Sustainable development is almost impossible without proper attention to the conservation of common property resources. Given the market pressures and increasing individualism, it is not easy to manufacture collective consent for such purposes. Examples given here illustrate cases where people have come together to conserve nature and manage resources. The kind of rules that people have evolve vary from village to village. Generally, fuzzy boundaries and long term perspective has helped many of these institutions to survive.
DATABASE OF CPRI
Self-designed institutions for management of common property resources at the grassroots exhibit considerable variations. These institutions may be formal or informal, culturally embedded or other-wise and episodic or durable.
The nature of rules and norms may vary across sectors, regions and cultures. The source of variability may include the nature of the stress or opportunity to which the institution owned its genesis, the context of the participants, the size of the groups and heterogeneity among stakeholders, the nature of the resource, the scarcity of resources, and the purpose of management.
Over two decades, SRISTI has drawn a database on “CPR institutions” developed for sustainable natural resource management. A unique feature of this database is that it focuses much more on self-designed or indigenous institutions rather than crafted ones. Riya Sinha at SRISTI in collaboration with Troels Bjerregaard, a Danish student worked on a computerised cataloguing system of this database, which was later upgraded to a web based system known as “Common Property Resource Institutions database and Online Information and Interaction System”.
Twisting roots to construct bridges
The Cherrapunji area in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya is one of the wettest place in the world. The villages which punctuate these hills are scattered along a highly irregular landscape interspersed by perennial streams and deep gorges. Crossing these streams and gorges can be a nightmare, especially during the monsoon months. These villages would have remained isolated and inaccessible had it not been for the numerous footbridges that the villagers have built over the years.
The bridges are built by twisting and positioning the roots and moulding the growth of the giant rubber tree, which grow abundantly in the area. They are reinforced with time, as the roots grow stronger. This has been an innovation by the community through knowledge and experiences accumulated over time. These bridges have remarkable longevity and are sturdier than the bridges made of bamboo or wood, which get washed away in torrential downpour. It does not swing or wobble like other hanging bridges. There are also some bridges with two levels that can carry people and animals. The cost of building these bridges is negligible, since there are no material costs, nor the need to transport raw material. The bridge is constructed and maintained by the community, incurring minimum labor cost. Learn more Vol 16-2- April – June 2005
Institutions for maintenance of the breeding bull
Breeding bulls have always occupied a place of prominence in animal husbandry. Tribal communities in Gujarat have taken up animal husbandry only over the last 15 years under cooperative dairy development schemes. They have, also developed local institutions to manage bulls, especially buffalo bulls. Usually there is only one bull per hamlet and it is treated as common property. Some of the rules evolved for calf breeding by cooperative members in many tribal villages of Gujarat are listed below.
- Some villages appoint a caretaker of the bull. Remuneration: monthly honorarium, deduction from milk income, or fee per service.
- Regularity of handling: bull housed at caretaker's place.
- Extra concentrate feed during winter; feed bag stored in common room to avoid misuse.
- Compulsory daily contribution of dry fodder by each household.
- Seasonal contribution of agricultural by‑product by all members.
- Exchange of bulls after three to four years, or purchase of surplus young bulls.
- In Saurashtra, “gameru khunt” – bull changed every 5‑7 years, each family contributes 1 kg oil + fodder; fines for default. Learn more Vol 5 – 2 – Apr-Jun 1994
Grazing lands
Gauchars or grazing lands are present throughout villages in India. These provide a common ground for cattle to graze so that they do not feed on other productive fields. This is of particular help to landless farmers. Grazing lands also provide a community space for various events. In most villages, area ranged from 10‑20 acres, some exceeding 100 acres. Institutional norms and conservation efforts vary.
Efforts to use herbal extract for preventive health care (village Titoi)
The village Titoi is a multi-caste village. The main occupations are farming and cattle rearing. The villagers select one day after the first rainfall before “divasa” for “Nadervo”. The entire village takes part. On that day, experts, elders and youth collect 125 herbs from nearby forests. Next day, herbs are placed on teak leaves, ground, mixed in a vessel. Each household brings a litre of water. The priest stirs, filters, each household gets one litre filtrate + residue. Male members sprinkle it in house, cattle shed, and on cattle (women not allowed). It is believed to keep ailments away and keep livestock healthy. Learn more Vol 11 – 3 – Jul-Sep 2000
Chabutras of Gujarat
SRISTI surveyed 186 villages across 11 districts in Gujarat. 164 villages had at least one chabutra. Higher income districts (Anand, Sabarkantha) had fewer chabutras than lower income Banaskantha. Most chabutras are older than 15 years; only 16% of villages built a new chabutra in last five years. Newer ones often donated by local legislators or NGOs.
Birdfeed is provided by the community (82% of villages), usually in mornings. The tradition is declining.
Challenges & innovations: In some villages children stole grains – they reduced grain inside and stored bulk openly. Cats attacking birds? They transplanted a nearby tree. Low chabutras were raised. Cleaning: schools help, youth clean before Diwali, panchayat includes chabutras. Some walls coated with cow dung to protect birds' beaks. Learn more Vol 25 – 2 – April – Jun 2014
Maintenance of the chabutras
Communities manage maintenance in various ways: schools organise field trips for cleaning and feeding; youth clean before Diwali; panchayat cleaning includes chabutras; volunteers help. Kheda and Sabarkantha had the best facilities and active community involvement. Some villages covered walls with cow dung and soil to protect birds from hurting their beaks.