Orans – Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

Orans – Sacred Groves in Rajasthan

News: Recently Rajasthan State governments issued a notification declaring ‘orans’ as deemed forests. It raised fear amongst community dwellers about losing access to forest produce and livelihood.

What are Orans?
• Orans are traditional sacred groves found in Rajasthan. These community forests are preserved and managed by rural communities through institutions and codes that mark such forests as sacred.
• Orans are rich in biodiversity and usually include a water body. They hold significant cultural and ecological importance.

Significance:
• Conservation: Communities in Rajasthan have been conserving these Orans for centuries. Their lives are intricately linked around these spaces. Orans serve as natural habitats for India’s most critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), which is also the state bird of Rajasthan.
• Community Spaces: Orans are not only places of environmental conservation but also serve as communal spaces. Herders take their livestock for grazing in Orans, and they are venues for communal congregations, festivals, and other social events. These activities are linked to agrarian rhythms and the continued commitment of the communities towards environmental well-being.
• Local Deities: Often, there are local deities associated with Orans, further emphasizing their sacred status. These groves are repositories of forest biodiversity and provide refuge to many plant and animal species of conservation significance.

What is the Supreme Court directives on Deemed Forests?
• A notification is given as per the directives of the Supreme Court, Oran, Dev-vans and Rundhs, as forest lands will be deemed a forest.
• The Supreme Court in TN Godavarman case 1996, directed the state governments to identify such lands and stated that all ‘forest’, including deemed forests, will be covered under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• The provisions under Section 2 prohibit non-forestry activity such as mining, deforestation, quarrying or building infrastructure projects on such forest land without permission from the central government. The declaration of Orans as deemed forests in Rajasthan has raised significant concerns among local communities, particularly in western Rajasthan. Let’s delve into the potential consequences:

Loss of Access to Forest Produce and Livelihoods:
• Villagers fear that once Orans are declared as deemed forests, they will be deprived of forest produce. These sacred groves currently provide essential resources like gum, timber, and wild vegetables for their livelihoods.
• The community relies on Orans for cattle herding, pastures, and sustenance. For instance, in Savata village, at least 5,000 camels and 50,000 sheep depend on the Degray Oran.
• Some houses are also located within or near these groves. If the state forest department takes over, these villagers may have to vacate their homes.

Restrictions on Traditional Practices
• The declaration could restrict the ability of villagers to use Orans for grazing, collection of forest produce,and conducting cultural and religious practices.
• Orans are not just physical spaces; they hold cultural and religious significance. Places of worship, last rites, and religious events often take place inside these groves, closely tied to the trees, water bodies, and other entities within them

Lack of Consultation
• Community members express concern that no government representative approached them for consultation or hearings before proposing Orans as deemed forests.
• Discrepancies exist between the Kapoor Committee report released in 2004 and the recent notification issued by the Rajasthan government, adding to the uncertainty.