Budgam Jan 18 (KNS): With an aim of creating awareness about the Forest Rights Act among Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers -OTFDs in remote areas of Budgam, Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement in association with KOSHISH a Non Governmental Organisation organised an awareness programme at Nengroo Basti Darwan in Doodh Ganga forest range of Budgam.
The volunteers of RTI Movement and Koshish explained in detail about the provisions of the FRA which was extended to J&K post article 370 abrogation. The speakers during the programme urged upon the locals to use this law for their benefits.
“The local residents who live in a forest area are entitled to Individual and Community forest rights under the Forest Rights Act -2006 but due to lack of awareness and information the villagers couldn’t even file claims for the same till date. The villagers were settled here around 20 years back and provided 5 marlas of land but were not given other benefits like graveyard or land for Anganwadi or school.
Now with an aim of ensuring these people get these legal rights under FRA we held a sensitization workshop in the area. We have also taken up the matter with the local Block Development Officer -BDO who assured that a Gram Sabha would be held on the said issue. The local Range Officer has also been taken into confidence along with community leaders ” said Dr Raja Muzaffar Chairman RTI Movement
Among others who spoke on the occasion included Mohammad Mudaser , Nazir Ahmad Nengroo, Showkat Ahmad Lone , Mohammad Shafi Rather , Aamir Khan and others.(KNS)