Reclaiming Rajasthan’s Khakhunda: From barren lands to green pasture

Residents of Khakhunda village in Rajasthan come together and frame bylaws to transform their barren commons that had also been encroached upon, into a green pasture land.

Khakhunda in Mandalgarh administrative block of Rajasthan is a revenue village marked by simplicity and interconnectedness. The village, spread across 233.26 hectares, comprises 110 households as per 2011 Census, forming a close-knit community comprising Bhil, Regar, Gurjar, Daroga, Barret and Vaishav communities living together.?

The community has thrived on diverse economic threads, weaving together agriculture, livestock rearing, works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), livestock management and related livelihoods. However, Khakhunda faced an intricate challenge. More than 90 percent of the pasture land had been encroached upon. The absence of formal institutional and structured bylaws for common land compounded the issue.?

The village had no structures to harvest water or conserve soil moisture. Livestock grazed on common lands, creating a delicate balance between sustenance and scarcity. The absence of these foundational elements disrupted the traditional rhythm of life in Khakhunda.

In 2017, the village embarked on a transformative journey by establishing a formal institution under an initiative of Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) supported by Axis Bank Foundation. With this initiative, the land that was once barren and encroached upon, has transformed into a flourishing and vibrant landscape.?

The birth of a village institution?

Taking insights from Section 170 (a) of the Panchayati Raj Act 1996, the Charbhuja Charagah Vikas Samiti was established in 2017. A village institution with a management committee of 18 members including women, who were trained in maintaining bank accounts, and handling records and payments, was formed. The committee’s overarching goals included fortifying local governance, ensuring efficient resource management and fostering expeditious conflict resolution within the village.

The committee took charge of 36 hectares of pasture land, replacing traditional committees and laying the foundation for Khakhunda’s commons revolution.?

The collaborative efforts between the villagers and FES set the stage for insightful discussions towards transforming the commons. The Charbhuja Charagah Vikas Samiti became a crucible for these equitable discussions and inclusive decisions. It continues to serve as a means for echoing the voices of the entire community, including the marginalised people and women.

Village institution bylaws

Drawing from traditional wisdom, bylaws were drafted, and the governance mechanism and resource management were strengthened.?

The village institution members are selected based on collective decision, doing away with caste and gender divides.

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