What happens when people start intervening in local democratic structures? The Centre has captured such stories in short videos and podcasts from Jharkhand. The centre is also working now to get some more such inspiring videos from the implementation of forest rights in various states.

Barren Lands to Green Commons

For years, many of Rajasthan’s village commons lay degraded, with grass and fodder becoming increasingly difficult to find during the long dry season. Across southern Rajasthan, communities began reclaiming and restoring these charagahs (common grazing lands), bringing them back into use for people and livestock.Through collective action, community-led rules, water conservation and support from NREGA, these once-barren lands have gradually returned to life. The revival of the commons has brought back fodder, improved water availability, supported livestock-based livelihoods and helped restore local ecology.What began with a few villages in Bhilwara has grown into a wider movement for restoring village commons across Rajasthan.

What happens when communities take the lead in governing their forests? 

This documentary follows the work of Gram Sabhas in Kalahandi, Odisha, as they protect forests, sustainably manage kendu leaf collection, and create dignified livelihoods through collective decision-making. Led by local communities, these efforts have strengthened forest conservation while generating employment, empowering women, and supporting thousands of households.Beyond forest management, the documentary explores how community institutions are reinvesting in education, healthcare and village development, demonstrating the potential of local self-governance to build resilient communities and sustainable futures.

What happens when communities own their forests?

Community Forest Rights are about rights to manage forest resources by the community to protect and conserve the forest and use it sustainably to enhance livelihoods. This story from Bastar, Chhattisgarh, narrates how this village decided to use the vast water body and the scenic beauty of the area to turn it into a place for eco-tourism by way of bamboo rafting, picnic spots, and tourist cottages. The villagers have established management norms to protect the forest and are now improving their income from the eco-tourism measures.

FRA implementation by a special initiative of the district administration of Gadchiroli district

Most Gram Sabhas struggle to find ways to manage the forest resources, post recognition of their community forest rights, due to a lack of understanding and planning. As a result, the real benefit of community forest rights remains largely unfulfilled. Gadchiroli district administration, realising this, made a special effort to build the capacities of Gram Sabhas to prepare forest management plans under an MOU with the Gram Sabhas. This is the first district-wide effort in the country, which brought livelihood benefits and enhanced forest protection and conservation.

Panchgaon’s Story of Resilience beyond Bamboo

Pachgaon story is about a small village in Maharashtra that has shown how both livelihoods enhancement and forest conservation are possible post gaining the community forest rights. The Gram Sabha of about 70 households created and practiced norms of forest and wild life protection, and utilised bamboo trade to raise individual income and Gram Sabha earning. For its great achievements, it has earned attention of foresters, activists, academics, and other organisations implementing Forest Rights Act (FRA). 

Click here to watch the above video with English subtitles.

Individual Forest Rights Leading to Livelihoods Enhancement from Gujarat

This video narrates the story of the protracted effort of the Adivasis of the Narmada district of Gujarat to obtain individual forest rights, navigating through the complex processes and procedures. The Adivasis did not stop only at getting the forest rights; they accessed various government schemes and invested from their personal income in irrigation and other means to have two seasons of production and thereby enhancing family incomes substantially. 

Click here to watch the above video with English subtitles.

Gram Sabha Ki Kahani: A local democracy narrative exercise

The initiative focuses on building stories that focus on the importance of strong local democratic institutions showcasing change stories, stories promoting innovation, and best practices from various parts of the country to inform public discourse and action and create a conducive ecosystem.