Strengthening communities by protecting commons

While there are several success stories of villagers planting more trees on their land and taking good care of them, the situation becomes different when it is a question of mobilizing people for regeneration of community and common land, including degraded forest land and village pastures.

- BHARAT DOGRA

Now it is a question of working for the common good of the entire village or at least a substantial section of the village.

While India's villages have a rich tradition of this, these traditional strengths have been eroded due to a number of factors, in the wake of the bigger setback to community-based protective systems inflicted during colonial times. Thus while the potential for reviving community protective systems exists, it needs sustained, continuing and thoughtful efforts with the cooperation of local people on the one hand and voluntary organizations and government agencies on the other hand.

Where such close cooperation over a number of years can be sustained and efforts continue to be made despite initial setbacks, the results achieved can be very impressive and heartwarming. Once the community spirit for protective efforts of common good has been created, this continues to find many creative outlets for realization of beautiful results in many aspects of rural life.

On the one hand the success of regeneration of degraded land and planting of trees, bamboo and grass is itself very beneficial, on the other hand the revival of community actions and creativity can also lead to other important gains, including unexpected ones in social reform.