REGENERATING INDIA FORESTS - RECONCILING GENDER EQUITY WITH JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT

Among its basic objectives, the Indian National Forest Policy, 1988, emphasizes 'meeting the requirements of fuelwood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations' and 'creating a massive people's movement, with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives'. This represents a major step forward on previous policy which focused on management of forest for timber production, to the virtual exclusion of other uses. Yet the implementation of this policy is proving to be gender biased, even where women are included in the formal structures of control based on community participation. Women's needs and rights are not reflected in the new systems of control which produce results very different from the common property regime which preceded the nationalization of forest land.