Political economy of welfare
The BJP-led government's change of heart for big-ticket rural programmes says a lot about its dwindling political fortune
Kalahandi MP denied bamboo passage
He is not allowed to cart away bamboo poles purchased from village conferred community rights under Forest Rights Act
Roundtable on Minor Forest Produce: Introduction
Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and Environment, discusses the confusion surrounding the Forest Rights Act and forest management.
Bamboo rights: Maharashtra gives priority to paper mill over Forest Rights Act
Chief Minister Prithvi Raj Chavan says agreement with Ballarpur Industries predates the Act
Coal mining to be allowed in non-forest areas after Stage I of forest clearance: Government
Environment ministry takes decision after coal ministry complains of delay in projects due to mining ban in these areas
Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (July 30, 2020)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
How can India overcome policy and institutional gaps in forest management
We need to recognise the Gram Sabha as empowered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment
How tribal leadership in Chhattisgarh is helping people access rights
The civil society’s intervention in the tribal regions began in early 1980s on two issues-sustainable livelihood, particularly in forest …
Low tiger population haunts newly notified Navegaon-Bandh Nagzira reserve
Activists say notification of reserve may intensify conflict between forest department and locals
The new votaries of Forest Rights Act
Is it the upcoming elections that are prompting states to focus on FRA and win hearts of the tribal people? wonders Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava
Maldharis demand FRA titles over grasslands
Gujarat forest department's working plan denies pastoral community their customary grazing rights over Banni
Mendha Lekha gets record bamboo rate
Earns 2.5 times more than what the highest rate received by the forest department last year
Kalahandi Gram Sabhas write to NCST, invoke atrocities act against Jharkhand DFO
DFO illegally seized consignment of kendu leaves being transported from Odisha to West Bengal, federation of Gram Sabhas alleges
Uprooted for the sake of compensatory afforestation
To compensate for forest land diversion for Parsa coal block, Chhattisgarh government identifies 16 villages without approval from gram sabhas
Indigenous people in India and the web of indifference
On the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we bring together the stories of exclusion, oppression, and at times, recognition
Green tribunal questions two-stage forest clearance for POSCO
Raises hope of residents, activists who have been opposing the clearance given to the project
Forest title claims of over 50% tribals, forest dwellers rejected: report
Where titles have been granted, average size of land holdings much smaller than what the Forest Rights Act provides for, says status report on …
Roundtable: Is Bamboo a Minor Forest Produce?
The MFP roundtable participants discuss what constitutes a minor forest produce and whether bamboo fits its definition. Read Sunita …
Rights overruled
States are making their own rules to reclaim the authority over forests from tribes, derailing community forest rights
Forestland diversion for roads, railway lines made easy
MoEF waives requirement of obtaining gram sabha certificates for linear projects. Will it dilute forest rights of people?
Forest dwellers march for their rights
State governments reject 50 per cent of the 3.15 million claims filed under Forest Rights Act
How FRA helped India’s forest communities during COVID-19
Stories of hope have been reported from across the tribal areas of how communities survived due to FRA even as attempts have been made to dilute it
Kerala’s Kadars continue fight for assertion of their community forest rights
Their Gram Sabhas have passed resolutions under the Forest Rights Act as work has progressed on the Anakkayam Small Hydro Power Project
One in five voters in Odisha are tribals. But do they get their due?
Odisha's record in addressing forest rights is poorer than the national average, despite the Union Tribal Minister hailing from the state
Batudi rejects settlement of community forest claims in Niyamgiri
Sixth rejection in a row for proposed bauxite mining; tribal affairs ministry team to visit Odisha to assess claims beyond 12 villages