The Juangs of Jajpur have become the fifth Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the country and second in Odisha to get habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
- The district-level committee under the Forest Rights Act approved the habitat rights of the Juang community on 6 August 2024.
- The rights will provide the Juangs uninterrupted access and legal recognition to their ancestral land and resources.
- Habitat rights are given to PVTGs under section 3(1) (e) of The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
- Juang tribals reside in 13 villages under Sukinda block of Jajpur.
- The approval of habitat rights secures legal recognition of the Juang lands, enabling sustainable development, better resource management, conservation of their natural heritage and enhanced protection against encroachment of their lands.
- Titles are issued to individuals for habitation and for self-cultivation. These rights are heritable but not alienable or transferable.
- As per section 6(6) of the FRA, the District Level Committee (DLC) is to give the final nod of approval of the record of forest rights.
- Titles for community rights and community resource rights are issued to the concerned Gram Sabhas.
