TheImprovement ofTropical and Subtropical Rangelands

CHANGING PATrERNS IN THE BEDTHI·AGHANASHINI VALLEYS 307
Leaf Manure Forests
In the pre-British period, the arecanut orchard owners claimed
rights, either individually or 811 a clan, over forest tracts immediately
adjacent to their orchards. This right ofownership was not conceded
by the British government, and this land wu taken over uland under
ownership of land revenue authorities. Nevertheless, the orchard
owners were conceded extensive privileges offree grazing and fuel and
leaf manure collection from these lands. They were also permitted
to extract some timber from the leaf manure land on payment of
charges provided that a minimum density of 100 trees per hectare
was maintained.
llTElllNDEPENDENCE
The New SYltem
There had been a vigorous debate during the independence struggle
over the kind of society and economy that the country should
strive for on achieving independence. Mahatma Gandhi had advocated
the restoration of a self-reliant and largely self-sufficient village
economy. This would have implied strong communal control over
the common property resources. Mahatma Gandhi W8II also against
industrialization on the western model. On the other hand, Jawaharlal
Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, favored
vigorous pursuit of modernization and industrialization. He also favored
centralized planning on the Soviet model, albeit in the context
of a mixed economy. Nehru's point of view largely carried the day,
especially 811 it coincided with the interests of the business and the
urban literate cl88llel!l who have dominated the policies since independence.
~ implemented, this policy hu resulted in state sponsorship
of heavy industry and power and irrigation projects, leaving other
sectors largely in private hands. Resources were made available to
the private and public industrial sector at highly subsidized rates to
promote their growth. Forest-based industry thus was &IIIIured a supply
offorest raw materials on a long-term basis at throwaway prices.
These policies meant that demands on the resources of the uncultivated
lands and waters of the country were substantially stepped
up. This generated pressures for further alienation of the local rural
population from access to these resources. For instance, there were
moves to take over minor forests to raise industrial plantations, and