Question

Q. EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS OF THE FORESTS LAWS AND CRIMINAL TRIBES ACT HOW DID THEY EFFECT THE IFE OF THE PASTROLISTS?

Answer 1

The British enacted various laws which had the following impact:

a.From the mid-nineteenth century, Waste Land Rules were enacted in various parts of the country. By these Rules uncultivated lands were taken over and given to select individuals.
b. Forest Acts were also being enacted in the different provinces. Through these Acts some forests which produced commercially valuable timber like deodar or sal were declared ‘Reserved’. No pastoralist was allowed access to these forests. Other forests were classified as ‘Protected’.

c. These Forest Acts changed the lives of pastoralists in the following manner:

Villagers were not allowed to access Reserved forests.
Shifting cultivation was banned.
It brought about huge displacement of people.
Taxes were imposed on people.
Grazing and hunting were restricted as a result many nomadic communities lost their livelihood.

d.The Pastoralalist needed permission for entry in the forests. The timing of their entry and departure was specified, and the number of days they could spend in the forest was limited.
e. 1871, the colonial government in India passed the Criminal Tribes Act. By this Act many communities of craftsmen, traders and pastoralists were classified as Criminal Tribes, their mobility was restricted.