Ownership rights to people occupying land for 3 generations: Negi

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi yesterday said that the state government would provide the ownership of forestland to people, who had been occupying it for the past three generations prior to December 13, 2005, under the Forests Rights Act, 2006.

Negi, while addressing mediapersons here, Negi said that to claim land, a person would be required to fill an application form. “The name of the wife of the person will also be mandatory as she will be considered an equal shareholder. The person will also be required to provide a proof that he belongs to the Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. For people belonging to the general category, a proof of residence in a village, such as a Voter ID card or an Aadhar card, will be mandatory. Furthermore, the statements of two senior citizens of the applicant’s village will also be mandatory to confirm that he was occupying the land for the past three generations prior to December 13, 2005,” he added.

Negi said, “The applicant will also be required to submit a map detailing the length and width of the claimed land. The gram sabha and the Forests Rights Committee will approve the application.”