Gupta, Divya

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act of India, 2006 (hereafter Forest Rights Act or FRA, is a landmark legislation that seeks to rectify historical injustices experienced by the forest-dwelling communities by recognizing rights to forest access and use. Despite its slow and staggered implementation, studies have shown that FRA implementation has led to significantly increased household incomes, particularly in the eastern part of Maharashtra, where communities have begun to exercise their community rights to manage, harvest, and trade forest products. However, while evidence suggests tangible economic benefits, there remains a gap in understanding the intra-household level implications of FRA, especially concerning gender dynamics. Therefore, a nuanced understanding of the gendered impacts of the Act is essential to ensure its holistic implementation. To address this gap, we conducted empirical research in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, a tribal-dominated area reported witnessing increased forest-based incomes post-FRA implementation. Through comprehensive household-level surveys and in-depth interviews, we collected detailed data on the intra-household level impacts of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), including key indicators of individual and household well-being such as poverty levels, women’s labor force participation and empowerment. Our findings reveal high women's labor force participation post-FRA, however, their labor is undermined and undervalued, leading to gender-based wage disparities and limiting women's bargaining power over household income. Based on these insights, we propose gender-sensitive reforms for FRA implementation to address disparities and ensure equitable distribution of benefits. Overall, our study emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive approaches in realizing FRA's transformative potential for attaining socially just and sustainable outcomes.