The Fake Forests of Chhattisgarh

IJEP 42(8): 1008-1013 : Vol. 42 Issue. 8 (August 2022)

Subhanil Banerjee1*, Disha Sharma2 and Avichal Sharma3

1. K.R. Manglam University, School of Humanities (Economic Department), Gurgaon – 122 103, Haryana, India
2. Amity University, Raipur – 493 225, Chhattisgarh, India
3. Chandigarh University, University School of Business, Chandigara – 148 413, India

Abstract

Chhattisgarh, the 10th largest state of India, is famous for its forests and tribal population. The forest area as a percentage of the state’s total area as per the latest economic survey of the state stands at 44.2%, much higher than the all-India level of 21.67%. The total tribal population of the state represents more than 10% of entire India and accounts for more than 30% of the state’s population. The tribal population of the state is immensely dependent on the forests for their livelihood. The forest is their dwelling and a vital income source considering the non-timber forest produce collected by the tribal women. The forest also provides them firewood, medicinal plants, mahua, etc., for their captive use. In this background, proper measurement of the forest area across the state becomes immensely important. However, consideration of economic surveys of the state from 2007-08 to 2020-21 raises some doubt regarding the authenticity of the state’s forest area data. The present paper leads an investigative approach backed by solid literature review and quantitative comparison to determine whether the forest area data is fudged or accurate. The result refutes forest area related economic survey data of Chhattisgarh as accurate.

Keywords

Forest area, Forest destruction, Tribal, NTFP, Livelihood, Chhattisgarh, Data fudging

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