Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Collector and District Magistrate of South Goa has organized Taluka-Level Camps under “Project Adhikar” on June 14, 2025 in the Talukas of Canaconna, Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem and Ponda. These camps are intended to fast-track the disposal of pending forest rights claims under the provision of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The camps will be held in coordination with the respective Deputy Collectors, Block Development Officers, Joint Mamlatdars, Village Panchayat Secretaries, and officers from the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, the Office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (North/South Divisions), and the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife & Eco-Tourism), Forest Department.
All forest rights claimants whose claims are pending due to deficiencies in documentation including, but not limited to, Scheduled Tribe certificates, self-declarations, Form A, statements of elderly persons, or documentary proof of cultivation prior to 13/12/2005 are requested to attend the camps and submit the requisite documents to enable further processing of their claims.
The Camps will be held in Canacona at Government Higher Secondary School, Chaudi, Canacona; In Dharbandora at Office of the Deputy Collector, Dharbandora; In Sanguem at Municipal Hall, Sanguem; In Quepem at Village Panchayat Hall, Barcem, near Mahadev Temple, Barcem, Quepem and Ponda at Office of the Deputy Collector, Ponda
.Furthermore, Special Gram Sabhas will be convened in the respective villages on Saturday, June 21, 2025 to deliberate and resolve the forest rights claims submitted. Claimants will be notified accordingly and are advised to be present at these meetings to facilitate claim validation and approval.
The State Government has set a firm deadline of December 19, 2025 for the disposal of all pending forest rights claims. The Collector has urged all concerned departments and stakeholders to adopt a mission-mode approach and ensure strict compliance with the timelines in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court of India.
The Claimants are advised to carry, as applicable Scheduled Tribe (ST) Certificate, Self-declaration of claim Statement of Elderly Person(s) and Form A under the Forest Rights Rules, Proof of cultivation prior to 13th December 2005 (e.g., land revenue records, affidavits, etc.).
