It was March 27th, 2012. There was a huge gathering at the Gram Panchyat office of Turiguda to receive the titles over the forest land on which they are cultivating for generation.The smiling faces were very prominent on that not, for on that day their rights got recognised.

This compilation is based on analysis of secondary documentation as well as interviews with members of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity on the process behind the passing of the Forest Rights Act 2006. This document is not meant to be a comprehensive analytical paper on the issue of 'forests'; 'adivasis' or 'forest rights'. It merely touches upon these aspects to provide a background to the process of bringing about the legislation. As a result many dimensions and dynamics of adivasis and forest struggles have not been covered here.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs constituted a Joint Committee in April 2010 to review the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 popularly known as Forests Rights Act (FRA) in the country with a specific TOR outlined for the purpose.

An Act to provide for preservation, protection, regulation, acquisition, and maintenance of Hill land and other ecological sites of the State and more specifically within the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto Whereas it is expedient to provide for preservation, protection, regulation and maintenance of Hill land and other ecological sites of the State and more specifically within the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and to protect the said hill land and ecological sites from unaut

This manual has been prepared under the auspices of the Government of India and UNDP project on "Access to Justice for Marginalized People." The simplified user manual aims to raise awareness of two crucial legislative acts which together expand the legal rights of some