Tribe, Forest and Law the Development Debate

Abstract

Forests have been the major source of livelihood for human beings since time immemorial. So far the tribal people of India are concerned; they have developed a symbiotic relationship with the forest due to their close proximity with the forest as the natural habitation. The tribal communities live in about 15 percent of the country's areas in various ecological and geo-climatic conditions, ranging from plants, forests, hills and inaccessible areas. The collection and marketing of Minor Forest Produce have been a major source of livelihood for the most tribal families contributing around 70 percent of their total income. Forest can be better protected by the people living in the forest and depending for their survival on its natural wealth. However, once the deprivation of right to live in the forest started way back in 1865, when the first Imperial Forest Act was enacted and Imperial Forest Department was established, and that has continued even after the six decades of independence, it resulted into conflict and tension between the forest officials and forest dwellers, especially the tribal people. The paper seeks a critical note on the history of forest laws and policies in India and their impact on tribal people with the following objectives: 1. o trace the historical importance afforests on the life and living of the tribal people 2. To highlight the impact of policies/approaches adopted by the planners of the country for the development of tribal people 3. To trace the legislative journey of forest laws and their impact on tribal people 4. To find out the future implication of new forest law in protecting the rights of the tribal people