First time in the State, the villagers were given the right under the provisions of the Forest Regulation Act, 2006 to sell forest species like bamboo grown in the community forest lands without transit pass from the competent authorities.
Earlier, the rural people were facing troubles for disposal of the produces grown in their own land. There are several species, which are grown in forests as well as in private gardens. Hence, the Government imposed restrictions which applied to both equally. The restrictions were put by the Government to avoid theft or smuggling of the forest produces.
These restrictions were so stiff that the rural people were hardly getting any chance for disposal of their produces like bamboo, timberand other non-timber forest produces (NTFPs) even if grown in theirown private lands. So the people used to be reluctant to grow restricted species including bamboo in their own lands.
The restrictions on the species were very old. They continued since the British- era. Even after independence, the restrictions had not been relaxed in any way. It was causing enormous national loss. The corrupt officials of the Forest department were getting ample chances to earn illegal money as under the pretext of issuing transit passes, they resorted to wanton irregularities. The empowering of the respective Gram Sabha in each village to issue transit pass for transportation of such produces from one place to the other is a welcome move.
Bamboo is highly useful in the day-to-day life of the common man. It is required to make tools for agriculture, thatched houses and for several other purposes. The common people had been demanding for easy transport and sale of the bamboo since long by relaxing the restrictions. In the long run, Mendhalik village of Maharastra won the battle and shown the path to grow forest species in private land or in village commons for economic development of the villages and the private growers.
The bamboo is normally a grass species having fibrous-root system, which binds the soil well and prevents erosion. The species grows quickly and gives yield after 3 to 4 years. The bamboo forests cover the ground floor, reduce the atmospheric temperature and retain moisture in the atmosphere as well as in the soil.
The bamboo clumps grown in the coastal villages of Odisha protect the small mud houses from cyclones and tornadoes. The coastal climate is prone to cyclone and other natural disasters. The bamboo belt works better than any other species in protecting the area from the disasters.
The wider crown of the bamboo clumps nutralises the effect of carbon emissions, specially the industrial and vehicular carbons and restrict the floating particles in the air. So for better environmental management as well as for strengthening the rural economy, bamboo forests should be raised at a wider scale.
Vast village commons are falling vacant throughout the country. If they can be used for growing valuable forest species, it can add to forest generation and afforestation, control pollution and strengthen rural economy. Several people of the State personally told the writer that they are not interested to grow any tree in their own land and village commons for inviting unnecessary problems from the forest personnel.
There are certain species over which confusion arises as to whether they are restricted or not. The Gram Sabha is the right body to choose the species and issue transit passes. The Government can achieve enormous benefits by proper implementation of the Forest Regulation Act, 2006.
Now the Government is laying stress on development of agro-based industries and rural industries. The species grown in village commons,fallow lands, swamps, wet lands and barren hills can be best utilized for the purpose to yield raw materials for the industries.
The efforts of Union Tribal Minister KS Deo and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are praiseworthy as they authorized the Gram Sabha to issue transit pass in Jamguda village of Kalahandi recently. Previously, the Kendu leaf traders were issued transit permit books by the Forest department for transportation of the leaf bags from one godown to another and finally to the central godown. Similarly, the bamboo lessees were given transit permit books for transporting bamboos. The Gram Sabha is the real manager of community forests.
Hence, its rights over the forest produces should be recognized. This will promote tribals and the forest dwellers, besides empowering the women.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)