![Over 1,500 tribal people of Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai get title rights for land](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/l7f2w1/article67438469.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-19%20at%205.47.48%20PM.jpeg)
Over 1,500 tribal people of Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai get title rights for land
The Hindu
Tiruvannamalai Dist. Collector issues forest title rights to 1,569 tribal people & other traditional forest dwellers in Jawadhu Hills. 49,400 hectares of forestland covered; beneficiaries can collect minor forest produce. 568 applications initially rejected, now approved. FRA law monitored by committees headed by Chief Sec., Collectors & RDO's.
Tiruvannamalai District Collector B. Murugesh has issued forest title rights to 1,569 tribal people and other traditional forest dwellers in the Jawadhu Hills of Tiruvannamalai as part of the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Officials of the Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare said that 49,400 hectares of forestland would be covered under the initiative as beneficiaries could do farming and collect minor forest produce on these forestlands. Some of the minor forest produce that could be collected on allotted forestland includes Indian gooseberry, haritaki (Kadukai), soapnut (pundhikottai), tamarind, and honey. “Those who are eligible but have not applied yet, can apply for the title rights,” Mr. Murugesh said.
As part of the initiative, Mr. Murugesh handed over forest title rights to 102 tribal people and other traditional forest dwellers in 89 villages that have been classified for social forestry title rights in Jawadhu Hills at a function held in the taluk office of Jamunamarathur in the hills a few days ago.
Mr. Murugesh had organised 25 district-level committee meetings to discuss forest title rights for tribal people and other forest dwellers. Subsequently, beneficiaries were identified. Alongside, 568 applications that were initially rejected for forest title rights have got the title rights after scrutiny done by an expert team.
Under FRA, tribal people, who had been residing in the forests prior to December 13, 2005, and non-tribal people, who have been residing in the forests for three generations, for 75 years as on December 13, 2005, should be given title rights.
![](/newspic/picid-1269750-20240610171750.jpg)
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
![](/newspic/picid-1269750-20240610165159.jpg)
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
![](/newspic/picid-1269750-20240610163823.jpg)
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”