Tribals and Joint Forest Management in India

Abstract

Forests have been the lifeline of indigenous people in India. However, the British government and, subsequently, the government of independent India have caused the severance of the people's centuries old relationship with the forest. Deprived of the right to access to the forests and devoid of other means of livelihood, the people began to exploit the forests. Gradually it dawned on the government that the protection of the forests as forests would be well-nigh impossible without the active participation of user groups. This led to the concept of Joint Forest Management, which began in West Bengal in the Jharkhand area. After a study of the problems involved, the paper concludes that JFM policies and practices based on the need of the tribals, could be successful. However, the government's apathy towards any genuine involvement of local communities is the obstacle.