DEVOLUTION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT · Baghamunda is a small homogenous village consisting of 26 households of Gond tribe. There is very little class distinction between the villagers

DEVOLUTION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT

Creating spaces for community action for forest management

A CASE STUDY OF BAGHAMUNDA VILLAGE

DEOGARH DISTRICT, ORISSA

2001

VASUNDHARA 14/E, Gajapati Nagar,

PO Sainik School, Bhubaneswar-751005, Orissa, India.

Ph: 0674 300190, 300235 Fax: 0674 519237, 509237

e-mail: [email protected]

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BAGHAMUNDA CASE STUDY Overview: Baghamunda is a small homogenous village consisting of 26 households of Gond tribe. There is very little class distinction between the villagers as people have very less agricultural patta (recorded) land and mostly depend on wage labour. Dependence on forests is also high with a few landless households engaging in “illicit” supply of timber (from the non-protected forest patches), as well as for fuel-wood, and NTFPs both for self-consumption as well as sale. The village has high degree of unity with all the households being of the same tribe. The economic disparity in the village is not pronounced. The unity of the village is very evident in all the activities taken by the community so far and has been a critical factor for the success of the forest protection activities. A local NGO, Sahajog, having their office in the village have also played a major role in enhancing the capacity of the villagers and making them aware of the issues related to forest and other resources. Though a number of other communities are protecting forests in the area, the Baghamunda forest protection initiative is a unique one because of the key role of women in forest protection and management. The village, despite having only 26 household protects a large area, which is approximately 500 acres (as claimed by the villagers) of Badataila Reserve forest. This patch also includes 80 acres of nearly 25 years old teak plantation by FD (Afforestation department) planted in late sixties after coupe felling in the Reserve Forest area. Besides the natural forest villagers are also protecting and managing 25 acres of Social Forestry Plantation (SFP). (Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. Plantation done in 1986-87). The first effort at community protection started with the village protecting the SFP plantation after a Village Forest Committee was formed by the FD for managing the plantation. A youth club was formed in the village in 1991 by Sahajog, a local NGO, and subsequently decided to protect the forest. The key motivation for initiating forest protection seemed to be shortage of fuelwood and other forest products and motivation by Sahajog. However, the protection was very loose till 1993 when it was formalised by the Youth club and patrolling was started to check tree felling by outsiders. This led to a number of conflicts with nearby villagers where the YC members were even physically assaulted. The Youth club were unable to protect the forest because of these conflicts with neighbouring villages. Another contributing factor was lack of support of the FD in resolving the conflicts. After six months of the breakdown of the protection, the protection effort was reinitiated by the village through the Mahila Samiti. It seems that the community decided to give the responsibility to the women through the existing Mahila Samiti as an strategy to handle physical conflicts with people coming from outside. The protection was restarted by the women, broke down after a shot period and was again taken up. Thereafter the protection effort has sustained till date inspite of a number of major and minor conflicts. The Mahila Samiti in co-operation with the village leaders oversees the protection and management of the forests and has appointed separate Office bearers from within the Mahila Samiti for

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the same. The operational part of the forest protection is mainly overseen by the Mahila Samiti. The case study tries to look at the unique emergence of the women led forest protection and the relationship of the women’s group vis-à-vis the other power centres in and close to the community. It also illustrates the problems faced by a comparatively smaller community in trying to control erstwhile open access resources like forest and the ingenious strategies, which can emerge out of such efforts. The role of the legal holder i.e. the FD and the fact that it tries to protect its own interest and that of the other more powerful actors at the expense of the poor is also brought out in the case. Location of the Village Bhaghamunda village is located in the Barkote block of Deogarh District. It is included in the Kandhal panchyat. The village is located close to the National Highway No.6 (NH 6) and is surrounded on the north by the Badtoila RF and in the east, south and west by villages and small patches of forests. The Village lies in the foothills of the Badtoila RF. The other villages close to it are Chandankhunti and Koshibahal (in north across the hills and the NH6), Samarkhai & Kandhal in the east, Kantapali, Goudnali and Nuagaon in the south-east, Poinpani in the south and Rengalbahal in the west. Out of these villages, Chandankhunti, Koshibahal, Kandhal, Kantapali, Nuagaon, Poipani and Rengalbahal are involved in protection of their own patch of forests. The village has undulating topography with three patches of bunded paddy lands along streams originating from the hills to the north. Some uplands lying between these streams have also been cleared and are used for taking pulses etc. on a fallow basis. Rest of the village is covered by forest growth, which extends into the RF area. The Social forestry plantation has been taken up in the revenue area of the village settlement in 25 acres of land. Village history: The village is an offshoot of Kandhal village (about 2 kms away).By 1905, some patches of land in the reserve forest area had been developed as agricultural fields by few people from Kandhal after obtaining the permission to clear forests for agriculture from the Zamindar. Later they settled down near their fields after obtaining permission from the Raja (in later 1920s). At the time of first settlement the area had dense and thick forest populated with wild animals. It was initially called Bhangamunda (emaning broken bunds) due to the rampant erosion in the area. However later the King of Deogarh named it Bhaghamunda (tiger hill) after killing a tiger in the area in 1930. An interesting belief of the villagers is that only people of Gond tribe could settle in the village. This was strengthened when the villagers invited a Goud caste (cowherd caste) person to settle in their village and look after their cattle. The family settled in

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the village but all the children born in the family died. The couple left the village and settled in a neighbouring village and has four children. Thus no other caste /tribe have settled in the village allowing it to retain its unique homogeneity. Composition of the village: It is a homogenous village inhabited by 26 Gond households. Livelihood and occupations The villagers are primarily dependent on agriculture , collection of NTFPs Kendu leaves and Mahua flowers and wage labour to sustain themselves all year round. The amount of agricultural land with the villagers is less with a total patta (legally owned) land of approximately 25 acres and additional encroached land of 35 acres (Annexure 5). However, some HHs from the neighbouring villages such as Samarkhai (resettlement village of Rengali dam oustees) own agricultural land in the Baghamunda village. The agriculture is primarily rainfed with paddy as the main crop. Recently two families have taken up vegetable cultivation. The village has two small water tanks where water is available the year round. The agricultural land distribution is not very skewed with maximum legal landholding being only 4.12 acres. Persons not having patta land have encroached small areas, thus no one in the village is completely landless. However the productivity is very poor and not sufficient for the whole year. The villagers supplement their food requirement by tubers, leaves and fruits from the forests. They also obtain additional income from the Non timber forest products collected from the forests. The NTFPs form the second most important source of income as well as subsistence after agriculture. The main NTFPs collected for sale are Kendu leaves and Mahua flowers. Agriculture labour in the nearby villages is also an important source of income. Villagers sometimes migrate for casual labour like road works and to work in coal mines to Kalahandi, Talcher, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, Bhubaneswar etc. A comparison of the incomes from various sources for the HHs in the village is given below to illustrate the dependency on NTFPs (Also refer Annexure VI) Sources of income (value) Average income/yr of All

HHs (Rs.) Average income/yr for Poor HHs (as defined by the villagers)

Agriculture 4114 2456 NTFPs 2654 2288 Labour 1406 1377 It is obvious that NTFPs play a very important role in the livelihood of the villagers more so for those classified as poor HHs. Village administration (During the Darbar period) The Raja of Deogarh appointed the first settler in the village as the Khamari (Pradhan) of the village. He was responsible for collection of the land revenue from the village and was the local representative of the princely state. He was also supposed to assist the King when he came for hunting to the area.

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All the decision for the village was taken under the guidance of the Pradhan with the help of a committee of elders called Bhadralok (senior people). The Pradhan had the final authority to settle all the disputes of the village. Disputes were tried to be resolved in the village it self. If the dispute could not be resolved then help was sought from Bhadralok (respected persons) committee which compromised of five representatives from five different villages. Only if the dispute was not resolved at this stage they approached Bohidar (head of few villages), the authority higher to Pradhan. Present village administration The Jati Samaj (Gond Samaj) looks after the village administration. This committee is also referred as the village committee. It looks after the socio-cultural activities of the village. These committees keep concern mainly with issues related to adherence of caste rules, norms, inter and intra caste conflicts etc. and are not directly involved in forest matters. For any conflict resolution related to above issues the first step is to approach the village committee/ Jati Samaj. If the conflict is not resolved in the village by the village committee/ Jati Samaj, then five Bhadralok (Respected people) from neighbouring villages are called to resolve the conflict. If it still does not get resolved it is referred to the Sakha office and then to the head office. To assert the authority of the Village level Jati Samaj, approaching the Shakha or the head Office of the Jati Samaj is discouraged. The conflicts are put up to higher tiers only if the lower tiers can’t resolve it. The Jati Samaj system has effectively incorporated the earlier decision making system i.e the Pradhan and the Bhadraloks . Recently the increasing importance of the women in the village has been recognised by co-opting two women in the Village Jati Samaj. Village Institutions: Table showing Institutions in the Baghamunda village Type of Committee

Year of Formation

Members Name of President

Name of Secretary

Gond Samaj Since settlement

All households

- -

Mahila Samitti 1988-89 19 Sumitra Nayak Tava Nayak Youth club 1990 1 Men/HH Alekh Nayak Parmeshwar

Nayak Forest protection committee (FPC) under SFP

1989 25 Shankar Sahu

SHG 1999 20 Annapurna Mahila Samitti

1994 26 Manjumala (4 months back, earlier Tabha Nayak)

Kandhai Sahu (4 months back, earlier Padmini Nayak)

Gond Jati Samaj(caste institution): The Gond tribe has a special traditional caste institution called the Jati Samaj, which is essentially a multitiered association of Gonds. It is a strong

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body with a strong Statewide network, with its main Head Office in Bhubaneswar. The Jati Samaj commands a great influence amongst the Gonds and has a general acceptance among the people. The main objective of the Samaj is to resolve intra and inter conflicts within the caste members or with other castes, adherence to caste norms, development activities and look after the socio-cultural affairs of the Gond community. The Gond Jati Samaj in Deogarh has a very well defined set-up with its local head office in Sirigeda. There are seven Sakha office in Deogarh district. Each Sakha Office covers a number of Gond villages, which may have their own village level Jati Samaj Committee. In Baghamunda, the Jati Samaj was established with the settlement of the village.. All the Gond households in the village are members of the Samaj. According to the villagers during the past few years the Village level Jati Samaj was not able to function properly since all the cases were being referred directly to the Local Head office of the Jati Samaj. In 1998 Khageswar Sahoo reinitiated the old village committee i.e. Jati samaj of the village and also helped in formation of a Sakha office at Baghamunda. Now any case has to be first referred to the village committee, if unresolved then Sakha committee and finally to the Head office. Those who try to approach the head office directly are penalised. A broad structure of the Sakha office is given in the following table: Type of office

No of villages

# of members in EC

Male Female Total Village 1 2 2 4 Sakha 7-12 7 4 11+1(Director) Local Head office

50-60 - - -

Traditionally, only men are members of the Jati Samaj. In Baghamunda, the decision and attendance to the meetings was restricted to the male members of the Samaj till 1998. Now women members have been included in the village committee as well as the Sakha committee. There are two men and two women in the executive committee of the Baghamunda Jati Samaj while in the Sakha office the representation is of three women and two men from Baghamunda. The number of women representation is more in the Sakha committee to facilitate the presence of women even if one woman is unable to attend the meeting. Inclusion of women in the committee was done to facilitate decision taken in cases involving a woman. They have not found a place in the Head office, as other Sakha offices or village committees have not involved women as yet. The tenure of the committee members is for three years both at the village level as well as Sakha level. The criterion for selection of members is their knowledge, integrity and their ability to communicate. Selection of the committee members is done through consensus.

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Khageswar Sahoo, son of Shankar Sahoo, the de-facto village leader, is the Secretary of the Jati Samaj. He took the initiative of reviving the local Sakha committees and formulated the rules and regulation for the functioning of the village committee. Some of the work taken up by the Baghamunda Jati Samaj are:

• Conflict resolution • Community hall making • Scholarships to 7th and 8th Standard first division students

The Membership fee is Rs. 12.00 per year which, is kept in the village fund. Other contributions are given to the Sakha office and are from the following heads: 1. Birth of Son- Rs. 10.00 2. Birth of Daughter- Rs 5.00 3. Marriage of Son- Rs 30.00 4. Marriage of Daughter- Rs 20.00 5. Penalty for not attending the meeting by the Executive members- Rs. 60.00 6. Penalty for not attending the meeting by the village members- Rs. 30.00 7. Filing a case- Rs. 10.00 Any person who files a case to the Jati Samaj has to bear the cost of all the members involved in the decision making. Therefore villagers try to solve the cases within themselves. The meetings in the village is funded partially from the funds of the Jati Samaj and partially by funds generated by the villagers for the occasion. The village committee/Jati Samaj doesn’t have fixed date/period for meetings. The meetings can be called whenever there is a need for it. But, at the district level meetings of all Jati Samaj’s within the district is organised every year. Thus the Jati Samaj, in this homogeneous village, more or less assumes the role of an overarching village institution or village committee. Most of the affairs of the village seem to be looked after the by the Jati Samaj. However, the forest protection and management is left to the Mahila Samiti and Shri Shankar Sahoo. Mahila Samiti: A Mahila Samiti (women’s committee) was formed in 1980-81 by the Block office for food distribution in the village. The committee was formed by the gram sevak and had 14-15 members from 10 households. It functioned properly for around 5 yrs. Due to improper supply of food materials Mahila Samiti became inactive and three years after a sub-centre of Anganwadi was set up in the village. However, this centre was soon closed due to insufficient no. of beneficiaries. The Mahila Samiti became defunct after the closure of the sub-centre. In 1988-89 with the help of local NGO, Sahjog the Mahila Samiti was revived again. The members of the Samiti belong to 19 households. The activities take-up by Mahila Samiti with support of Sahajog include the following

• Vegetable cultivation in the backyards, • Adult education with emphasis on women literacy (got limited to learning how to put their signature only) • Pond cleaning as well as cleaning of by-lanes

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• Interest free loan in lieu of land mortgage, which is cultivated by the Mahila Samiti members and the profit from produce thus sold is kept in their fund. • Abolishing of Khajur Bhati (Still for making Liquor from datepalm tree) from the village since last three years • Mango sapling plantation

Most of the members of the Mahila Samiti were also the part of a DWCRA group formed in 1995 with 15 women members. DWCRA is Government scheme wherein women groups are formed for taking up collective income generation activities with the help of a revolving fund provided by the Govt. However, after one of two cycles of credit the members of the group were unable to repay the loans and the further instalments of the revolving fund. Sahajog has again initiated thrift and credit within the Mahila Samiti in May, 1999 by forming a SHG of 20 members. The SHG is working well and both savings and credit activities are being taken up till date. The main responsibility taken up by the Mahila Samiti has been the protection and management of forests. This has been continued by them since 1995 with tremendous efforts and pain on their part. Their duties have included regular patrolling of forests, apprehending offenders, taking up cases, fining, negotiating with neighbouring villages etc. In this they have the full support and guidance of Shri Shankar Sahoo to whom they defer to for major decisions. The Mahila Samiti has emerged as a powerful institution in the village, though with the tacit support of the male leaders. Apart from forest protection, it has also taken up the more common activities being taken up by such women’s groups such as credit, income generation, agitation against liquor etc. The emergence of a women’s group as an articulate and powerful group in the village is acknowledged by inclusion in the Jati Samaj. They have also gained recognition from the other communities as well as NGOs and Government agencies as is evident in the case given in Box No. I

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Box No I Kandhal Village acknowledges the Mahila Samiti Recently the women patrol group caught a villager from Kandhal for cutting tree from their protected patch and informed their counterpart Jungle Surakshya Samiti in the Kandhal village through a letter. The Kandhal village committee responded by taking action against the offender and sent him along with a committee member to Baghamunda village to apologise. They also sent a letter to Mahila Samiti giving details of action taken against the offender. This was followed by an appreciation letter by the Baghamunda Mahila Samiti to the Kandhal committee. The backgound of this very intersting exchange is that the Kandhal village has only recently started protecting a forest patch after experiencing the success of Baghamunda. Earlier, persons form Kandhal village were involved in taking wood from the Baghamunda’s forest which led to many clashes with the Mahila Samiti.

The Mahila Samiti had collected Rs.1000.00 against fines from forest offences but has spent about Rs.400 to get it self registered and now has a fund of Rs. 600.00. Youth Club: The youth club was formed with help of Sahajog in 1991 but became active only in 1993 and took up forest protection. They have not been a very active club and after a couple of years left forest protection to the women members of the village. Some of the works that they undertook were demarcation of forest boundary, Pisciculture in the Kanta, Today they help the women protection group and have no special activity to account for. Role of NGO-Sahjog Sahjog came to the village in 1988-89. The first work they did was to organise the villagers. They formed the Mahila Mandal and the Youth club. The villagers donated some land and some land was purchased to built the Ashram (Community centre), which also houses the office of Sahjog. The youth club was formed in 1991 and the Mahila Mandal in 1988-89. Activities of Sahjog over the years for the village can be summed as:

• Literacy programme (NFE) for the women of the village • Land development activities • Introducing Vegetable Cultivation • Digging of two Jeevan Dhara dugwells • Introduction to Goatry and Poultry • Nursery raising • Motivating people to build village road • Interest free loans in cash or kind • Loans to release mortgaged lands • Formation of DWCRA group • Formation of SHG

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All these activities have helped the villagers to improve their socio-economic status. Sahajog has played a critical role in the success of forest protection by the Baghamunda village. They have helped to organise various forums and institutions in the village, and provided moral support and advice to these groups. They were also instrumental in introducing the idea of forest protection in the village through their motivational campaigns on forest protection. They have also stepped in with support when major conflicts threatening the forest protection have occured e.g. Rangalbahal conflict. Most of all the NGO has been able to instill a sense of confidence in the villagers particularly the women. It was also observed that the NGO didn’t interfere in the matters related to the forest protection, which was completely under community control. Relationship with neighbouring villages The village has two immediate neighbours, Samarkhai and Kandhal. The migrant villagers from Kandhal village have formed the village Baghamunda. Thus Kandhal is their parent village and to a large extent the villagers of Baghamunda still depend on it. The next neighbouring village is Samarkhai. Samarkhai is a village between Baghamunda and Khandal. To approach Baghamunda one has to enter the village Samarkhai. Samarkhai was chosen by the government to settle the outstees of the Rengali dam. These people came to the area and cleared as well as brought land. According to the villagers about 25 to 30 percent of agricultural land from the Baghamunda village have been brought by them. They also mortgage land from the village in lieu of money loan. Dependence for Labour The villagers of Baghamunda is dependent on agricultural labour as well as contract labour to sustain them all year round. Villagers from Kandhal and Samarkhai both have land in the village and use them as agricultural labour. According to the villagers there are nearly 90 households i.e. 25hh from their village and rest from other villages like Kandhal, Samarkhai , Kaunsibahal, Gandnali, Balnali who contribute for the Gramshri puja, all those who have land in the village contribute to the fund. Dependence for other services The village has its own priest to who they used to pay 2-3 tami (1 Tami- 850 gms) paddy grains per year but now a days they give only Rs 50.00 per puja. The Vaidya in the village looks after the medical needs of the village when approached but for other facilities like Barber, Washerman etc. they depend on their neighbours. The following table gives an overview of this dependence.

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Services Villages Conditions Money lender Kandhal,

Samarkhai, Poipani

Land, Gold, Brass Utensils, Paddy loan (20 Kg return 25 Kg for a month or an year)

Barber (hair cutter) Rengalbahal, Vijaynagar

Married person- 20Kg paddy grains/year Unmarried person- 5 Tambi paddy grains /year 1 tambi paddy grains or 1mana rice/cutting

Dhoba (washerman)

Rengal Bahal, Vijaynagar

Married person- 20Kg paddy grains/year Unmarried person- 5 Tambi paddy grains /year 1 tambi paddy grains or 1mana rice/cutting

Paddy grain exchange

Kandhal, Rengalbahal

With grains

Festivals Some of the important local festivals celebrated by the villagers are: Kadbali in the month of Asadh (before transplantation), Narachhida in the month of Phalguna(after paddy harvest) and Nuakhai in the month of September. All these festivals are related to agricultural activities and performed in Gramshri (common sacred place). Every year Baghmunda and the neighbouring villages (basically those having agricultural lands in Baghmunda village) combinedly celebrate Yatra. Besides, villagers also observe forest related festivals like Nuakhai after which only they eat Mahua and Mango fruits. About the forest Village Baghamunda has now got the status of revenue village but it had been carved out from the reserve forest area in the year l929. (Refer to the forest and resource map) The forest area protected by the people of Baghamunda includes the forest on hilly ranges and on the slopes. It also includes an 80 acres of teak plantation on the reserve forestland and 25 acres of Social forestry plantation on revenue land (Refer to the forest resource map and general resource map). Thus Baghamunda is virtually surrounded by forest on all sides. The Reserve Forest area being protected by Baghamunda is a part of the large Badtoila R.F (total area 27461.4 acres). The villagers claim that they are protecting approximately 500 acres. The forest on the upper slopes is a mixed forest comprising of trees like Kendu, Mahua, Bamboo, Domaghudru etc. The concentration of bamboo is limited to the upper slopes. Sal and its associate species dominate the lower plains. (Refer to the resource map) Change in the forest resource The forests seemed to be in good condition till thirty years back. People recall that thirty years back there were good availability of forest products like Mahua, Char, Harida, Bahada, Aonla, Dhatki flowers, Sal seeds and Kendu in the forest. They also recall that during the Kendu fruiting season, Kendu fruit used to ease their

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hunger when they used to go to the streams to bathe and wash and Sal seeds were found in such a large quantity that wherever the villagers swept the floor of the forest a huge heap of sal seeds was collected. Apparently, during the seventies bamboo coupes were taken up for felling in the upper reaches of the hills. The bamboos were indiscriminately cut and never recovered due to pressure of grazing and collection of bamboo shoots. The villagers also allege the contractors also indiscriminately cut other species. During the early seventies the oustees from the Rengali Dam project were setled in the Samarkhai village by cutting down the forest. The fellings were done by the FD and the trees removed to their depot. The settlement of a large number of families increased the pressure on the forests and led to further degradation. It also seems that timber smuggling started due to demand from the industiral centres of Angul started in 70s and 80s. The requirement of agricultural implements and house building materials from the nearby villages further led to degradation of forests in the area. Thus by the 90s the forests close to Baghamunda were more or less in a degraded state leading to scarcity of small timber for agricultural implements and house building. After protection was initiated, the patch being protected by Baghamunda village has shown good regeneration. The forest now has dense undergrowth with a large number of shrubs and herbs while the trees have attained pole size. The regenerating sal trees (coppice regeneration) have started flowering and fruiting. Mahua, Kendu and Char trees are still too immature to give any yield. The bamboo regeneration on the upper slopes have not yet re-established itself due to grazing and collection of bamboo shoots. The Mahila Samiti finds it difficult to protect the bamboo area as it is in the higher reaches of the hills far away from the village. However, the difference between the protected patch and the nearby unprotected forests or newly protected forests of Kandhal and Rengalbahal villages is very evident form the luxurious growth in the protected areas. Forest Protection and Management system: Initiation The social forestry scheme was implemented in Baghamunda in the year 1986. As a result of this the VFC was formed in the year 1989-90 to look after the plantation. By this time the natural forests had also and the villagers were facing acute shortage of wood especially for making agriculture implements. Thus the need of protecting the forest was gradually being felt by the people. By then, Sahjog had started to work in the village and formed the Yuvak Sangha in 1991. During the same period Sahajog had also started a campaign on forest protection and organised meetings in villages, which had some impact on the people. Subsequently the Yuvak Sangha who were also the members of the VFC took up the protection activity in the year 1991. As per the register maintained by the YS the area of protected forest includes 300 ac of natural RF, 80 ac of teak plantation

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(within RF area) and 25 ac of social forestry plantation. However the villagers have a differing opinion on this. As per their version the total area is around 500 ac.

Change of guard During initial few years protection was carried out in a loose fashion. The Youth Club simply inform the outsiders coming to the forest that the forest patch was protected and they could no longer take wood from the forest. However, they were not very successful, specially as FD provided no support to the Youth club. A number of conflicts occurred with persons from other villages. Therefore they decided to formalise the protection efforts in the year 1993 undertaking following measures:

� Regular patrolling of the protected forest patch by two voluntary

watchers per day � Separate forest protection subcommittee (within the YC) formed

comprising of few members However, after patrolling was started by the YC, the intensity of conflicts increased. The small village community was unable to sustain these conflicts with the neighbouring villages and the forest protection was stopped after six months after the formalisation. The basic reason underlying this event may be summarised as under:

Yuvak Sangha Register 1991 Yuvak Sangha formed. Decision to protect forest 30/8/93 Forest protection efforts strengthened by deciding to have two person

patrolling party- Thengapali 1/4/94 Decision to do pisiculture in the Kanta 5/7/94 Offender caught for cutting 8 teak trees- handed over to the Forester 8/8/94 A separate Forest protection sub committee formed of 5 members from the

YS

10/10/94 Cartload of wood with offender caught- handed over to the Forester 11/10/94 Cleaning taken up 13/10/94 Patrolling party increased to three 3/1/95 Joint meeting of the Yuvak Sangh and Mahila Samiti 25/5/96 Offender caught by women patrol group 28/8/97 Supply of fencing material for Foresters house (The register ends in 1997. However, following can be inferred from the entries) i) The Forest protection by the YS in the initial three years was loose and more of declaration of intention ii) The YS tried to strengthen the FP in 1993 through patrolling. Intensified protection led to major conflicts with other villages iii) The YS could not handle the conflicts and the protection broke down only to be reinitiated through the Mahila Samiti. iv) The entries from 95-96 show that the responsibility of forest protection had been passed on to the Mahila Samiti

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• There had been frequent conflicts with the adjoining offending villages, which sometimes used to assume serious degree. The men offenders used to react aggressively to the patrolling party, sometime leading to physical clashes. The people of Baghamunda were threatened of dire consequences by people from the nearby villages. The situation deteriorated to such extent that even the shops of Kandhal village had stopped selling goods to the people of Baghamunda. Gradually conflicts had become routine affair disturbing the peace of the village. As a result the YS decided to give up the protection effort.

The forests in the adjoining areas were already in a degraded condition owing to pressure of the surrounding villages. The neighbouring villagers were also facing scarcity of forest products and depended on the forest patch near Baghamunda for some of their requirements, specially for small timber and fuelwood.

• It also seems that there were internal problems within the YC with some of the members not attending the patrolling duty seriously. The villagers say that the FD also didn’t support the YC and Baghamunda village in their effort and didn’t take action on the cases referred by the villagers to it. This demotivated the YC members further.

The forests remain unguarded for the next six-month. Thereafter the Mahila Samiti with the encouragement of Sri Shankar Sahoo took over the protection work at the end of 1993. Shri Shankar Sahoo of VFC played a pioneering role in mobilising the women to come forward and take up the work However, with the onset of agricultural season the group failed to give the same amount of time and attention to the process. This again led to rampant felling from their forest area. This led to a rethink on the issue in the village community and the women group. There was a growing realisation that their rich resource might get lost completely if not protected. The women also say that they felt that their husbands effort to protect the resource would have go futile. The village leaders again encouraged the women group to reinitiate the protection effort. With this the group once again took to forest protection. The villagers are of the opinion that women could protect and manage the forest effectively as the offenders would not dare to react to the women in a negative fashion. Besides this general opinion, women put forward some specific reasons, for taking up forest protection:

• There had been an acute shortage of firewood. As a result they had to go to far off places to collect wood. • Lack of Sal seeds which are collected by the women and exchanged for salt with traders • They couldn’t get any shade from the scorching sun during the collection of Kendu leaves.

An old woman said “ after the forest grows up we can have wood for building our house. Though we cannot afford to have a big building but atleast we can have a comfortable shelter to live in. I have four sons (with families) sharing one common

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house. Because of scarcity of timber after the degradation we are forced to live in smaller rooms.” For better functioning, the Mahila Samiti has appointed a separate President and Secretary to look after the forest affairs. However, the forest protection committee is an integral part of the Mahila Samiti only. Significantly, the meetings of the Mahila Samiti on forest issues are also attended by Shri Shankar Sahoo who guides these meetings. The Mahila Samiti also defers to him on the major decisions regarding the forests. Effectively, the Mahila Samiti works under the benevolent guidance of Shankar Sahoo, who is the main leader of village. Rules and regulations For effective management and protection of forest the village has framed certain rules and regulations over the period, which may be summarised as under:

• No body shall sell any wood from the forest. • No body shall indiscriminately fell the trees. • If firewood is required, cleaning would be done and the wood is to be divided equally. • Wood required in bulk quantity for domestic purposes can be brought after getting permission from the committee • Collection of everyday requirement of the firewood is free • During the period of Yuvak Sangha there were two member-patrolling parties and women do not use to go for the same. When MS took up the protection work this number was increased to five, which was exclusively women group. • In case of unavoidable situation atleast two persons should go for the patrolling work. • Those who skip the patrolling work shall be penalised. • Outsiders are not allowed to take fuelwood from the forest. However there is relaxation if they are taking only dry twigs. • Although cattle's grazing is allowed, goats are not allowed inside the forest. • No body is allowed to carry an axe without permission in the forest • For the first few days no outsider is allowed in the protected patches to collect Kendu leaves • Putting fire in Kendu bushes to have good quality leaves is completely banned.

The above rules are written down and have been framed by the Mahila Samiti with help and guidance of Mr. Shankar Sahu. Apparently the rules may look rigid but in practice some of the rules, specially related to the Offence cases they are applied flexibly.

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Watch and Ward A five member (all women) team carries out the patrolling of the forest. In all there are five such teams who do the work on rotational basis. In case of unavoidable circumstances, there is a provision that atleast two members of the team can go for patrolling. This is however decided as per mutual understanding within the group members. In case a female member fails to turn up for patrolling work, a male from that family contributes.

Though presently menfolk are not directly involved in the protection effort, they always lend their support at times of necessity particularly when there is a big offence or night patrolling is required to nab the offenders. There had been instances when the men and women have jointly guarded the forest for two long nights at a length in order to identify the offenders. Penalty Generally in most of the cases the offenders are warned and effort is made to convince them until and unless the offence is of serious nature. Barring the petty cases, others used to be referred to the forester, who would fine the offenders. However the amount of fine was never shared with the committee. The villagers also complain that may times, if the offender was an important person or could gratify the forester, he was left free. Hence slowly the villagers have started to resolve the conflict on their own and keep the fine money with them. In cases of matters, which are being settled by the village itself, they follow the policy of harassing the offender by delaying the judgement. This process, according to them, is the most effective way of teaching the offenders a lesson. Rates of Penalty The rates of penalty has been fixed by the village (Mahila Samiti and Mr. Shankar Sahu) and as follows: Sal trees - Rs 25 per feet Asan trees - Half the fine amount of Sal trees Other species - do not have any fixed amount. Fine is decided based on the species type and size of the tree.

Box No. II Flexible application of rules While patrolling the women apprehended a couple who had come to the forest to collect leaves for goats and were carrying axes which is against the rules. The husband fled after an altercation. However, the women seized the axe from the wife. The axe as brought to the village and Mr. Shankar Sahu was informed of the same. He advised the women to delay the return of the axe to the offender and make them run for few times as they had questioned the authority of the women.. Accordingly when the woman whose axe was seized, came to retrieve it, she was asked to come later. This was repeated for a few time and then the axe was returned. However, on the same day another group was found inside the forest collecting dry fuelwood. They were warned by the patrolling team and asked to leave the forest. Thus the women apply the rules flexibly depending on the seriousness of the offence and the attitude of the offender. This case also illustrates their dependence on Shankar Sahu for guidance in such matters.

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Meetings Earlier a dakua(messenger) from the village itself was selected to intimate about the meetings date to the members. This process has been abandoned since last two years. Now the people use different instrument for calling meetings. For women's meeting a ghanta (metal plate used in puja) is beaten and in case of men's meeting counch is used. The village being small and compact, the attendance in the meetings is good. Benefits from the regenerating forest The regenerating forest is dense forest with good undergrowth. The Sal trees have attained pole size while the Mahula and Char have not yet matured enough to give any yield. The forest undergrowth is capable of providing medicinal plants to the local Vaidya’s. The regenerated forest, according to women is providing them a resting-place after few hours' work in the scorching sun during the Kendu leaf-plucking season. The regeneration has also led to reduction of soil erosion and improvement in water regime in the agriculture land in the lower catchment areas. Cleaning and thinning operation The village as such does not have any periodic system of cleaning and thinning operations in the forest. The villagers have also not developed any formal mechanism of sharing forest produces obtained from the forest. Since protection began cleaning activities in the protected patch has been carried out four times. Such decisions were influenced by the villager's demand for firewood in bulk quantity and or whenever it was difficult for the patrolling group to move around in uncleaned patches. Usually men do the thinning and pruning work. However, women also assist them during such activities and they chiefly clean the forest ground. Cleaned branches, poles and twigs are left in the forest for drying which is later on carried by the women on their patrolling duty. As Biranchi Sahu of the village quotes, ‘ there is so much wood lying in the forest, which could if gathered in a proper manner, could sustain the village population for a certain period of time’. The women while on patrol also collect dry wood and twigs lying in the forest for fuelwood. As the forest is quite large and the village is small, this method meets their fuelwood requirement, along with collection of fuel from own land and non-forest areas. NTFP production The status of NTFP has undergone changes over the years. Presently the villagers basically sell Mahua and Kendu leaf. Kendu leaf is found in the forest area as well as non-forest areas. The mature Mahua trees are mostly outside the forest area in private lands and revenue lands. Kutchias (small local traders) come from nearby Kandhal to purchase Mahua. The villagers sell Mahua for cash and in exchange of salt. The Phadi (collection centre) house for Kendu leaf run by the KL Wing of the forest Department is in the village itself. These two forest products, collected mainly by women, form the major part of income from NTFPs (please refer Annexure 6A& B) and form a substantial part of the income of the villagers. As regards other NTFPs, the villagers occasionally sell different kind of tubers collected from the forest in the local Hats. Despite of the presence of large sal forest, villagers are not involved in sal leaf making and selling. Sahajog, the local

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NGO, tried to set up micro-enterprise on Sal leaf plate making which failed due to want of market. There is good production of mushrooms in the forest during the rains. However, it is used mainly for self consumption due to lack of local market. Though there is a good market for mushroom in Deogarh town but its long distance from the village is a problem. Mushroom, which is perishable produce, needs to be sold immediately. When the forest was in good condition there was good inflow of Mahua, Kendu fruit & Char from the forest areas which was collected and sold. However, the flow of these products from the forests had completely stopped due to degradation. Even now the regenerating trees are too immature to yield fruits. However, these trees would start fruiting after a few years and would provide additional income to the villagers. Also the flow of Aonla, Harida and Baheda have considerably reduced and the Vaidya has to purchase most of it from outside. Thus as of now, the protected forest patch does not provide much income from sale of forest products. The main NTFPs which are major income source i.e. Kendu leaf and Mahua are collected mostly from outside the forest area. However, food from forest in form of tubers, some fruits, leaves, bamboo shoots, mushrooms etc. are very important during the lean seasons i.e. late summer and the rains. It is also expected that in a few years, as the trees in the forest mature, the income from sale of NTFPs like mahua, char etc. would increase.

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Box No. III Conflict with Rengalbahal village On 18th February, 2000, the women, during their patrolling duty caught few men from Rengalbahal village (large neigbouring village) carrying several cartloads of trees from the protected Reserve forest. The local Forest Guard was also with the patrolling group. There was a verbal fight between the two groups. Despite of the patrolling groups attempt to seize their carts, the Rangalbahal villagers managed to carry it to their village. Later, a large mob from Rengalbahal came to Baghamunda village and there was a major altercation wherein the women allege that they were threatened with weapons, abused with filthy languages and their sarees torn by the mob. The Forest Guard was also threatened and his official dress was torn up. In retaliation, the women group of Baghamunda took the following actions: 1) A case was filed against the vilagers of Rangalbahal by the women group and the FG in the Forester’s

office and in the police station. 2) Letters were written to different NGOs, OJM (State level federation of forest protect groups), Deogarh

Jilla Jungle Surakhaya Mahasangh (district level federation of forest protecting villages) other FPCs in the district, District Collector, Forest Minister and higher FD officials and the Sarpanch of the two villages. In this the Mahila Samiti was supported by Sahajog.

Following this, with the help of Sahajog, a mass meeting with 300 individuals of representatives from different Forest Protecting committees of the district, state level and district level federation of Forest Protecting villagers, NGOs, Kendu Patta Tolalli Manch and other noted individuals organised in Baghamunda. The meeting followed deliberations from both the parties and after intense discussions, the offending persons from Rengalbahal village were asked to beg apology to the women of Baghamunda. The accused persons submitted an apology letter to the Mahila Samiti with following points: 1. We, the villagers of Rengalbahal, henceforth would not cut any trees from the forest protected by

Baghamunda 2. We will protect our own forest. 3. We will maintain good relationship with Baghamunda village. In future if we create problems we may

not be forgiven for our action. 4. We have no ill-feelings for Sahajog. An affidavit was submitted by the women group at the court to withdraw the case filed against the people of Rengalbahal village. Thus a compromise was reached. The women allege that apart from the Forest Guard, the Forest Department didn’t support them in the conflict. They allege that the Forest Department staff threatened them for writing to all and sundry asking for support. They quote the Ranger and the forester as saying “Who had asked you (the villagers) to protect RF? There is no patta for homestead land, You people are staying inside the RF and complaining against us at the higher level”. The village gained the support of a large number of external actors primarily because it was perceived as an assault by a larger and more powerful village on a weaker women group. This vindicates the strategy adopted by the village community to hand over the forest protection responsibility to women. The role of an supporting NGO which mobilised the external support was also very crucial. The peaceful resolution of the conflict has given more confidence to the community as well as the women and reinforced their efforts to protect the forest.

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Analysis Protection by women – a community strategy The Baghamunda case study is an example of a small homogeneous tribal community taking up protection of degraded forest in face of tremendous odds. It also illustrates the ingenious strategies evolved by a close knit community to handle difficulties in face of pressures from outside. The key strategy adopted by the villages after the men folk failed to protect the forest due to conflicts with the neighbouring villages was to let the women take up forest protection. This had distinct advantages It was difficult for outsiders to physically assault the women when apprehended both due to the social taboos as well as the strict laws protecting the women The men found it very difficult to apprehend women offenders from the nearby villages. However, women have no problems in doing so. The involvement of women in forest protection gives an unique advantage to the village in terms of recognition by the neighbouring communities, Government and other external agencies. That the strategy has been successful is amply proved by the sustenance of the forest protection over the years, in face of tremendous pressure from outside. It also has helped the village to gain support from external agencies such as NGOs as in case of the conflict with the Rengalbahal village. The village community keeps a tab on the Mahila Samiti through the Offices of Mr. Shankar Sahu who more or less guides the Mahila Samiti in major decisions. Thus the Mahila Samiti and Shankar Sahoo (by the virtue of his being the village leader) effectively represent the village community. The concerns of the men and the Jati Samaj gets reflected through Shri Shankar Sahu as well through informal discussions within the family and the community. The fact that the whole community supports the Mahila Samiti in its efforts reflects the congruence of the interests of the community of the whole and that of the women. Empowerment of Women However, the day to day involvement of Mahila Samiti in the forest protection has led to an evolving empowerment of the women vis-à-vis the community as well as the outside world. Over the years the women’s Group (Mahila Samiti) has emerged as an important and articulate institution in the Village. Apart from forest protection, they are involved in collective livelihood, literacy and social activities with support of Sahajog. Initially women seemed to have been given the responsibility of forest protection because the villagers felt that being women they would not be assaulted or physically threatened by the outsiders, over time they have developed confidence to deal with all eventualities like apprehending the offenders (male or Female), taking decision for penalising the offender’s etc. They even , along with the men of the village, patrol the forest at night if required, which is quite exceptional in

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the local socio-cultural milieu.. The women have also become articulate enough to interact with the world outside their village. The Mahila Samiti has assumed such significance that women have been included in the Gond Jati Samaj which till now was a male bastion. This is indeed remarkable, as Baghamunda is the first village that we know of where women have been included in the Jati Samaj committees i.e. the village committee as well as the Sakha committee (representing a few Gond villages). The women have increased confidence in their ability to tackle all local issues with the help of Sahajog. They had taken-up campaign against alcoholism and now have formed a Self-help group. The empowerment of the women has also helped them to deal with external institutions and articulate their rights. For example, some staff of MADA (a government agency) had demanded bribe in lieu of giving school scholarships to some children of the village. However, the women protested strongly and forced the Officials to release the scholarships. The increase in confidence in women has also led to shift in their relationship with the FD and its local staff. Earlier the women used to hand over the forest offenders to the local Forester as legally only the FD has the power to levy fine. The Forester also used to threaten them with legal action if they fined the offender themselves. With time and experience the women have started to ignore the forester with regard to petty thefts and refer to him only those cases which they find difficult to handle on their own. They have also started to demand atleast half of the fine money from the forester. Increase in Status of Baghamunda Forest protection by the women in the village has had a great impact on the status of the Baghamunda village as a whole. The Villagers claim that conflicts related to the forest which were frequent in the initial stages when the Yuvak Sangha was protecting have reduced. Seeing the good dividends the protected forest is paying and the recognition from external agencies like NGOs to the small village other neighbouring villages have also started protecting forest area near their village. The increased status of the village is also reflected in the fact that inspite of being a very small village,the Secretary of Gond Jati Samaj, Sakha office (representing a few Gond villages) is from Baghamunda and the Shakha office is also situated in Baghamunda. This implies that the neighbouring Gond villages look upon Baghamunda for providing them leadership. Role of Forest Department The FD is the legal holder of the RF being protected by the villagers – however, the level of support expected by the community is not being provided by the FD. The community expects the FD to support them in apprehending offenders, punish them as per law and backup the village in conflicts with other villages. Being a small village (only 26 HHs ) and protecting a huge area of forest, they are in constant threat from the neighbouring village. Hence the villagers aspire for at least security/moral support from the department. However, they feel that FD has rarely provided any support and does not punish the offenders forwarded to them

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by the Village. They also feel that the Department doesn’t pass on informati on about the various provisions, benefits and policies related to various schemes. The local forester has through his actions and conversations impressed upon the villagers that the forest they are protecting belongs to the Forest department and hence they cannot decide any case on their own or will have to face dire consequences. Also, the ACF, Deogarh while talking to the research team claimed that there was a circular in 1996-97 stating that no JFM activities could take place in RF. His subordinates searched for the circular but were unable to find it. He was of the opinion that the villagers still have not understood the relationship of plants and humans. These few instances reflect the approach and understanding of the forest department in the area. There is lack of conceptual clarity, confusion, and orientation at different levels of FD regarding the various provisions of the Joint Forest Management Policy. This is also reflected in the fact that the Forest Department has taken no initiative to involve the village in the Joint Forest management programme. Support and influence of other external institutions The Village and the Mahila Samiti has received constant support and help from Sahajog, a local NGO. Sahajog was instrumental in forming the Youth Club and reviving the Mahila Samiti. They have also taken up livelihood support interventions in the village. The NGO has intervened to help resolve larger conflicts with other village and helped mobilise external opinions and support for the village in case of the conflict with Rengalbahal. Sahajog was also instrumental in facilitation of formation of the Youth Club as well as the Mahila Samiti. It has also continuously encouraged and supported the Mahila Samiti, which has led to increased confidence in the women. It may be concluded that Sahajog’s interventions were a contributing factor in the unique forest protection effort of Baghamunda.

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Annexure1 Village Profile Revenue Village Baghamunda Gram Panchayat Kandhal Block Barkote District Deogarh Police Station Deogarh Nearest protected forest patch

Badtoila Reserve Forest and Social Forestry Plantation ( Patra Jungle)

Unprotected RF patch Badtoila Reserve Forest (some parts) Nearest Pucca Road

NH-6, 2km, Pucca road

Nearest market

Kandhal

Other Infrastructures Primary school: Samarkhai Middle Education: Kandhal High School: Kandhal College: Kandhal

Medical Facilities: Vaidya

Pvt. Doctor: Kandhal, Ballam Govt. Hospital: Deogarh-20 km. Vaidya: Baghamunda

Demographic Information: No. of Hamlets: 1 No. of households: 28 (according to the Kitchen) Total population: 200 Forest Profile: Protected Forest Patch: Badtoila Reserve Forest (500 acres) Social Forestry Plantation (25 acres) Forest Section: Ballam Forest Range: Barkote Forest Division: Deogarh

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Annexure 2

Village timeline:

1905 Agricultural fields were developed while staying at Kandhal 1919 Famine and Drought, Water harvesting structures built 1929 First settlers came 1930 First tank built by early six settlers 1930 Name of the village changed from Bangamunda to Baghamunda 1940 First bus service 1940-45 First cycle purchased by Baidya (Ravenhood For Rs.295) 1950’s Condition of the forest was good

People recalls that the forest hosted large trees of diverse species such as Mahua, Char, Harida, bahada, Sal Kendu etc. Besides, they also enjoyed variety of NTFPs from the forest like Char, Kendu fruits, myrobalans, sal seeds, mahua flowers etc.

1950 NH-6 was metalled (Deogarh-Barkote road) 1960 Devastation of the area by flood 1962-63 Panchayat road constructed 1969 Infant motality reduces 1974 Teak plantation 1974-79 Primary school shifted to Samarkhai 1981 Person died due to liquor consumption 1984 Hatt in Kandhal by the block 1984 Primary school 1984 Government well and Kanta built by Block 1985-86 First tube well in the village 1986 Social forestry plantation 1987 College (+2 & +3) in Kandhal 1988-89 Intervention of NGO, Sahjog 1990 World Environment Day by Sahjog 1994 Community centre was built 1996 Community centre was built with the help of Sahjog 1996 First female goes to the college 1996 Dotari (Tikaswar Nayak) built a pond after the block refused

financial help 1998 Sakha Office of Jati Samaj

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Annexure 3

Wealth Ranking Category Indicators No of

households Rich

Posses agricultural land 1 acres. Business Small family Savings Vehicle Gold ornaments No loan Vaidya

1

Medium

Landholding 2 acres House Bullock Cycle and Radio Send children to school Business Small family Savings Not taking loan or giving loan

14

Poor Big family Low paddy production Less agricultural Land- mortgaged or sold Bullocks Migration/ Daily wage labour Alcoholism Illiteracy Improper utilisation of resources

8

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Annexure 4 Matrix ranking of cash income sources: Medium Sub-group

Option Sustenance (income)

Labour Return Investment Av.

Sample 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 Agriculture 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Agri. Labour 3 4 4 4 3 3 2 5 Other labour 3 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 Animal Husbandry Cock Goat

4 5

3 6 2

3 5 6 1 5

NTFP Kendu Leaf Mahua

2 2 1 3

2 2 2 5 6

Matrix ranking of cash income sources: Poor Sub-group (Timber cutters group) Option Sustenance

(income) Labour Retur

n Agriculture 1 4 3 Agri. Labour & other labour

3 1 4

Animal Husbandry

5 5 5

NTFP (Kendu Leaf & Mahua)

2 3 2

Selling Timber (1 month

4 2 1

(Fakir Patta, Banaswar Patta, Lingaraj Patta, Satayananda Patta, Dukamani Patta and Kuni Patta)

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Annexure 5 House-wise distribution of Landholding and yearly income (1994) Sl.no Name Agricultural Land Annual Income Patta Encroache

d Assets Others

1 Dayanidhi Nayak 1.70 1.5 4400 7200 2 Alekh Nayak 1.97 1.8 1400 7000 3 Duryopaddy grains

Nayak 2 2.50 3000 5600

4 Kuber - 2 1600 6400 5 Nirakhar Bhoi 2 - 1300 6 Kumudbandhu

Nayak Mortgaged 2400 5600

7 Chandal Sahu 2.41 3 6100 8500 8 Sanker Sahu - 4.76 2000 5000 9 Baneshwar Patta - 3.37 1200 4900 10 Fakri Patta 0.8 1.2 8000 3700 11 Gouranga Patta - 1.50 400 4800 12 Parusuram Nayak - 1.20 3000 5000 13 Budhu Nayak 3.11 2.40 700 3500 14 Ram Bhoi 4 1 2000 3000 15 Tikeswar Nayak 1.96 2 2000 8000 16 Shyamsunder

Paddy grains 0.95 1.50 4000 2400

17 Tankdar Nayak 0.5 2 5000 2500 18 Lingraj Patta 4.12 2.35 300 3000 19 Himadri Paddy

grains 1 1 800 3200

(Source: Sahjog office, Baghamunda)

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Annexure 6 Table 1: Medium category Sources Incomes from various sources Minimum

(Rs.) Maximum(Rs.)

Average(Rs.) Total(Rs.)

Agriculture 3150 13500 5853.13 73387.5 Labour 600 3037.5 1433.65 18637.5 Others 1200 18000 4138.46 53800 Mahua 260 7200 1646.92 21410 Mahua oil 175 1050 471.15 6125 Kendu Leaves 200 2000 873.08 11350 All NTFP 635 10250 2991.15 38885 Total Income 8430 30850 15703.08 204140 Table 2: Poor category Sources Incomes from various sources Minimum

(Rs.) Maximum(Rs.)


Agriculture 1575 3375 2456.25 29475 Labour 200 3000 1377.5 16530 Others 1000 10800 2775 33300 Mahua 350 2200 1054.17 12650 Mahua oil 175 840 376.25 4515 Kendu Leaves 300 2600 858.33 10300 All NTFP 825 5640 2288.75 27465 Total Income 4925 15347.5 9026.67 108320 Table 3: All HouseHolds Sources Incomes from various sources Minimum

(Rs.) Maximum(Rs.)


Agriculture 1575 13500 4114.5 102862.5 Labour 200 3037.5 1406.7 35167.5 Others 1000 18000 3484 87100 Mahua 260 7200 1362.4 34060 Mahua oil 175 1050 425.6 10640 Kendu Leaves 200 2600 866 21650 All NTFP 635 10250 2654 66350 Total Income 4925 30850 12498.4 312460

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Annexure 7

Livelihood calendar/Gender-wise monthly livelihood analysis: Local Name

Month Works of Male Works of female

Pus Dec. 15-Jan. 15 Work in the vegetable garden

Vegetable cultivation , Earth cutting, migrate if they get work outside-2 weeks involvement

Magha Jan. 15- Feb. 15 Work in the vegetable garden

Preparing land-13\14 days House construction work

Phalgun Feb. 15-Mar. 15 Collecting Mahua Vegetable cultivation

Occasionaly go for mahua collection Agriculture labour work regarding vegetable cultivation Go outside for labour work

Chaita Mar. 15- April 15 Collecting Mahua Vegetable cultivation

House construction work Earth cutting Irrigating the land

Baisakh April 15-May 15 Kendu Leaf plucking Toll collection

Applying manure to land Fuelwood collection Making bunds

Jest May 15- June 15 Kendu Leaf plucking Toll collection Onion harvest

Ploughing if it rains-4\5 days Preparing land

Asad June15- July15 Transplantation -15 days Agricultural labour

Agricultural labor-10-15 days

Sravan July 15-Aug. 15 Weeding –10-15 days Agricultural labor-10-15 days Bhadra Aug. 15- Sep. 15 Weeding –10-15 days Weeding -10-15 days

Earth cutting Aswin Sep. 15- Oct.15 Collect Tubers

Bamboo shoots Harvesting

Labor work- stone work(10-15 days) Harvesting (3-4 days)

Kartika Oct.15-Nov.15 Repairing Houses(household work)

Harvesting Agriculture labor- vegetable cultivation(3-4 days)

Magsir Nov.15-Dec. 15 Mainly household work Harvesting

Own household work

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Annexure 8

NTFP Collection Cycle Local Name

Month NTFP Collected No of Days

Pusa Dec. 15-Jan. 15 Grass for Brooms, Kajur Patra for mat making

Magha Jan. 15- Feb. 15 Grass for Brooms, Kajur Patra for mat making

Phagun Feb. 15-Mar. 15 Mahua flowers, Grass for Brooms 5 Chaita Mar. 15- April

15 Mahua flowers 25

Baisakh April 15-May 15

Kendu leaf 30

Jest May 15- June 15

Mushroom (Rugada), Creepers (Leper, Borda, Norda)

Asadh June15- July15 Mushroom (Rugada) Sravan July 15-Aug. 15 Bamboo shoots, Mushroom (Pitch,

Bham, Bhuda-Bhudi, Angaria, Bihutuni, Benua, Khuda)

Bhudo Aug. 15- Sep. 15

Bamboo shoots, Mushroom (Bhudamangla), Gurudu Flowers

Aswin Sep. 15- Oct.15 Bamboo shoots, Mushroom (Aswin Mangala, Bali), Pitaalo kanda, Grass for Brooms, Kajur Patra for mat making

Kartika Oct.15-Nov.15 Pitalo Kanda,Grass for Brooms, Kajur Patra for mat making

Margsir Nov.15-Dec. 15 Grass for Brooms, Kajur Patra for making mats

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Annexure No. 9 Village Resources

Resources Ownership Area Managed By

Use Pattern Management System

Individual Comm-unity

Share with outsiders

Use Institution Rules & Regulations

Kata/Water Harvesting Structure (3 in nos.)

Government 1.5 Ac, 1.5 Ac, 1 Ac

Panchayat Farmers having land closer to these

3 3 Pisciculture, Bathing, Irrigation

55 People having lands at a distance can also irrigate their fields. In case of maintenance the matter is forwarded to Panchayat by the village committee through the ward member.

Pond Privately owned ( 2) Community ( 2)

22dc, 15dc 20dc, 10dc

Pvt Mahila Samiti Village committee

Owners(others can ask permission for use)

3 Bathing (people and cattle) Pvt. Pond is used for fishing / Veg. Cultivation /pulses grazing /

Common pond connect be used for irrigation

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part of it converted into agriculture

Grazing land Community 3 Grazing / part of it converted into agriculture

Well Privately owned – 15 Govt. – 1

Pvt. Panchayat

3 3 Irrigation No specific rules

Tube -well Govt Village committee

3 Drinking purpose / Bathing

Mango Grove

Panchayat – 1 Privately owned – 3

7ac 1ac 25dc 30dc

Panchayat Pvt.

3 It is auctioned – 3 years lease

3 years / Not open for common people generally no body is restricted

34






Plantation

� Teak

� Eucalyptus

Private Private

15dc 2.5ac

Pvt. Pvt.

3 Other people cannot enter and cut the trees.

Social Forestry Plantation/ Khesra forest

Community 25 ac Mahila Samiti

3 Not used No cutting of trees

Football Field

RD 1 ac 3 Tournaments, Festivals

Khesra Forest in agricultutal fields

Private Pvt. 3 3only KL is shared and not Mahua flowers)

Mahula flowers, Kendu leaves collection House construction and agricultural implement products

i. No other individual can out trees or collect Mahula flowers ii. One can take KL only after the owner has collected iii. Cannot collect dry firewood

35






Protected Reserve forest

FD 500 acres

Mahila Samiti

3 Forests products

i. Details rules and regulations

Gramshree/ Common religious place

RD 4 dc 3 Religious ceremonies / functions

i. No one can cut trees

Agri’al lands Private Pivate 3 Crops No specific rules Anabadi/Uncul-tivable revenue land

Govt. Individual 3 Cultivation Grazing

No specific rules

Jawan plot Govt 2 acres No mgmt Not used - Cattle resting place

Community 17 dc 3 Resting place of cattle

i. No one convert it into agricultural field ii. Cannot build house on it iii. Grazier’s house can be constructed on the land

Community hall

Community 2 dc Village 3 Village Clean it everyday

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i. Holding meetings ii. Religious functions iii. Resting place iv. Social functions v. Cultural functions

Mandap Community 1 dc Village 3 i. Religious functions ii. Holding meetings iii. Sitting place in leisure time

Village i. No one convert it into agricultural field ii. Cannot fight on the mandap iii. No feast (cannot use as a eating place iv. Cannot touch without taking bath (for adults only)

Canal Community No specific mgmt.

15 hhs Irrigation No specific rules and regulations

Village Road Panchayat Panchayat Communication

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Documents

DEVOLUTION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT · Baghamunda is a small homogenous village consisting of 26 households of Gond tribe. There is very little class distinction between the villagers