It is pertinent to see if the involvement of communities is being implemented in a systematic manner when ‘development’, that has a collateral damage to the environment, is deliberated
As political parties slug it out with one another and Government departments trip over red-tape, environmental conservation would have firmly got relegated to the backseat, if not for the local communities that are fast emerging as the vanguards of impromptu environmental protection. The environmental referendum conducted in Niyamgiri hills in Odisha was a path-breaking development and an outstanding example of community intervention, in which the village gram sabhas participated to decide whether to allow mining in their region or not. This development has had far-reaching impact for environmental conservation. It has also sensitised the corporate giants to the voice of the empowered local communities.
The increasingly significant role that social communities play is being recognised the world over. For instance, the United Nations Programme for Reducing Environmental Deforestation and Forest Degradation envisages communities playing a central role in safeguarding the environment and natural resources. The question remains: Is the community involvement in India being planned and implemented in a systematic mannerIJ Also, is enough being done to involve the communities when development is planned, especially when that ‘development’ has environment as a collateral damageIJ
A well thought-out strategy to integrate the communities’ views in developing their area seems only fair, especially when they have a tremendous role to play in the ecological balance of the region. However, instead of a tripartite relationship consisting of the private sector, the Government and the local community, most of the developmental initiatives are not community-inclusive. To make matters worse, the excluded communities lose their voice and are unable to fight for their basic right for clean water, air and land. This exclusion takes the form of sporadic clashes between the community stakeholders and the developmental institutions and corporations.
The recent conflict between eight villages in Nagpur district against Western Coalfields ltd, that is operating an open cast mine in the region, is one such such example. let alone ensure the involvement of local communities, WCl, in this case, has failed to even compensate for the land acquired, and has resorted to illegal dumping, thus making farming difficult and the air polluted due to coal dust. The agitation was called off after WCl and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials intervened, but not before the insensitivity of the Government and WCl towards the local communities became very apparent.
In the midst of such incidents, positive and encouraging developments are keeping the hopes alive. The central bench of the National Green Tribunal has taken a heartening stance by directing the Madhya Pradesh Government to develop guidelines for community consultations in matters of transferring forest-land (considered to be of low economic value or degraded) to the Forest Development Corporation by the State forest department.
The order of May 8 has noted that such discussions with joint forest management committees from the beginning of the process will ensure that the aspirations of the community find place in the forest management plans. The court has also asked the Government to increase the participation of local communities during the preparation of the ‘working plan’ in forests by FDCs for enhancing the productivity of low economic value forest-land. Considering the importance of community consultation, the judgement has also directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to issue directives to States on the subject, where such working plans are submitted to seek approval of the Ministry.
These steps are sure to instil confidence, but it is very crucial that the country does not get caught in the cycle of what can be a one-step-forward-and-two- steps-backward situation — the positive steps taken are marred by unplanned development activities that not only adversely affect the environment but also create inhospitable living conditions for the local communities and eventually pave the way for confrontations.
An important benefit of community-involved environment conservation is that, because it entails a more equitable and democratic treatment of community members, it is a more ethical than a classical approach to conservation. The Government should strive to build on this and create goodwill in the communities and, thereby, enable grassroots-level conservation of the environment.
Community involvement is steadily changing the manner in which environment conservation is being perceived today. Be it a community-based eco-tourism initiative in Guatemala or an afforestation project in Nepal the examples are wide and diverse. India also needs to add to the global success stories and ensure that its communities get the due recognition to play a vital role in deciding how development takes place, and at what cost.