chief Ministers and State Ministers for Tribal Development, Social Welfare and Forests took place early this week. Dr. Singh again urged the States to carry out the task within the given timeframe. A senior official of the department sounds confident that the process will be completed by the due date.

The number of claims is less in Tamil Nadu compared to other States.The department has been pursuing with the District Collectors concerned in this regard.

There are committees at three levels — sub-divisional, district and State. The Collectors have been advised to facilitate the conduct of meetings of Gram Sabhas and set up Forest Rights Committees.

Once the Gram Sabhas scrutinise the claims, they send their reports to the sub-divisional committees. The sub-divisional and district-level committees would monitor the process of recognition and vesting of forest rights.

The official explains that invariably, the title deeds are proposed to be given on community basis, instead of to individuals.

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