Forest Resources and Ownership Rights in Chhattisgarh – An Issue of Conflict between the State and the Tribes
Chhattisgarh, a state that is at the vanguard of Indian industries and also a repository of minerals has a diverse cultural legacy. Chhattisgarh and tribal culture are two tautological terms since a third of the state's populace is dominated by tribals. It is estimated that the tribals constitute around 32.5 % of the population of Chhattisgarh. These primitive forest dwellers / aboriginals / tribals depend upon forest resources for their livelihood and survival. Forest provides them with their basic necessity of life that is food, cloth and shelter. At the same time land being a scare resource the effect of globalisation, liberalization and urbanisation possess a big threat to the harmonious and peaceful life of the tribals in the forest. In this background the struggle for forest rights continues, now with the added strength of an Act in the hands of these Forest Dwellers. In August 2010 when the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the nodal ministry for implementing Fore...