Overview Members of various tribal groups in Hunsur have raised concerns regarding the inadequate implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 , commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA) . They have urged the central government to address the anomalies in its implementation within the district. This issue was brought to the forefront through a memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) on December 11, 2025 , by Development through Education (DEED) , an NGO, and other community leaders. Key Issues and Concerns Low Acceptance of Claims S. Sreekanth of DEED highlighted the low rate of acceptance of claims submitted by tribal communities concerning their forest rights. This issue is not limited to Mysuru district but extends to other regions with a significant tribal population. The rejection of claims undermines the purpose of the FRA , which aims to recognize and vest forest rights in forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers. Tribal Demographics in Karnataka According to the memorandum, Karnataka has nine tribal districts located in the Western Ghats region. These include: Mysuru Kodagu Chamarajanagar Ramanagar Parts of Hassan and Mandya Dakshina Kannada Udupi Uttara Kannada These districts are home to several forest-dwelling communities, also known as Adivasis. Adivasi Communities in Karnataka The memorandum identifies 11 Adivasi communities in Karnataka: Jenukuruba Bettakuruba Iruliga Soliga Paniya Malekudia Koraga Yarava Hasalaru Siddi Gowdu Among these, Jenukuruba and Koraga are categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) . Situation in Mysuru District In Mysuru district alone, there are 12,600 tribal families residing in 219 tribal villages , with 168 of these villages being PVTG Jenukuruba villages. Despite this significant tribal presence, the recognition of forest rights remains inadequate. Individual Forest Rights (IFR) Claims Out of the 12,600 tribal families in Mysuru, only 7,249 families have filed Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claims under the FRA . Shockingly, 5,451 of these claims have been rejected, leaving a substantial number of applicants without the rights they are entitled to. Only 722 IFR titles have been issued, covering a mere 553 acres , which is significantly lower than the entitlement of 10 acres per family under the FRA . Community Forest Rights (CFR) Claims While there are 219 tribal villages , only 117 have filed for Community Forest Rights (CFR) claims. Of these, CFR has been recognized for only 38 villages , specifically in Periyapatna and H.D. Kote . This indicates a substantial gap in the recognition of community rights over forest resources. Habitat Rights for PVTGs Despite Mysuru district having 168 PVTG villages , the process of recognizing habitat rights has not even been initiated. Community leaders have sent representations to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs seeking guidelines and procedures for recognizing habitat rights for PVTGs , but no action has been taken to date. Negligence in Rehabilitation The memorandum also highlights the “total negligence” by the State in implementing the directions of the Karnataka High Court. On April 3, 2009 , the court ordered the rehabilitation of 3,418 displaced tribal families from Nagarahole National Park , based on the recommendations of the Assadi Committee report (W.P. No. 14379/1999). However, these directions have not been adequately implemented. Broader Impact DEED estimates that approximately 1,500 tribal villages across the nine districts, comprising nearly 90,000 families and six lakh people , continue to suffer due to the non-recognition of forest rights. The memorandum emphasizes that forests without tribals are also not safe for wildlife, highlighting the importance of involving tribal communities in forest conservation efforts. UPSC Relevance This news article is highly relevant for the UPSC Civil Services Examination , particularly for the following areas: GS Paper II: Government Policies and Interventions for the development of various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. GS Paper II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes. GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. The article provides insights into the challenges faced in the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) , which is a crucial piece of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of tribal communities and promoting forest conservation. Understanding the issues highlighted in the article is essential for candidates preparing for the exam. Important Facts for Prelims The year of enactment of the Forest Rights Act (FRA): 2006 Number of tribal districts in Karnataka as per the article: Nine Names of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) mentioned in the article: Jenukuruba and Koraga Approximate number of tribal families living in Mysuru district: 12,600 Date of the Karnataka High Court's order regarding rehabilitation of displaced tribal families from Nagarahole National Park: April 3, 2009 Entitlement of land per family under FRA: 10 acres