Poonc, Oct 5 (KNS) : The J&K Climate Action Group, in collaboration with the National Alliance on Community Forest Resources & Minor Forest Produce (NACM), organized a two National Workshop on the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir which concluded on Sunday.

The high-level workshop brought together prominent rights advocates, legal experts, environmentalists, civil society members, and forest-dependent community delegates from five states: Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand, alongside local stakeholders and some Govt officials

During the event, delegates discussed strategies for the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act in Jammu & Kashmir, emphasizing Individual Forest Rights (IFR), Community Forest Rights (CFR), and the governance of Minor Forest Produce (MFP).

Addressing the gathering, Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, Chairman of the J&K Climate Action Group, expressed serious concern over the absence of district administration officials at such a crucial national-level workshop. He strongly urged the authorities, particularly the Tribal Affairs Department, to launch extensive awareness campaigns regarding FRA across rural and forest-adjacent areas of J&K. Dr. Bhat emphasized that local NGOs and civil society organizations must be actively involved as partners to ensure forest dwellers are informed of their statutory rights.

The workshop provided a platform for affected community members to share their grievances. Families from Hari, Surankote, whose homes were damaged during a Forest Department action a few years ago, in violation of FRA.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe victims shared their struggles and appealed for justice and rehabilitation under the protections guaranteed by the FRA.

Prominent local leaders and civil society figures who addressed the workshop included Sikender Noorani from Surankote Lokesh Sharma, noted Social and Political activist and District Coordinator Poonch J&K Climate Action Group, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Retired Principal, Sabir Hussain Bittu

Senior delegates and members of NACM from across the country shared field insights and best practices from states where FRA implementation has transformed rural livelihoods. The experts included Dileep Gode (Nagpur, Maharashtra), Sandeep Minhas (Kullu, Himachal Pradesh), Advocate Virender Kumar (Ranchi, Jharkhand), Kailash Babu (Kandhamal, Odisha)Dr. Kishore Moge (Yavatmal, Maharashtra), Keshav Gurnoole (Gadchiroli, Maharashtra), Dr. Chitaranjan (Kalahandi, Odisha) and Bharat Namdev (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh)

Speakers highlighted how community forest resource management and MFP rights have empowered tribal and traditional forest-dwelling populations in states like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, urging J&K to replicate these successful models.

The workshop proceedings were conducted by Advocate Shakir Parray and Mir Mushtaq, who facilitated interactive sessions between national experts and local participants. The event concluded with a joint pledge to continue advocacy and capacity-building efforts for forest rights across Jammu & Kashmir. The participants thanked J&K Climate Action Group -JKCAG headed by Dr Raja Muzaffar and his team for hosting the event within limited resources (KNS)