How did forest rules affect cultivation in India ?
Answers
Shifting cultivation has been prevalent among many tribal communities in India. This is a type of subsistence farming in which a small patch of land is cleared by slashing and burning the vegetation. Ash is then mixed with the soil and crops are grown. The patch of land is utilised for a couple of years and is then left fallow for 10 to 12 years.
The colonial officials regarded this practice as harmful for the forests. They were afraid that an accidental fire could destroy valuable timber. Moreover, the shifting cultivators were difficult to control in revenue collection. The government hence banned shifting cultivation.
This affected many families. Many people were forced to work in low paying jobs, some were forced to migrate to cities in search of job. However, some people tried to resist the new laws through small and large rebellions.