When more than 30 government officials from six States descended on Bilapaka, a tiny village inside Similipal Biosphere in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district this week to learn how community forest right was settled, the level of villagers’ confidence surprised most of them.
The 400-strong population, mostly from Kohla and Bathudi tribe, are now proud possessor of a piece of paper which has elevated them from the status of encroacher in their own village to controller of natural resources.
After provisions prescribed in the Forest Rights Act were duly followed, the community forest right title was handed over by the Mayurbhanj district administration and forest department which had been accused of tormenting tribals for collecting non-timber forest produces.
The CFR title clearly indicates the boundary of the village, recognises forest conversation efforts of villagers and explains duties and rights of villagers on forest resources. Besides, villagers have been informed about number of hillocks, ponds and village forest those will be under their control.
“Earlier we were going to forest to collect produces under constant fear. We were afraid of getting arrested by the forest department. But after recognition, we can now proudly say that we are owner of our village, forest, water resource and hills,” said Aila Nayak.
Y. Giri Rao, Director of Vasundhara, a Bhubaneswar-based NGO, who was closely associated with the process of the community right recognition, said: “Bilapaka is unique example in itself because of flawless following of processes for settlement of community forest right.”
“It has always been a concern about proper demarcation of boundary of properties and right of titles in the implementation of Forest Rights Act. In case of Bilapaka, GPS technology was extensively used for demarcation of boundary and preparation of maps,” Mr. Rao said. The district administration also conducted itself like a facilitator instead of being obstructionist, he said.
Odisha has been in forefront in terms of settling community forest rights Approximately 12,500 CFRs have been accorded to different communities in the State. Representatives from six States had first hand information about villagers’ involvement in getting community rights under FRA.
