NIDHI SHARMA, ET Bureau Apr 18, 2012

Sonia Gandhi|National Advisory Council|Kishore Chandra Deo|Kantilal Bhuria|Forest Rights Act

NEW DELHI: After rejecting recommendations of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) to strengthen Forest Rights Act, the Centre has decided to take all suggestions on board and introduce an amendment bill in the current Parliament session.

The tribal affairs ministry will bring the amendment bill to correct basic contradictions within the Forest Rights Act that had been pointed out by NGOs before NAC last year. NAC had sent these suggestions to the ministry in February, 2011.

Interestingly, the same suggestions were rejected by tribal affairs minister Kantilal Bhuria. After V Kishore Chandra Deo assumed charge, Gandhi wrote to Deo, asking him to consider the suggestions once again. As per sources, the same suggestions have now been incorporated into the bill in totality and a note has been prepared for Cabinet approval.

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