Question

Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:

Forest Acts

Answer 1

Forest Acts: These placed forests in two dominant categories — reserved and protected. Reserved forests were for commercial use only, and were inaccessible to the pastoralists. In protected forests, the movements of pastoralists were severely restricted. Even for this severely limited and regulated access, pastoralists had to rely on government permits. The government enacted these laws because the trampling herds would destroy any young shoots and saplings that were planted for long-term commercial purposes.