In 2011, seven Baiga women in the community of Pondi, in Central India, fought the Forest Department of India to protect their forest from being cut down [1]. They used informal networking and formal communal institutions to bring awareness to the rest of the community about the situation. They organised them to stop the intervention of the Forest Department on their land. Although India has a long history of resistance against the state's practices on the forests [2][3][4], this mobilisation was remarkable because it was led by Baiga women, contrary to their traditionally defined role in their society, which implies male supremacy in decisions, and complete ownership of family assets [5]. The demand for land rights and political parity from the Baiga women was considered a violation of the tribal ethos that does not recognise property rights for women and prioritises men’s voice in decision-making processes. These women-led a fight that gradually became a collectivisation of the demand from other parts of the Baiga communities and finally caused the Forest Department to withdraw from the area. There had been previous incidents with the Forest Department in relation to the forests and the Baiga’s agricultural practices on it [6]. This specific conflict started in March 2011, when a group of men from the neighbouring village of Khamera were employed by the Forest Department to cut trees down in Pondi. These women that saw them marking the trees asked them to stop. A few days later the men continued performing their assigned tasks which led to the physical interference of the women to force them to stop by taking their tools away. For these actions, the women were legally accused of theft and also received the disapprovement of their families for being too rebellious. However, the problem provoked men from Pondi to call on a Gram Sabha to approach the situation. Gram Sabha is the local assembly of Indian villages used to discuss governance and take decisions. It is supposed to be a means of participation for all adult members of the village, however, men have a predominant role in talking and making decisions [7]. In this meeting [8], the Baiga men informed the forest officials that Pondi had received the Community Forest Right title, recognized under the Forest Rights Act of 2006 to secure the livelihoods of the forest-dwelling communities and to strengthen local governance of forest commons. Another achievement was that the charges against the women were dropped, and the felling of trees stopped. Nevertheless, a few months later the activities were restarted which led the women to convince their families and the rest of the community to stand up for the forests. More women joined the meetings and resistance, concerned about their family’s survival because the felling of trees would cause fuelwood shortage leading to diminishing household provisions. After a second Gram Sabha meeting, thanks to the women’s persuasion, the village marched towards the forest area to siege the men cutting trees, confiscating their tools and demanding surrender. The workers refused to continue working for the Forest Department which meant the definite termination of the intervention, formally requested by Pondi in November, 2012. Together with the support of the local NGO National Institute for Women, Child and Youth Development, the Baiga community appealed to the revision of their Community Forest Right title to end coupe felling in the whole area [9]. The Recognition of Forest Rights Act has been implemented since 2008, but its effective implementation has been a long process [10]. This Act states that the forest-dweller and tribes communities are fundamental for the survival and sustainability of the forest ecosystem, therefore, it is mandatory to recognize the customary rights of local communities over the forest in the pursuit of ensuring livelihood and food security in a sustainable and ecological way. Overall, it empowers the Gram Sabhas to perform the right to manage and care for the communal forest resources [11]. However, in practice, this has been a continuous struggle because of the repetitive intervention of the Forest Department in the management of the forests, and the plans made without public consultations. That is why the conflict faced by the seven Baiga women and its successful resolution brings awareness to the dynamics involved in the Baiga protection of the forest and the community’s livelihood. This was the first formal women-led resistance in the region against the Forest Department, and it is also relevant because of the level of influence these seven women had on the community to stand up for the forest, one of their most valuable resources, which was of special interest for the women as they tend to care more about the commons due to the lack of property rights afforded to them and their family livelihood dependence on the products found in the forest [11]. This mobilisation helped legitimise female involvement in the formal institutions of the community, and it also brought international awareness to their accomplishments. In 2015, Ujiyaro Bai, one of the seven women, was invited to attend the United Nations World Forestry Congress in South Africa to share the story of their resistance and success [12]. [1] Tyagi, N. & Das, S., 2020. Standing up for forest: A case study on Baiga women's mobilization in community governed forests in Central India. Ecological Economics, 178 [online] [Accessed February 27] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919312236 [2] Gerber, J.F., 2019. Bastar Forestry Project 1975, Chhattisgarh, India. EJAtlas. [online] [Accessed March 20] https://ejatlas.org/conflict/bastar-conflict-chhattisgarh-india [3] Brototi, R., 2019. Delays and misconducts in Forest Rights Act in Dhamtari district, Chhattisgarh, India. EJAtlas. [online] [Accessed March 20] https://ejatlas.org/conflict/forest-rights-of-indigenous-people-in-junwani-village [4] Mogha, S., & Sharma, M., 2019. Tribals, Forest Rights Activists Oppose Telangana Government's Tree-Plantation Programme, India. EJAtlas. [online] [Accessed March 20] https://ejatlas.org/conflict/telangana-government-plantation-programme [5] Tyagi, N. & Das, S., 2020. Standing up for forest: A case study on Baiga women's mobilization in community governed forests in Central India. Ecological Economics, 178 [online] [Accessed February 27] [6] Deepika, J., & Chandrakant, Y., 2020. Baiga’s claim to right to land and forest resources in Chhattisgarh, India. EJAtlas. [online] [Accessed March 20] [7] More information can be found in https://pnrd.assam.gov.in/portlets/gram-sabha-participation-of-community [8] Tyagi, N. & Das, S., 2020. Standing up for forest: A case study on Baiga women's mobilization in community governed forests in Central India. Ecological Economics, 178 [online] [Accessed February 27] [9] Tyagi, N. & Das, S., 2020. Standing up for forest: A case study on Baiga women's mobilization in community governed forests in Central India. Ecological Economics, 178 [online] [Accessed February 27] [10] Desor, S. (ed), 2013, Community Forest Rights under Forest Act Rights: Citizens’ Report 2013, Kalpavriksh, Pune and Vasundhara, Bhubaneshwar with Oxfam India, Delhi, on behalf of Community Forests Rights Learning and Advocacy Process, [online] [Accessed April 13] https://www.fra.org.in/document/Community%20Forest%20Rights%20under%20FRA%20Citizens%20Report%202013.pdf [11] Kothari, A. & Desor, S., 2013, Baiga’s Battle, [online] [Accessed April 13] https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/conservation/baigas-battle/article4653458.ece
[12] Tyagi, N. & Das, S., 2020. Standing up for forest: A case study on Baiga women's mobilization in community governed forests in Central India. Ecological Economics, 178 [online] [Accessed February 27] [13] Mishra, R., 2015. Village to the World: MP Tribal Conservationist Ujiyaro Bai to Address UN Forestry Meet. Hindustan Times: 3rd September [online] [Accessed March 28] (See less) |
Baiga women’s mobilization to protect forests from Forest Department intervention in Pondi, India
In 2011, seven Baiga women in Pondi, Central India, fought the Forest Department to protect their forest from being cut down. Their fought encourage the rest of the community to join the cause and defend the intrusive practices from the Forest Department.
In 2011, seven Baiga women in the community of Pondi, in Central India, fought the Forest Department of India to protect their forest from being cut down [1]. They used informal networking and formal communal institutions to bring awareness to the rest of the community about the situation. They organised them to stop the intervention of the Forest Department on their land. Although India has a long history of resistance against the state's practices on the forests [2][3][4], this mobilisation was remarkable because it was led by Baiga women, contrary to their traditionally defined role in their society, which implies male supremacy in decisions, and complete ownership of family assets [5]. The demand for land rights and political parity from the Baiga women was considered a violation of the tribal ethos that does not recognise property rights for women and prioritises men’s voice in decision-making processes. These women-led a fight that gradually became a collectivisation of the demand from other parts of the Baiga communities and finally caused the Forest Department to withdraw from the area. |
| Name of conflict: | Baiga women’s mobilization to protect forests from Forest Department intervention in Pondi, India |
| Country: | India |
| State or province: | Madhya Pradesh |
| Location of conflict: | Pondi, Dindori |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Biomass and Land Conflicts (Forests, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Management) |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Invasive species Deforestation |
| Specific commodities: | Land Biological resources Timber |
| Project details | |
| Project area: | 237 |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Affected Population: | 3,700 people approx. |
| Start of the conflict: | 01/03/2011 |
| End of the conflict: | 01/11/2012 |
| Relevant government actors: | Forest Department of India |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | The local NGO National Institute for Women, Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD) https://www.niwcyd.org/ helped the Jungle Adhyayan Mandal (JAM) or the Forest Study Group of Baiga Chak to make studies on biodiversity conservation, forest management and protection of the forest. The United Nations World Forestry Congress (South Africa, 2015) invited Ujiyaro Bai, one of the seven Baiga women, to share the story of their resistance and success. https://www.fao.org/africa/news/detail-news/en/c/289264/ |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | In REACTION to the implementation (during construction or operation) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Farmers Indigenous groups or traditional communities Neighbours/citizens/communities Women |
| Forms of mobilization: | Community-based participative research (popular epidemiology studies, etc..) Development of a network/collective action Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Referendum other local consultations Sabotage Street protest/marches Arguments for the rights of mother nature Boycotts of companies-products |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity Potential: Desertification/Drought, Food insecurity (crop damage), Soil contamination, Soil erosion, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Other Environmental impacts | Fuelwood shortage |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Other environmental related diseases |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Loss of traditional knowledge/practices/cultures, Specific impacts on women, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Loss of livelihood, Other socio-economic impacts |
| Other socio-economic impacts | Diminishing of household provisions |
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Strengthening of participation Fostering a culture of peace Application of existing regulations Project cancelled Project temporarily suspended |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | The community was able to use the participative formal institutions in place, as the Gram Sabha, to discuss their position towards the actions of the Forest Department, and organize themselves to resist their intervention. This mobilization led by women, helped to legitimize their active participation in the community decision-making processes. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Yes |
| Briefly explain: | Thanks to the resistance, struggle and organization led by the women of Baiga, the whole community opposed the Forest Department of India forcing them to respond by stopping the coupe felling in the forest of Pondi. The Forest Department had to respect the Community Forest Right title and the agreements settled in the Forest Rights Acts, that protect indigenous practices on their land. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Contributor: | María Luisa Mészáros Ortiz ([email protected]) |
| Last update | 05/05/2022 |
| Conflict ID: | 5866 |
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