In just four questions, learn what FRA is, why it was enacted, how it aims to benefit India’s forest-dwelling communities, and what are the barriers in doing so. India’s Forest Rights Act impacts an estimated 150 million forest-dwelling people, 40 million hectares of land, and 1,70,000 villages. The act is Read more
In just 10 minutes, learn how India’s commons power its people, ecology, and economy—through examples, their history,and challenges. This is the first article in an 8-part series supported by the The Common Ground Initiative. The series explores various dimensions of the commons and draws on the experiences of key actors Read more
By Virginius Xaxa Tribals are strong vote banks of the BJP and have been crucial in their return to power in Chhattisgarh and Odisha Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before presenting the Budget 2025 in Parliament. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna) One of the notable features of the Union Budget Read more
By Sudarshan Iyengar Sam-Poshit Living: Rethinking Sustainability Through the Lens of Tribal Wisdom In the dense forests of Dharampur in southern Gujarat, tribal communities have long nurtured a way of life deeply rooted in harmony with nature. For generations, their practices of sharing, conserving, and sustaining the commons have reflected Read more
By Thomas Isaac, Former Finance Minister, Government of Kerala In Kerala, we have spent the last three decades charting an ambitious journey of democratic decentralisation. As someone deeply involved in shaping these processes, both as an academic and as a policymaker, I have witnessed firsthand how empowered local governments and Read more
by Koushik Yanamandram After a couple of hours of a drive, on the highway connecting Bengaluru with Tirupati, I reached a sudden narrow road, hidden under a huge raintree, where a few girl students from nearby villages were waiting for a bus or auto rickshaw to reach their school. These Read more
07.08.2024 Common Ground, a coalition of over 20 organisations, is dedicated to addressing the right questions to tackle challenges related to community-managed resources, equitable access, and the collective stewardship of commons in the face of climate change. Collaborative efforts have often been the driving force behind transformative changes, moulding and Read more
Common_Ground 1 May 2, 2025, 2:29pm In the tribal belt of Littipara block (Pakur district), Jharkhand, a quiet shift is taking place. What began as informal discussions in a few hamlets—Durio, Kathalpara, and Chhotapokhriya—has grown into a conservation effort now spanning 14 villages. At its core is a change in Read more
The Union Budget 2025-26 continues its emphasis on consumption-led growth, with significant allocations directed toward manufacturing and middle-class benefits. While fiscal prudence has been maintained with a deficit target of 4.4%, there remains considerable fiscal space to enhance investments in rural and tribal development, particularly in natural resource conservation. Addressing Read more
The Shree Anna Abhiyan or the Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) represents a transformative effort to revive millets, a crop deeply rooted in India’s ecological and cultural commons. By integrating millet promotion into the broader framework of commons conservation, OMM addresses critical issues of food security, climate resilience, and community advancement. Read more