Jhargram district

Jhargram is a district in the state of West Bengal, India.The district lies between the Kangsabati River in the north and the Subarnarekha in the south. Jhargram has one of the lowest population densities among the districts of West Bengal, with almost all its population living in rural areas. It is a popular tourist destination known for its sal forests, elephants, ancient temples and royal palaces. The district was formed on 4 April 2017, after bifurcation from the Paschim Medinipur district as the 22nd district of West Bengal. The district has its headquarters at Jhargram.

In southwest Bengal (including the forests of erstwhile West Midnapore Division), the history of forest and its management can be traced to the 16th century, when forests were free for use by local villagers for household purposes and cleaning for cultivation. During the Mughal period, under the land revenue system introduced by Todar Mal, local zamindars had to pay "Ruba", a quarter-share of revenue to the Mughal Emperors for their protection. In 1773, the East India Company went for the permanent settlement of forests (and the landed properties) with zamindars as proprietor. In 1890 to 1905, Bengal-Nagpur Railways opened railway lines, which helped the cheaper transport of forest produces to faraway places with ease and less cost. That was followed by two world wars, which took a heavy toll of forest resources.

The forests of the division were included in Jungle Mahal which was held by zamindars (local chiefs), who maintained their respective forests in a feudal tenure system. With the coming up of Bengal-Nagpur Railway lines from Kharagpur to Jamshedpur via Jhargram, the forests of the area became accessible. The forests came to be recognised as a source of earning more return for the zamindars. Most forests of the division were owned by the Nawab of Murshidabad, the Raja of Mayurbhanj, the Raja of Jhargram, the Raja of Chilkigarh and the Midnapore Zamindar Company. The forests were in an advanced stage of degradation because of ruthless exploitation by the zamindars on a rotation period of 4–5 years. The mismanagement of the forests continued until 1948, when the government of West Bengal started exercising control over the management of forests under the West Bengal Private Forests Act, 1948, but the situation was little improved.

In 1953, the Estates Acquisition Act came into force, and the forests, which had been long owned by private owners, have been vested to the government since 1954 or 1955. They became free from all encumbrances for scientific management and control. Subsequently, they became owned by the Forest Department, which gradually depended upon the availability of records, evidence, and court orders.

After the state took over the forests, they were brought under scientific management. However, the productivity of the forests had gone down to such a level that they could not meet the growing demands of forest produces from the ever-increasing population of fringe areas and the county as a whole. The problem was further multiplied by the growing unemployment in the forest fringe villagers and lack of enough resources in the rural areas to end the situation.

Administrative measures and policing efforts to thwart the biotic pressures on the forests resulted only in more conflicts and led to complete alienation of the fringe population from the administration. The protection of the forests became hazardous. The administration had almost failed to tackle the situation and was looking for a solution.

A pilot project was launched in 1971-1972 by the Divisional Forest Officer, Silviculture (South) Division at Arabari of East Midnapore Division. Its objective was to involve the people living on the fringes of forests in protecting forest resources by the improvement of their socioeconomic conditions.

In 1985-1986, the pilot project was reviewed, evaluated and analyzed. The entire project area had apparently been restocked with nearly 700 ha of sal coppice forests and 300 ha of plantation crops. In fact, the pilot project had proved to be a success.