Chhattisgarh Commons Convening - 2026

​What warrants a collective conversation on Commons and why it is now or never?

​The public discourse on Commons has largely been compartmental; it is either land, water or forest – seldom collective reinforcing its ecological interconnectivity. While its constituents are governed by specific legislations, Commons is not a legal term. Therefore, we are yet to devise a collective policy lens to guide its governance. Unfortunately, in the absence of legal safeguards, a vital life saving resource like Commons is being regarded as disposable since independence.

​In this context, there is a growing need not only to generate public opinion across the state to build a shared understanding among diverse stakeholders but to transform opinion into policy action to strengthen its conservation and sustainable management efforts.Secondly,the dominant tribal and rural communities of Chhattisgarh have traditionally been the custodians of commons with a strong legacy of ecological knowledge, customary norms, and cultural traditions that have been crucial in Commons conservation. This priceless knowledge is unfortunately dying for not being purposefully documented.

​The Commons Convening, therefore, aims to create a platform for dialogue among government departments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, experts, media, and community representatives—bridging grassroots experiences with policy thinking. It is expected that this platform would facilitate meaningful dialogue and collective action around these issues