Chhattisgarh is now the second state after Odisha to have recognised Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights inside a National Park, after the state government approved the CFR claims of Gudiyapadar and Nagalsar villages in Kanger Ghati National Park in Bastar district. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday met the villagers of both the villages at Nangur during his ‘Bhent Mulakat’ programme and handed over the CFR certificates.

• Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights - The rights empower forest dwellers with the authority over decision-making and forest governance with access to and use of funds available under various government programs for management of their CFRs. 
• In 2016, the Odisha government was the first to recognise Community Forest Resources (CFRs) inside the Simplipal National Park and now Chhattisgarh is the second state to recognize it.

By: Brijesh Kumar