Summary:
If the present government really wants to save farmers from suicide, it should first protect sacred groves. Active village forest committees (VFCs) have conserved groves and in areas where tribal communities live, the groves are rich. Today, many groves have been encroached, fragmented or are neglected.Decision makers have not understood the fact that protection of sacred groves is linked to hydrology and food security. Sacred groves are communally protected forest fragments with significant religious connotations. Forest protection committees at gram panchayat level have to be strengthened..