Odisha
Odisha Government’s Decision to Close FRA Support Cells
- 19 Feb 2026
- 3 min read
Why in News?
The Odisha government’s directions to shut down Forest Rights Cells (FRCs) at district and sub-district levels have come under scrutiny from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), citing concerns over the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
Key Points:
- Forest Rights Cells (FRCs): Forest Rights Cells are dedicated administrative units created to support the implementation of the FRA, 2006.
- Functions: These specialized cells were instrumental in processing land claims and providing technical support to tribal communities.
- Dissolution of Sub-divisional Cells: On February 17, 2026, the Odisha government ordered the closure of all 50 sub-divisional FRA Cells functioning under the Central Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JGUA) scheme by the end of March.
- This follows the earlier discontinuation of district and tehsil-level cells under the State’s Mo Jungle Jami Yojana.
- Mandate: The government has directed that all pending forest rights claims at these levels must be cleared before the March deadline.
- Central Scrutiny: MoTA is inquiring into these decisions, emphasizing that support staff for FRA implementation must be ensured at all levels.
- Status of FRA: Despite being a top performer in issuing forest rights titles, Odisha faces challenges, ranking sixth in the country for pending claims as of December 2025, with about 20% of cases unresolved.
- The data indicates significant pending Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Rights (CR) claims, sparking concerns over the sudden push to clear them.
- Significance: Potential impact on tribal rights recognition and may slow down recognition of community forest governance
- Legal Compliance: Critics raise questions regarding alignment with the Forest Rights Act, 2006, regarding the protection of tribal entitlements.
| Read More: Forest Rights Act, 2006 |
