Question

How did the Indian Forest Act of 1865 affect the lives of forest dwellers?

Answer 1

Instructions: Make sure to cover the following points in your answer:

• Formulation of the act​
• Clauses of the act​
• Effects of the act on the forest dwellers ​

Solution:

• Dietrich Brandis helped formulate the Indian Forest Act of 1865, which was further amended in 1878 and 1927. ​
• The act was formulated because the British wanted to build ships and railways and believed that the forest dwellers would ruin the forests by cutting trees unnecessarily. ​
• The 1878 Act divided forests into three categories—Reserved, protected, and village forests.​
• The ‘reserved forests’ were the best among these three categories. However, the villagers could not take anything from these forests. ​
• Some of the effects of this act on the forest dwellers were as follows: ​
  • All their day-to-day activities, such as collecting wood and food, were rendered illegal. ​
  • They were forced to steal from the forests and bribe the forest guards. ​
  • They were harassed by corrupt police officers and the forest guards, who demanded free food from them.