The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has given approval for the introduction of the "Scheduled Tribes and Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill" granting land rights to tribal communities in forest areas in the ensuing session of Parliament.

The Bill seeks to recognise the rights of tribal communities living in forest areas prior to the coming into force of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, but were left unsettled in government records. It will also benefit tribals living in villages called "forest villages" where tribals have not been given land rights despite living in these areas and practising agriculture on these lands for several generations.

The National Common Minimum Programme had called for developing strategies to reconcile the objectives of environment conservation and development and protecting the interests of tribal communities. By settling the issue of land rights of tribals in forest areas, the proposed Bill seeks to open up new opportunities for effectively engaging the Adivasi communities in the greening of degraded forest lands and increasing forest cover.