Socio Economic Conditions and Problems Faced by the Tribals Living in the Forest Villages of Golaghat and Nagaon Districts of Assam

Abstract

The Forest villages are considered as the backbone of the forests and the villagers regarded as custodians of the forest wealth. The forest villages were established during the early part of the twentieth century by the Forest department in accordance with the provisions laid down by the Forest Regulation Act of 1891. The study aims to highlight the socio-economic condition of the tribal people living in the forest villages of Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam. Fifteen villages from Golaghat and thirty seven villages from Nagaon were surveyed for the study. These villages are inhabited by the Bodo Kachari, Karbi, Mech, Mising, Sonowal Kacharis and Tiwas. Data from the study reveals several interesting and important findings. Joint Forest Management Committee are found in the villages and are constituted by members of both tribal and non tribal communities. The Forest villages lack basic infrastructural facilities like drinking water, all weather roads, transport and communication, healthcare, etc. But they have mass communication facilities like television, radio and newspapers. Major problems faced by the villagers include lack of employment opportunities, encroachment of land by illegal immigrants, interstate boundary disputes, lack of educational facilities for the young population, and poor civic amenities. The people have apprehensions of the trend of deforestation which will affect the very existence of the forest villages. Most households have cultivable land. Majority of the household members are non earning dependents. Majority of the people live in thatched houses and have poor housing and sanitation conditions. Jaundice and Hepatitis are the major diseases from which they suffer. The villagers suffer from the depredations of wild elephants. The Scheme, Improvement of Forest Villages during 1984-85 which was abandoned earlier needs to be revived as the Forest Villages are outside the purview of several schemes and programmes enjoyed by villagers of Revenue villages. The Forest Policy of 1988 which was adopted by the government needs to be implemented with the right spirit.