Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: News Item titled "Are missing palm trees causing more lighting deaths in Bihar appearing in ‘The Times of India’ dated 29.05.2025". The original application was registered suo-motu based on the news item titled "Are missing palm trees causing …
It is important to understand the strong linkage that exists between food security, forest and resource conservation. Studies conducted over a decade in India clearly point to the fact that a majority of people in this country survive within a biomass based subsistence economy.
For the last few decades and more particularly since 1990’s the issue of human rights-violation of rights to life and livelihood of tribal peoples’ is a central concern. Therefore, the discourse on tribal movements and issues of tribal livelihood revolved around securing their well-defined rights on land and forest resources. …
The book comprises large number of articles based on years of in-depth research in the state by scholars who are affiliated to premier research institutes. It covers topics related to biogeography, lichens, Mushrooms, ferns, flowering plants, trees, orchids, alpine vegetation, NTFP, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, insects, birds, pheasants, mammals, red …
Following the historic forest rights victory on April 27, mood in Mendha Lekha is upbeat. Gram sabha of this village in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district started felling about 90,000 bamboos a day after winning the right to harvest and sell the minor forest produce (MFP). With transit passes in hand, the …
This response to the comment “Protecting India’s Protected Areas” by Praveen Bhargav and Shekar Dattatri (23 April 2011) points out the authors’ misreading of the Forest Rights Act and also of the report of the Joint Committee on the FRA.
Rules should reflect reality says C. Achalender Reddy, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority COIMBATORE: State forest departments should keep pace with the changes happening in the society and their rules should reflect the reality, said C. Achalender Reddy, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India. To date, transport of bamboo, classified …
The joint committee set up by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to enquire into the implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of the Forest Rights) Act, 2006, came out with its final report in December 2010. The report …
HOW much does a bundle of tendu leaf cost? The question has left the government scratching its head as it prepares to introduce minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP). Once fixed, MSP promises to increase the incomes of forest dwellers as it would take into account the …
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has written to states to include bamboo in the list of minor forest produce (MFP) and to take steps to facilitate its use, sale and management by communities. The letter, dated March 21, is addressed to all chief ministers. It acknowledges the …
“Stroke of the pen” reform is critical as in many cases policy is dastardly and change is laggardly. The essential element is to find that big-ticket item that can have impact on a scale and at a pace that is needed. I believe Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh’s …
As Mendha Lekha becomes the first village in India to exercise their communities right to harvest and freely sell bamboo under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), Down To Earth takes a look at the key players. A large crowd gathered at Mendha Lekha village in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district in the …
Despite the Union Government implementing the Tribal Forest Rights Act, still the tribal living near the reserve and wildlife sanctuaries are left in the lurch. The tribals are forced to move out of their place in search of work and a livelihood. Marapachi (Passe) The article 3 (c) of chapter …
Who stands were As the D-day arrives and bamboo is all set to attain liberation and Mendha Lekha to become the first village in India to exercise its community right to harvest and freely sell bamboo under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) we take a look where the key players …
Aparna Pallavi - Live from Mendha Lekha Down To Earth will report live from Mendha Lekha as India rewrites its bamboo history. Our reporter Aparna Pallavi will be present there and give minute by minute updates as the story unfolds. Jairam Ramesh chides forest department. If transit pass not given …
A large crowd gathered at Mendha Lekha village in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district in the morning on April 27 to witness a historic event. The state forest department handed over a transit passbook to the village community leader Devaji Tofa, signifying the village gram sabha would henceforth exercise the power to …
Letter from Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Environment & Forests to Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra on whether access to and collection of bamboo in the reserve forest amounts to a forest offence under the Indian Forest Year 1927.
In response to forest department's opposition to giving community rights to freely sell, harvest and transport bamboo, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh has said that Minor Forest Produce is a ownership right vested by Parliament under Forest Rights Act and all state authorities are obliged to respect this provision.
Letter to Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) on Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act 2006 from Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Maharashtra State, Nagpur : Legal position with regard to exercise of community rights in reserved forest of Lekha-Mendha village in Gadchiroli District.