IMPACT OF FOREST RIGHT ACT ON LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF TRIBAL WOMEN a STUDY IN KANDHAMAL DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Abstract

The research study was carried out to explore the socioeconomic life of Kandha women, implementation of Forest Rights Act and its impact on them in Kandhmal district of Odisha. This study was conducted involving 300 women respondents at the same time interacted with Gramsabha members, Forest Rights Committee members, Community Forest Resource Management Committee members of the study villages and various Government and Nongovernmental stakeholders. The present study concludes that education is still a matter of concern among Kandha women. Ongoing educational system and encouragements on schooling by government are not as per their need and interest. Although there is an increase of annual income among them many of them said this is not up to their satisfaction to meet their daily needs. There is an increase in women land holdings in Kondh family as their forested land under occupation are got legal recognition in the name of them in the form of Individual Forest Rights Jointly with spouse or in some cases in the name of women itself. There are 19 individual women title holders who have no land record before Forest Rights Act enacted out of the 300 women respondent. Further all the IFR title has given jointly in the name of both spouse. NTFP collection increased and ownership rights made them comfortable to go for it as their one of the significant income source. In the preset study it is depicted that FRA titles improves women land holdings and access and control of women to forest recourses and empower them economically. Experiences from the field clearly reveal that women don t avail adequate price newline