The School of Continuing Education — University Resource Centre (SCE-URC), Azim Premji University designs and delivers comprehensive capacity-building courses on the implementation of the FRA, 2006. The courses aim to strengthen the knowledge, skills and perspectives of organisations working with Adivasi and other forest-dependent communities by building their capacity to facilitate effective implementation of the Act.

Grounded in experiential and practice-oriented learning, the courses equip field practitioners with practical competencies in facilitating forest rights claims, community mobilisation, Community Forest Resource (CFR) governance, Community Forest Resource Management Planning (CFRMP), and convergence with related legislations and government programmes. The emphasis is on enabling participants to translate the provisions of the FRA into effective field practice that strengthens community rights, democratic governance and sustainable forest management.

Our reach

Since 2019, the University’s FRA capacity-building initiatives have evolved into one of the country’s largest structured learning programmes on FRA implementation. The initiative has:

• Trained 1,224 field practitioners
• Collaborated with 140+ partner organisations
• Reached organisations across 14 States
• Engaged with 3,500+ Gram Sabhas
• Potentially benefited over 15 lakh forest-dependent people
• Expanded from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu

Course highlights

• Structured Learning Pathway: Guides learners through the entire Forest Rights Act (FRA) implementation process, from historical context to legal frameworks.
• Rights Recognition & Facilitation: Focuses on facilitating claims for both Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR).
• Local Governance & Functioning: Examines the practical roles and operations of Gram Sabhas and Forest Rights Committees (FRCs).
• Technical & Planning Tools: Covers essential technical skills, including GPS-based mapping and developing Community Forest Resource Management Plans (CFRMP).
• Policy & Legal Convergence: Connects FRA implementation with other key frameworks, such as PESA, MGNREGA, RTI, and government welfare schemes.
• Inclusion & Problem-Solving: Emphasises gender and social inclusion while offering practical solutions to common implementation challenges.

Learning approach

Following the philosophy of ​“Learn – Practice – Apply,” the courses blend interactive lectures, facilitated discussions, case studies, peer learning, mock Gram Sabha simulations, role plays, hands-on claim preparation, participatory mapping, village resource planning, collaborative group work and reflective learning. Participants engage in practical, field-oriented exercises that strengthen their ability to apply the provisions of the FRA in real-world contexts. 

Each participant receives a comprehensive package of learning resources, including the Forest Rights Act and Rules, state-specific implementation guidelines, claim formats, case studies, mapping exercises, presentation handouts and practical toolkits. These resources continue to support learning and field practice long after the completion of the course.

Outcomes and future directions

The courses have consistently received positive feedback, with over 70% of participants rating them 4 or 5 on a five-point scale. Participants report enhanced knowledge of the FRA, improved skills in claim facilitation, community mobilisation and strengthening of FRCs. Building on these outcomes, the University is expanding its geographical reach while developing specialised learning programmes on CFRMP and post-recognition governance, contributing to more democratic, inclusive and sustainable governance of forests.