Centre reviewing SC ruling on forest laws and tribal housing

18 NOVEMBER 2025

The Union government has to ensure that flagship scheme saturation programmes such as the PM-JANMAN (for particularly vulnerable tribal groups, or PVTG) and DAJGUA (for Scheduled Tribe villages) “continue to serve our tribal communities effectively”, Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram has said.
The Minister said the government was studying a recent Supreme Court order of 23 September 2025, that noted a conflict between the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), which came in a case where PVTG villagers in Madhya Pradesh’s Binega are trying to build PM-AWAS-sanctioned homes on forest land over which they already hold forest rights titles.
It asked the government to find a way forward where pucca dwellings on forest land do not come in conflict with the FCA.
The government is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary year of tribal icon Birsa Munda by ramping up registrations under PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA programmes.

Birsa Munda (15 November, 1875–1900)

He was a tribal freedom fighter, social reformer, and folk hero of the Munda (Adivasi) community in present-day Jharkhand.
He led a powerful anti-colonial and socio-religious movement against British rule and exploitative landlords.
He worked as a shepherd and farm labourer; educated at mission schools; later rejected missionary influence and promoted indigenous faith and identity.
He isrevered as “Dharti Aba” (Father of the Earth)
His birthday, 15 November, is observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in India.

Ulgulan (The Great Tumult)

End the zamindari and dikus (outsiders’ exploitation).
Restore khuntkatti land rights (traditional Munda communal land system).
Mobilize Adivasis for a political and spiritual revival.
He preached a new faith known as Birsait, which inspired unity and resistance among tribal communities.
Birsa was arrested during the uprising and died in Ranchi Jail on 9 June 1900, under mysterious circumstances (officially “cholera”).

Impact on Land Rights

His movement pressured the British to pass the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act, 1908, which restricted the transfer of Adivasi lands to non-Adivasis—one of the most significant legal protections for tribal land.