ABSTRACT
The colonial policy on forests and forest dwellers during the early 19th century has not been explored extensively and has not been placed under scrutiny.2 Studies so far have mainly focused on how the forest acts progressively curtailed the rights of forest dwellers but failed to assess the direct impact on their economy/rights.3 However, some studies attempted to give a bird’s-eye view of the impact of the forest acts on the different categories of population.4 But they were centred on areas other than Madras Presidency.5
