(1) The Gram Sabha shall -
(a) initiate the process of determining the nature and extent of forest rights, receive and hear the claims relating thereto;
(b) prepare a list of claimants of forests rights and maintain a register containing such details of claimants and their claims as the Central Government may by order determine;
(c) pass a resolution on claims on forest rights after giving reasonable opportunity to interested persons and authorities concerned and forward the same to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee;
(d) consider resettlement packages under clause (e) of sub section (2) of section 4 of the Act and pass appropriate resolutions; and 7 Substituted by the words of Rule 4(a) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012 ( vide Notification No G.S.R. No. 669 (E).dated 6th September,2012 # Rule 3 (1) “……wherein at least one-third members shall be the Scheduled Tribes” 8 Inserted by Rule 4 (b) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Amendment Rules, 2012 ( vide Notification No G.S.R. No. 669 (E).dated 6th September,2012)
(e) Constitute Committees for the protection of wildlife, forest and biodiversity, from amongst its members, in order to carry out the provisions of section 5 of the Act.
(f) monitor and control the committee constituted under clause (e) which shall prepare a conservation and management plan for community forest resources in order to sustainably and equitably manage such community forest resources for the benefit of forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers and integrate such conservation and management plan with the micro plans or working plans or management plans of the forest department with such modifications as may be considered necessary by the committee
(g) Approve all decisions of the committee pertaining to issue of transit permits, use of income from sale of produce, or modification of management plans9.
(2) The quorum of the Gram Sabha meeting shall not be less than one-half of all members of such Gram Sabha:
Provided that at least one-third of the members present shall be women:
Provided further that where any resolutions in respect of claims to forest rights are to be passed, at least fifty per cent of the claimants to forest rights or their representatives shall be present:
Provided also that such resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority of those present and voting”. 10
(3) The Gram Sabha shall be provided with the necessary assistance by the authorities in the State.