M. K. Dalvi

Abstract

In 1947, on attammg the independence, the then Chief Minister of Bombay State, Shri B. G. Kher, introduced on an experimental basis the execution of forest contracts and marketing of the resultant produce through Cooperative Societies formed of the forest labourers as a part of the comprehensive programme launched for an all round advancement of the Adiwasis. The objective underlying this experiment was to see that the Adiwasi forest labourers who reside in and around the State forest areas, not only get fair wages for the hard work put in by it in the remote, difficult and unhealthy areas, but also get the profits out of lumbering contracts, which otherwise, so far was the monopoly of the individual contractors acting as middle men, thus, increasing the earnings and consequently raising the economic standard of the forest labourers. It is also expected that, because of profits earned by the Adiwasi forest labourers, they would look upon forests as their milking cow, and not enemy as has been the case hitherto, resulting in better protection of forests and good cooperation from them in implementing the development programme of the forest wealth of the State. Though at present because of the extreme illiteracy in forest labour, these cooperatives which are purely democratic institutions, are managed with necessary help from the recognised social service or~anisations, it is expected that in due course they will be managed by the labourers themselves, grooming them into a democratic way of life.

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M. K. Dalvi

Abstract

The fifth Lion Census was conducted in the Gir forest of Gujarat State in May-june 1968. Gir forest is the only home of the Asian Lion and to get an accurate estimate of its population it was suggested in the past that census of this animal should be taken every five years. Consequently the 1968 census was carried out between May 27th, 1968 and June 7th, 1968. The prominent feature of this census is that in addition to the usual method of pug mark count, a visual count of animals was taken by actually congregating and temporarily localising the animals on live baits fixed up at various centres in the census area. It is emphasised that the visual count method is adopted for the first time in history of Lion census in the Gir forest. The article deals with the history of lion, its present habitat and its population.

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