Public Interest Dilemma in India's National forest Policies - an Analysis

Abstract

Uptill now there have been three national forest policies, the first adopted during colonial British rule in 1894 which was revised by the second Policy, 1952, and the third was adopted in 1988. These have been analyzed under the criterion, whether the colonial influence has continued, how for these have been 'prescriptive' and whether these provide for 'public interest',. The results obtained show that the imperial policy of 1894 was formulated on the basis of Britain's need for timber, and revenue, without reference to indigenous patterns of use. The National Policy of 1952 was just a reissace of the earlier policy with a little change in orientation. Both were prescriptive in nature. Tbe 1988 Policy is a departure, is based on group perceptions about forests and their uses and to some extent also eatern for 'public interest'. The author has also stated that there is necessity for an expert committee to review Joint Forest Management.