Forests and Tribals, 1950–2000

Abstract

In this chapter, Saravanan discusses the forest policies of the state government and their impact on the environment and tribals in Tamil Nadu during the second half of the twentieth century (1950–2000). He further analyses the contradictions in the policies framed by the state towards conservation. On the one hand, the state has enacted several Forest Acts and rules besides imposing restrictions on the tribals and other traditional forest-dwellers, whose economy is associated with the forests. On the other hand, forest land was diverted for various development activities, encouraging commercialisation. Saravanan tries to capture the role of different departments of the state administration in protecting forest resources and also the nexus between the state administration and politicians/contractors in the plunder of the forest. In short, in this chapter he contributes immensely to an understanding of government policies and their implications for the environment and tribals in Tamil Nadu during the second half of the twentieth century.