Formation of Social Capital in Gender Sensitive Participatory forestry Programme in West Bengal

Abstract

In an empirical investigation to measure the level of social capital under gender sensitive planning on joint forest management (JFM) programme in West Bengal, the study suggests that the pre-existing traditional characteristics of community solidarity, mutual trust and coordinated action are the inner dynamics for the development of social capital in poor households under JFM villages in general and its female group in particular compared with non-JFM villages. Moreover, there are instances that only prior existence of social capital in many situations is not the crucial factor to build on it; public officials can play a significant role in such building