Rajasthan communities at risk of losing land

A recent state government notification has sparked fear among community dwellers in western Rajasthan, who are concerned about potential loss of access to forest produce and livelihood. The community is apprehensive about the state’s proposal to recognise orans (sacred groves) as deemed forests. The government notification on February 1, 2024 declares that, in compliance with directives from the Supreme Court (SC), orans, dev vans (sacred forests) and runds (traditionally conserved open forests) will be categorised as deemed forests. The notification also invites objections and issues to be raised by locals, if any.

Sumer Singh from Savata village in Jaisalmer tells Down To Earth that his community through representation of the organisation “Gochar Oran Sanrakshak Sangh Rajasthan” has raised objection to the decision. “The Degray oran in our village supports at least 5,000 camels and 50,000 sheep,” he says. The village residents also depend on the forest for gum, timber, forest produce and wild vegetables, crucial for their livelihoods and daily needs. If orans are declared as deemed forests, the people fear they will lose access to forest produce and grazing land for their herds and sheep.

Singh adds that some houses are situated in close proximity to orans. “Residents may have to vacate their homes if the state forest department takes over. Moreover, last rites, and religious events are held inside orans and are deeply intertwined with the trees, waterbodies and other features of the forest,” he says.

In a letter submitted to the district collector, the organisation highlights the interconnectedness between oran land and neighbouring villages, emphasising that any restrictions in the forest area would impact movement and livelihoods. Singh alleges that the government did not engage with community members for consultation or hearings before proposing the classification of these lands.

Parul Gupta, conservation lawyer practising before SC and the National Green Tribunal, explains that deemed forests are areas with forest-like characteristics that are not officially recorded in government or revenue records.

“To prevent further degradation of such lands, the Supreme Court, in the TN Godavarman case, directed state governments to identify them and stipulated that all forests, including deemed forests, would be covered under section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980,” she says. Gupta asserts that the provisions in this section prohibit non-forestry activities such as mining, deforestation, quarrying, or infrastructure projects on such forest land without permissions from the central government. However, she says that the move does not restrict individuals or communities from accessing the forest for grazing or worship.

This was first published in the 16-31 March, 2024 print edition of Down To Earth