Doing Chowkidaari: Vulnerability in Village-Forest Relations and the Compulsion of Forest Work

This article explores the conditions and perceptions of daily wage work provided by Forest Department around Panna Tiger Reserve in Central India. Drawing on 15 months ethnographic fieldwork, it analyses forest within this context livelihood prohibitions, broader political economy precarious labour, village-forest relations district. Through different case studies, unpacks dynamics familiarity, negotiation exploitation that characterise work, utilising workers' own description their to comment how a confluence vulnerable compel local people take up offered Department. The descriptions also offer concept 'compulsion' as an important addition interdisciplinary discussions about 'vulnerability.' I argue workers are missed opportunity for good between conservation projects communities, actors who regularly manage simultaneous demands village Departments navigate complexity nuance relationships both. Rather than examples benefits poor insecurities lead decreased support worsen reputation areas where gainful employment is desperately needed.