This study was undertaken with the multiple objectives of identifying key legal, social, and institutional issues in natural resource management in tribal areas; eliciting the voice of the tribal poor with regard to their development/empowerment priorities; and informing potential designers of development projects in the tribal belt. This was to ensure that tribal people's perspectives and priorities get appropriately reflected the project concept. Tribal and forest dominated districts of three central Indian states, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa, formed the universe for the study. Twenty-one tribal dominated and forested districts were chosen from these states, of which primary data was collected from 35 tribal villages.

The desk review convincingly brought out the fact that in all the three states, the districts falling in scheduled areas are relatively underdeveloped and backward. Primary data pointed at poor infrastructure and communication facilities, primitive methods of cultivation, absence of irrigation and absence of storing, and lack of processing and marketing facilities for both agricultural and forest products. This study concludes that before commencement of the proposed project, at least two assessment studies need to be undertaken. One, with the objective of pinpointing/handpicking the most eligible groups/pockets that can be targeted for developing ‘role models' and the other, to undertake capacity assessment of human as well as forest resource. The study suggested that consulting existing civil society organizations, active political leaders, and interested bureaucrats will be the strategy to reach out to tribal communities. And Gram Sabha can be used as a forum for open discussions at village level.

Project Funding: FAO/World Bank

Project Output: Report no. 2-05, June © SHODH

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