NGOs critical, vow to form own version: The cabinet yesterday approved the Community Forest Bill as drafted and proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives. Non-governmental organisations immediately criticised the bill, which empowers state agencies in forest management, and vowed to draft their own version. The approved bill contains the following major points:* The right of local villagers to establish community forests in forest reserves or unoccupied land. However, should the area be located in conservation forests such as national parks or wildlife sanctuaries, the community must be able to prove that they are indigenous people who have occupied the area for more than five years before the law took effect.