The Forest Legislations with Special Reference to Forest Right Act (2006) and Its Impact on the Condition of the Indigenous Forest Villagers in North Bengal: A Study

Abstract

Since time immemorial there is a synergetic relationship between forestry and human beings.A large number of people depends heavily on forest for their livelihood and used to live in and around the forest areas. Forests play an important role in improving the social and economic status of the people by providing direct and indirect employment opportunities. The indigenous community especially the tribal people, the pastoralists, the peasants community, the slum-dwellers as well as the industrialists have a substantial reliance on the major and minor forest produce as the source of fuel, fodder, timber, medicinal herbs or raw material for production and processing. Collection and sale of the different types of minor forest produce are some of the main livelihoods carried out by the forest dependent communities as a part of their subsistence.