Commons and Community Governance

Source- This post on Commons and Community Governance is based on the article “What are the Commons and why is community leadership needed to govern them?” published in Indian Express on 16th September 2024.

Why in News?

Recently, New Delhi hosted a pioneering dialogue on governance of Commons, which was attended by 500+ grassroots representatives. The aim was to promote the development of more inclusive, community-led frameworks for managing these Commons.

What are Commons? What are their Examples?

Commons- The term “Commons” refers to resources that are not owned by individuals, groups, or governments but are shared collectively by the community.

Types of Commons

Natural Commons- These include forests, rivers, and sacred lands that serve the community.

Intangible Commons- These include shared resources like language, folk art, dance, local customs, and traditional knowledge.

Global Commons- These include polar regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctica, outer space, and planetary bodies, are not owned by any one nation and are available for specific uses by all.

Digital Commons- These include resources such as the Internet, open-source software, digital resources licensed under creative commons which can be freely used by everyone.

What should be the Governance Mechanism of Global Commons?

Governance mechanisms for Commons vary from international agreements to local structures.

1. Government or market intervention- Garrett Hardin’s “Tragedy of the Commons” theory suggested government or market intervention was necessary to prevent overexploitation.

2. Community-led Governance- Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel-winning research demonstrated that community-led governance often led to more sustainable management of commons.

What should be the approach for managing commons in India?

India’s Commons, are estimated to cover about 205 million acres, support nearly 350 million rural people and generate approximately ₹6.6 lakh crore annually in goods and ecological services.

Forest Rights Act- India’s 2006 Forest Rights Act (FRA) is considered a good model for managing forest Commons, granting ownership rights to forest-dwellers.

Demand for a Bill for Commons- NGOs advocate for a model commons Bill to improve governance of these shared resources. At the rural level, Commons governance is often undefined or lacks resources and legal backing. The Delhi event highlighted the need for better governance structures for rural Commons.

UPSC Syllabus- Environment