As we celebrate World Environment Day today, with the theme ‘Only One Earth’, it is an opportunity to celebrate the stewardship of the natural resources by communities across the country and especially the 7500+ communities across Rajasthan. Using the provision of 170 (1) of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act/Rules, the communities have formed village level institutions to manage their charagah (pastures) across the state. They have been protecting their resources against all odds. We need to appreciate and rewards their efforts!
Rajasthan has been the only state to establish a Rajasthan Wasteland Development Board in 2009 to decide the policy & strategies for development of wasteland under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Rural Dev. & Panchayati Raj Minister. On 27th December 2016, the Wasteland Development Board was renamed as Wasteland and Pastureland Development Board, with due focus on the protection and conservation of the charagah across the state. Key to the proposition has been the livelihoods of the majority of the rural communities dependent on livestock and livestock rearing.
While various states have have been attempting to respond and comply to the Supreme Court judgement in the Jagpal Singh vs Government of Punjab case, what Rajasthan unfolded in April 2017 was an unique architecture under the Wasteland and Pastureland Development Board was the formation of the District level Banjar Bhoomi Evam Charagah Vikas Samiti headed by the Pramukh of Zilla Parishad, Block level Banjar Bhoomi Evam Charagah Vikas Samiti headed by the Block Pradhan of Panchayat Samiti and Panchayat level Banjar Bhoomi Evam Charagah Vikas Samiti headed by the Sarpanch. The construct of the committees recognised and committed to the need for convergence between the departments of Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Revenue and Agriculture to address this complex issue. This architecture was designed to help in the better management and governance of the charagah and other common lands through the demarcation of common lands, removal of encroachments and evolving plans for restoration of the commons through MGNREGS.
On this day, we celebrate the conservation and restoration of the charagah lands by the 7500+ Charagah Vikas Samitis. While these are initial baby steps taken in the right direction, there is a lot of support necessary in them becoming effective stewards of their resources. Key to their efforts is the conservation of the grassland ecology of the region that not only provides fodder to the livestock but also are key habitat to the endangered species such as Great Indian Bustard and lesser florican species. With 4.07 million acres of charagah lands and 13.4 million acres of wastelands as per 2011 census, Rajasthan through these efforts stands to contribute a sizable percentage of the restoration targets of 26 million hectares announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The architecture of Banjar Bhoomi Evam Charagah Vikas Samitis at panchayat, block and district level has enabled the much needed facilitating structures for communities to take the much desired responsibilities.
The establishment of the Public Land Protection Cells (in 2019) in each district under the District Collector for speedy resolution of issues related to encroachments of common lands is yet another key development in Rajasthan. This has enabled a decentralised and much easier access to the judicial resolution mechanisms. Though not tied together yet, Banjar Bhoomi Evam Charagah Vikas Samitis and Public Land Protection Cells at district level can work hand in hand to enable better governance of 27.5% of common lands in the state.
A quiet movement has begun and is spreading village by village, communities are regaining control over their commons - facilitated by enabling structures at various levels, we hope for a healthier ecosystem and resilient livelihoods of the communities. We hope other states would learn from the unique arrangements in Rajasthan for safeguarding the commons.
Subrata Singh
