30/05/2025
Medha-Lekha is a tribal village located in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, which has appeared as a successful model of community ownership and self-governance under the Community Forest Rights Act of 2006. The village embodies the slogan, “दिल्ली, मुंबई में हमारी सरकार, हमारे गाँव में हम ही सरकार” (In Delhi and Mumbai, it's their government – in our village, we are the government)." The Gram Sabha (village assembly) is the highest decision-making body here. It collectively makes rules, takes decisions, and implements them. In a noteworthy move, the villagers transferred their private land to the Gram Sabha, thereby establishing shared proprietorship over land. Every resident has access to year-round employment, and through activities like bamboo harvesting, honey production, and the sale of other forest products, the village earns an annual income of nearly one crore rupees. The community ensures equal participation in education, healthcare, and housing, while also promoting gender equality. The village strictly follows principles such as prohibition of alcohol, transparent financial management, and scientific forest conservation. Medha-Lekha’s journey began as a protest against the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and excessive government interference. This struggle culminated in a historic victory in 2011 when the village was granted community ownership rights over 1,890 hectares of forest land. By liberating forest resource management from bureaucratic control, the village has achieved economic self-reliance and has become a beacon of inspiration for other movements across the country fighting for rights over jal, jungle, and zameen (water, forest, and land).
Medha-Lekha exemplifies community-led self-governance, forest rights, and economic self-reliance through collective ownership and sustainable practice
