Orans are sacred groves that hold profound cultural, religious, and ecological significance for communities in Rajasthan. These unique areas serve multiple purposes, including cattle herding, acting as pastures, and providing forest produce such as gum, timber, and wild vegetables. The preservation of orans is vital not only for their ecological role but also for the cultural practices intertwined with these groves.
The opposition to designating orans as deemed forests primarily arises from concerns about losing access to vital forest resources and livelihoods. Community members fear that such a declaration will impose restrictions on their traditional activities, including grazing livestock, collecting forest products, and engaging in cultural and religious practices. There is also anxiety over the potential loss of homes located within or near these sacred groves.
A deemed forest refers to an area that possesses the characteristics of a forest but has not been officially recognized as forest land in government or revenue records. The Supreme Court of India has mandated states to identify such lands to safeguard them from degradation. This ensures that all forests, including deemed forests, are protected under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Legal experts clarify that the intention behind declaring sacred groves as deemed forests is not to impede community rights. Instead, it aims to protect these lands while allowing continued access for traditional practices such as grazing and worship. However, any non-forestry activities, including mining, deforestation, or construction, will necessitate permission from the central government.
In response to the proposal, community members have organized through groups like the Gauchar Oran Sanrakshak Sangh Rajasthan. They have officially raised objections and submitted letters to the authorities, stressing the deep connection between village life and the use of orans. Concerns have also been voiced regarding the lack of adequate consultation and the discrepancies observed between earlier reports and the current notifications.
The declaration of orans as deemed forests aligns with the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which seeks to conserve forest lands by limiting non-forestry activities. Nonetheless, there is a pressing need for clear guidelines or rules regarding the management of these deemed forests, particularly with respect to community access and rights.
As of the latest updates, the Rajasthan government has not provided specific clarifications on how community rights will be safeguarded under the new deemed forest designation for orans. Legal and conservation experts advocate for the government to communicate clearly and provide assurances that traditional rights and activities will remain intact. This situation emphasizes the critical balance between conservation initiatives and the rights and livelihoods of local communities, highlighting the necessity for transparent communication and inclusive consultation processes to address the concerns of all stakeholders involved.
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