Tribal Entrepreneurship: A Case of Adivasis in Dangs

Abstract

The Dangs in many ways represent extreme geo-physical, environmental and socio-economic characteristics in Gujarat. Having 59 per cent of its total geographical area under forests amid highly undulating terrains, the district receives an average rainfall of 3,000 mm per annum. Nearly 95 per cent of its total population belongs to adivasi communities including the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PTGs). Despite vast possession of natural resources, the district which is home to 86 per cent below poverty line (BPL) households is not only the poorest in the state but also features in the list of five most backward districts of the country. This paper is based on a recent study conducted in the Dangs examines the role of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) along with other forest resources in livelihoods of the adivasi communities. It seeks to understand the Malki practice – a unique system of forest governance and critically analyses the implementation of Forest Rights Act at ground level.The study finds out that majority of the adivasi households in the study villages are involved in collection of NTFPs such as bamboo, mahua, tendu and amla from the forests besides extracting timber and fuel wood round the year. Timber is primarily extracted from trees of teak and seesam whereas fuel wood forms the basis of cooking in the villages. Despite having low monetary values, NTFPs, timber products and fuel wood continue to provide critical support to adivasi livelihoods. However, it is increasingly constrained in recent years by factors including rapid degradation of forest resources, low awareness and access to techniques of harvesting, processing and marketing of NTFPs; wide gap between the collectors and end users, unfair trade practices and lack of intervention of concerned agencies of the state. NTFP resources if used efficiently and marketed wisely can be a source of entrepreneurship opportunities.The Malki practice in the Dangs – a uniquely designed system of forest governance is another source of livelihoods for the adivasis. Under this practice, occupancy rights have been given only to those lands which are under individual possession since January 1970, but the reserved trees on these lands continue to vest with Forest Department. However, the cultivators are entitled to sell them provided at least three tree saplings should be planted for each tree being cut. The study finds that 60 per cent of the respondents have applied for Malki out of which 55 per cent got their application processed and have earned Rs 3.4 lacs per household. However, the Malki practice is only seen as a medium of earning money without thinking of the massive destruction being done through rampant cutting of trees leading to increased soil erosion, removal of top layer fertile soil and rapid degradation of forests that has led to extinction of many species of flora and fauna, drying up of rivers and other water bodies. On the Forest Rights Act, the study reveals that though majority of the households surveyed (nearly 75 per cent) are having awareness on individual rights, nearly 62 per cent have applied for individual pattas having a success rate of 44 per cent finally getting it. A large majority of the approved pattas have gone to the ruling elites particularly sarpanchs and many claims are under process for years. Major bottlenecks faced in FRA implementation in the Dangs evident from the study are lack of clarity of the application procedure, rejection of claims on flimsy grounds, misuse of power and cooption by PRIs members, inactive Forest Rights Committees (FRCs), very low awareness on Community Forest Rights, conflicting situations between FRC and JFM committees and Forest Department’s alleged role in rejecting the claims. Despite facing harassment, local activists and organizations have played a significant role in spreading awareness, using GIS technology for allotment of land and sustaining the grassroots struggle on FRA alongside bringing changes through advocacy works in Gujarat. The paper attempts to find opportunities for possible entrepreneurship in Dangs in context of the above three realities.