The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), was enacted to undo the 'historical injustice' done to forest-dwelling communities by recognizing their rights over forest land and resources. However, its implementation has been fraught with numerous difficulties, leading to slow progress and continued marginalization for many Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Here are the key difficulties experienced by STs in the implementation of FRA 2006:

1. Lack of Awareness and Information: Many forest-dwelling STs, especially those in remote areas, are unaware of the provisions of the FRA, their rights under the Act, and the procedures for filing claims. This lack of information is a significant barrier to accessing their entitlements.

2. Bureaucratic Hurdles and Resistance: The implementation machinery, primarily the Forest Department and local revenue officials, often shows resistance or a lack of willingness to implement the Act. They may be reluctant to cede control over forest lands and resources, leading to delays, rejection of claims on flimsy grounds, and harassment of claimants. The process of verifying claims is often complex and cumbersome.

3. Complex and Cumbersome Claim Process: The procedure for filing and verifying claims for individual forest rights (IFR) and community forest rights (CFR) is often complicated, requiring extensive documentation, maps, and evidence of occupation. Many STs lack these documents or the literacy to navigate the process, making them dependent on external support, which may not always be available or reliable.

4. Lack of Clear Land Records: In many tribal areas, traditional land ownership is based on customary practices rather than formal land records. The absence of clear, digitized land records makes it difficult for STs to prove their occupation and claim rights under the Act.

5. Inadequate Capacity of Gram Sabhas: The Gram Sabha (village assembly) is the nodal authority for initiating the process of recognizing forest rights. However, many Gram Sabhas lack the capacity, training, and resources to effectively perform their duties, such as verifying claims, preparing maps, and passing resolutions. They may also be influenced by local power dynamics or external pressures.

6. Resistance from Other Stakeholders: Besides the Forest Department, other stakeholders like mining companies, wildlife conservation groups, and even non-tribal communities (who may also claim forest land) can resist the recognition of tribal rights, leading to conflicts and delays.

7. Focus on Individual Rights over Community Rights: There has been an overemphasis on recognizing Individual Forest Rights (IFR) for cultivation, often neglecting the more crucial Community Forest Rights (CFR) over common forest resources, which are vital for tribal livelihoods and cultural practices. CFRs are more complex to delineate and implement.

8. Internal Conflicts within Communities: Sometimes, conflicts arise within tribal communities themselves over land boundaries, traditional resource use, or leadership, which can hinder the collective process of claiming rights.

9. Lack of Post-Recognition Support: Even after rights are recognized, there is often a lack of support for sustainable forest management, livelihood development, and access to markets, which are crucial for the long-term well-being of forest-dwelling communities.

10. Misinterpretation of the Act: There are instances of misinterpretation of the Act's provisions by implementing agencies, leading to incorrect application and denial of legitimate claims.

In summary, despite its progressive intent, the implementation of the FRA 2006 has been severely hampered by a combination of bureaucratic inertia, lack of awareness, complex procedures, and resistance from various quarters, leaving many Scheduled Tribes still struggling to secure their rightful claims over their ancestral forest lands and resources.