Section 40A in The Mizo District (Forest) Act, 1955
40A. Establishment and control of forest villages.
(1)For the purpose of providing a source of suitable local labour for forming and maintaining plantation and taungyas, the District Council may establish forest villages within the limits of any Council Reserved Forest on such sites as may be selected by the Executive Committee.(2)The boundaries of all forest villages shall be demarcated by boundary pillars and shown in maps together with all interior details such as field, homesteads, etc., and a register shall be maintained of the houses in each village.(3)jhums in the reserve shall be allowed to the forest villagers on the following conditions :(i)the area will be selected by the Council Forest Officer with the approval of the Executive Committee ;(ii)an allotment of maximum 12 (twelve) bighas of jhum land will be annually made for each resident's household ;(iii)the villagers themselves will sow or plant with their crops the seeds or plants of such forest trees in such manner as the Forest Officer may direct.(4)Building materials and fuel will be given to the villagers free of charge but they will be liable to render ten days' free labour in the first instance and another ten days' labour, if called upon, in the next instance at a rate of wages to be fixed by the Forest Officer.(5)The sub-letting of land by a forest villager is not permissible.(6)The forest villagers admitted into the reserve forest shall execute an agreement in the form as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Committee.(7)The Executive Committee may appoint a person among the forest villagers as a Headman and prescribe his duties.(8)The Executive Committee may evict summarily from a forest village without payment of compensation, any one who does not comply with the provisions of the Act or who refuses to carry out the orders of the Council Forest Officer so far as they are consistent with the provisions of the Act or whose conduct, in the opinion of the said officer, impairs the harmonious working of the village.
