Tamil Nadu has been the last to implement the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers - Recognition of Forest Rights - Act 2006.Implemented with full vigor in most states, the Act benefited lakhs of tribals through grand of land and MFP rights.
In Tamil Nadu till 2016 no action was taken - the Act .was stayed by a Madras High Court order, in 2006.
The process of conferring the forest rights or tribals could only be initiated after a delay of ten years - when the Supreme Court vacated the stay. Despite the apex court ruling, implementation has been poor.
C K Sreedharan, Retired principal chief conservator of forests, head of forest force - Tamil Nadu
Times Of India August 16, 2018.
