Chief Secretary Vikas Sheel directs faster implementation of forest rights, community resource management and welfare measures for tribal communities
TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 4, 2026: The Chhattisgarh government has decided to strengthen the management of water, forest and land resources in Scheduled Areas through coordinated implementation of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and the Forest Rights Act (FRA), with a focus on improving the livelihoods of tribal and forest-dwelling communities.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the PESA and FRA Task Force Committee held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Shri Vikas Sheel.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure the effective implementation of both the Forest Rights Act and the PESA Act. He stressed that Forest Resource Rights certificates should be issued to all eligible beneficiaries in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Rights Act and called for coordinated efforts to strengthen the management of shared natural resources in tribal areas.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, including its rules, key provisions and the current status of implementation across the state.
Officials also reviewed the progress of claims filed under the Forest Rights Act, including the number of applications received, disposed of and pending. Discussions focused on accelerating the recognition of community forest resource rights and the ongoing process of converting forest villages into revenue villages.
Detailed presentations were made on the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, while the Panchayat and Rural Development Department presented the progress made under the Chhattisgarh PESA Rules.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Forest and Climate Change) Shri Manoj Kumar Pingua, Additional Chief Secretary (Panchayat and Rural Development) Smt. Richa Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Arun Pandey, Principal Secretary (Tribal Development) Shri Sonmoni Borah, Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) Smt. Shammi Abidi, senior officials of the Forest Department, and other departmental representatives. District Collectors and officials from various districts also participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
