“Most of the plants dismissed as weeds are edible and we don’t even know it. We walk past them every day ..."

Empowered local villagers are curbing hunting and tree cutting, protecting forest-grown vegetables and native trees and their seeds

They harnessed their intimate traditional knowledge of the forest and plant species to increase the forest cover and brought streams back to life.

Representatives' obligations would include highly constrained ‘delegated’ responsibility whereby they are subject to clear mandates given by the delegators or electorate rather than attaining independent power, they can be recalled and must report back, among other responsibilities.

"पेसा व वन अधिकार कायद्याच्या प्रभावी अंमलबजावणी शिवाय, व गाव-गणराज्य ग्राम सभा निर्माणाशिवाय मार्ग नाही"

The only way ahead now is effective implementation of FRA and PESA and recognition of village self rule through the gram sabha

On November 16, 2014, “Raahgiri Day – Apni Rahen, Apni Azaadi” completed 1 year in Gurgaon. It has been a commendable journey with thousands participating every Sunday.

"A majority of the water harvesting structures constructed by TBS in Alwar district of Rajasthan were private assets and not community assets. Even in the case of community structures, no mechanisms were developed at the village level to ensure that benefits were shared systematically and equitably."

The Gram Sabha of Mendha Lekha village in Gadchirolli district in Maharashtra has done away with private ownership of agricultural land using the Maharashtra Gram Dan Act 1964. The intent is to further strenghthen the gram sabha by moving towards community ownership of land.