India, Oct. 1 -- The Madhya Pradesh forest department has withdrawn a directive concerning the submission of Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights claims by village assemblies, following protests by Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities.

The withdrawal came three days after the Lok Swashasan Andolan, a platform of Adivasi and forest-dweller organisations and other groups, demanded the suspension of the state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), alleging violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

In a letter dated September 27, the organisation said that an August 6 directive had instructed regional PCCFs, divisional forest officers and chief wildlife wardens of protected areas to receive CFR rights claims from Gram Sabhas...