Maharashtra Approves Separate Land Records For Over Two Lakh Tribal Forest Dwellers
On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government announced the approval of separate land records for over two lakh tribal forest rights beneficiaries during a state legislature session in Mumbai. The decision, announced by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, introduces separate Form 7E and Village Form 12E records to enable tribal families and traditional forest dwellers to access agricultural loans and government welfare schemes without procedural hurdles.
Previously, the names of forest rights beneficiaries were only recorded under the "other rights" column in land records, while the official ownership of the land continued to be registered under the "Government of Maharashtra - Forests." According to Bawankule, this administrative setup created practical difficulties for tribal farmers trying to obtain farmer IDs, secure crop loans from banks, access agriculture department schemes, and receive compensation for crop losses caused by natural disasters.
To resolve these challenges, the state government formed a special committee chaired by the revenue minister under the guidance of the chief minister. Based on this committee's recommendations, the government decided to introduce the new forms exclusively for forest rights holders. Under this updated system, the beneficiary's name will be recorded on Form 7E, which serves as the record of rights, while the details of the crops cultivated on the land will be registered in Village Form 12E, the crop register.
The Land Records Department will conduct surveys of forest rights land located in forest block areas. Once these surveys are finalized, the separate forms will be issued for the respective land parcels.
Minister Bawankule stated that the new land records will also make it easier for eligible tribal farmers to access benefits under the AgriStack initiative and other agriculture-related government programs. He urged legislators representing tribal constituencies to organize meetings in their respective areas to ensure eligible beneficiaries receive their new records.
The decision received bipartisan support in the state legislature. Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar welcomed the announcement, noting that it fulfilled a long-standing demand for separate land records. Congress leader Nana Patole also supported the move and requested the government to reconstitute Gram Forest Rights Committees. In response, Bawankule indicated the government was positive about the reconstitution and would review the proposal soon.
