Mrs. Niru Maiju, a resident of Pana Basti village in Kalchini Block of Alipurduar district, serves as a member of the Forest Rights Committee (FRC) in her village. Her active involvement during a One-Day Awareness Camp on the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, organised in Pana Basti, reflects the growing leadership and engagement of community members, especially women, in advancing awareness on forest rights.

The awareness programme was designed using participatory and interactive approaches to ensure that community members could easily understand the provisions and significance of the Act. Various culturally appropriate and community-driven learning tools were used to encourage open dialogue and collective reflection among villagers.

One of the most engaging sessions of the programme was a storytelling activity supported by visual illustrations, focusing on the theme of Community Forest Rights (CFR). During this session, Niru Maiju played a key role in facilitating the discussion. Using the illustrated visuals and locally relatable narratives, she explained how communities can collectively claim, manage, and protect their forest resources under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act. Through her explanation, participants were able to better understand the importance of Gram Sabha-led decision-making, and the opportunities that CFR recognition can bring for sustainable livelihoods and conservation.

Niru Maiju's confident participation not only strengthened the learning process during the session but also demonstrated how trained community leaders can act as local champions for spreading awareness about forest rights.