Conservation, Social Justice and the Forest Rights Act (2006): A Comparative Analysis of the Podochuanpadar Village of Odisha and the Mendha-Lekha Village of Maharashtra
Padma Priyadarshini*
Department of Sociology, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, India
*Corresponding Author: Padma Priyadarshini, Department of Sociology, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, India.
Published: August 14, 2025
Abstract
The Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 is considered a significant piece of legislation, as it acknowledges and seeks to redress years of historical injustices committed against the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) by restoring their land rights. However, after more than fifteen years of its implementation, the FRA is struggling to achieve its primary objectives despite several interventions. The current study presents a comparative analysis of two celebratory cases from two different Indian states that are often cited as exemplars of FRA implementation. The two cases are: the Podochuanpadar village of the state of Odisha and the Mendha-Lekha village of the state of Maharashtra. Through an in-depth analysis, using the case study approach, the study highlights that the FRA has led to positive outcomes in both cases. Both have successfully attained ‘Individual Forest Rights’ (IFR) and ‘Community Forest Rights' (CFR), and both have exhibited commendable performances as regards participatory forest management leading to effective conservation. But, they also point to several implementation gaps. Based on the evidence, the study therefore suggests a need to smooth the implementation process by ensuring limited interference of forest officials, capacity building of the nodal agencies, and an evaluation of conflicting and divergent policies that interfere with FRA implementation. In addition, the study advances the need for a broader developmental model that would further empower the FRA to be equitable, just and inclusive.
Keywords: Conservation; Forest Rights Act (FRA); Participatory Forest Management (PFM); Self-Governance; Social Justice
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