Collective Initiative to Protect the Forest Resources and Creating Ownership: A Story of Remote Villagers in Mayurabhanj of Odisha

Authors

  • Laxmidhar Singh Atmashakti Trust

Keywords:

Community, Forest, Tribals, Traditional Forest Management, Protection, Collective Action, Ownership, Sustainability, Mandam

Abstract

Since the ages, humans have been dependent on the forest for life, livelihood, companionship, and spiritual connection. Before the idea of the modern nation-state, the people, especially the forest dwellers, had access to the forest. The forest communities were managing the woods with their inherited knowledge and wisdom. The modern governance system restricted forest access and made it public good with more extensive state control. We have mixed experience with these government-managed forest resources. However, there are beautiful examples where the community has come forward to protect and manage forests by themselves or with minimal support from government institutes. The collective values, spiritual relationship, and management system are yet to be analyzed much. This article will highlight a remote village called Mandam in Eastern India to emphasise the role of the community in forest protection and management.

Author Biography

Laxmidhar Singh, Atmashakti Trust

Laxmi is an accomplished rural development professional with over 11 years of experience in the sector. He holds a Master's degree in Social Work from the esteemed Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) in Mumbai. Laxmi has worked with the Department of Rural Development in the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and CAPART, Ministry of Rural Development in Sundergarh, Odisha before joining Atmashakti in 2016. He has developed expertise at both policy and grassroots levels. Laxmi is also dedicated to issues close to his heart, and serves as the General Secretary of the All India Ho Language Action Committee, Odisha, and the Co-Convenor of the Indigenous People's Forum, Odisha. His unwavering commitment to social justice and community empowerment continues to earn him recognition and respect in the development sector.

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Published

2023-05-25

How to Cite

Singh, L. (2023). Collective Initiative to Protect the Forest Resources and Creating Ownership: A Story of Remote Villagers in Mayurabhanj of Odisha. Social Innovations Journal, 18. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/5987

Issue

Vol. 18 (2023): Capturing Social Innovation Models by Marginalized Communities from Collective Grassroots Action to Building a Pathway of Systemic Social Change

Section

Historical Marginalization Leading to Collective Action

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Copyright (c) 2023 Laxmidhar Singh (Author)

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