Knowledge hubs to boost FRA implementation

Ranchi, May 3: Knowledge hub disseminating information on Forest Rights Act (FRA) and post claim managements amongst rural populace have been set up by PhiA Foundation, one of the technical partners helping the state government in the implementation of the Abua Bir Abua Dishom campaign.

Knowledge hubs have become functional this month at panchayat bhawans in Pakartanr block (Simdega district), Mahuadanr (Latehar), Thethaitangar (Simdega district), Manoharpur (West Singhbhum district) and Chainpur (Gumla district).

“We decided to set up knowledge centres and named them knowledge hubs after consultation with our block coordinators and understanding the ground situation. The knowledge hubs would be functional at the panchayat bhawans on village haat days which witnesses maximum attendance of villagers at the panchayat headquarters,” said Archana Toppo associate state lead, Phia Foundation.

She  said that the objective of the knowledge hubs is to provide information on all important documents, laws and procedures related to FRA at the village level.

“It would provide training, counselling and guidance to Forest  Right Committee (FRC) members, gram Sabha and the village community as a whole. It would also help in collection and distribution of forest rights related documents, status of claims and information related to resource use,” said the Phia Foundation official.

The hubs would also promote community resource management, sustainable development and rights based planning and help in moving communities towards digital literacy and information based empowerment.

Incidentally, Phia Foundations had trained volunteers from amongst forest dwellers in five blocks of Jharkhand were trained on Forest Rights Act (FRA) and post claim management.

The campaign aims at facilitating realization of forest rights that includes Individual Forest Rights (IFR)s and Community Forest Rights (CFR) as per the Forest Rights Act (FRA)

Titles and community managed forest resources could ensure sustainable livelihoods, food security and mitigate climate change among other benefits.