Features & Articles

Women making new inroads through forests
Article written by Aaloka

Forests everywhere in the world are being destroyed at an incredible and at an alarming pace. Whereas it is the responsibility of man to save the earth its green belt, the face of the latter is slowly changing. Such exploitation of nature has lent a deep blow to the environment. And Jharkhand is left not far behind in this pathway to destruction. More than half of the population of this state is dependent on natures most valuable gift of forests. To save these forests from its sorry plight, two tribal women from the villages of Rugdi and Pidihatu, in the Murhu Block, Jharkhand have initiated an effort to mobilize and sensitize the residents of their respective villages.

Adjoining the two villages is the lush forest, spread across 300 acres of land. Two women Subharmani Bakru and Pyari Munda went on a door-to-door campaign letting people know of the significance of forests, thus disseminating important facts on the same. Gradually, the whole village became mobilized in this campaign; they were determined to protect the forests on their own. Now strict rules are being followed to curb the logging of the trees. The entire village protects the forests against illegal felling of the trees. In the night, groups of villagers are stationed periodically after every interval. People are prohibited from cutting trees without an authorized permission.

Women have played a significant role in the over-all development of the villages. Problems such as a rocky terrain and lack of water had marred the option of agricultural farming in the region. It is only in the rainy seasons that some farming is possible, and that too for Goda variety of paddy rice. Thus the forests are an important source of livelihood for the whole village. Women use dried twigs and branches as fuel for cooking and the leaves are used to make dongas or bowls. The bare minimum that they earn is sourced from the sale of lac in the main markets. In absence of a doctor, these tribals take care of their medicinal needs from the herbs and plants found in the forests.

According to Shanti Mandu from Rugdi village, since they have begun the preservation of the forests, the production of lac a secretion from the lac worms that is used as a silk dye and for medicinal preparations has increased. It is produced from several types of trees suitable for culturing lac worms. The women collect the lac, dry off this sticky juice of the worms, and then sell them in the market to obtain basic food items such as salt, pulses and oil, among others. In fact, the whole family survives on the rations obtained in such a manner. Thus it is the women who are the nurturers of the family depend wholly on the forests for their primary source of income and for their day-to-day existence.

Manki Mundu from Pidihatu says, All activities in the village are governed by community decision. The joint decision to preserve and protect the forests has proved to be very profitable for all. A major share of the profit incurred from these life-nurturing forests is provided to those with the poorest economic status in the village. As Sani Mundu from Rugdi village states, Nature has gifted us a valuable wealth and it should be used judiciously and safely.

According to the village coordinator and the leader of this jangal bachchao andolan, Subharmani Bakru, The villagers have understood and internalized, with no external support, that the forests are a member of our family and that it is their responsibility to protect the same. One cannot depend wholly on agriculture. Now the villagers have taken a mutual decision to find an alternative source of income to replace this. If the villagers preserve the forests selflessly, one need not go outside the village to earn his or her living.

This understanding of the women has helped them to pave way for a better living for the 60 to 70 households living in the village, leading to much self-confidence and independence among them. They have now become important role models for women in other villages in Jharkhand. The light of awareness has spread to neighbouring villages as well. Villages such as Pidihatu, Jilinkela, Kuddha, Badi, Kojdog and Geethatu have now joined in the campaign.

The women have proven that to bring about meaningful progress in the villages, one must have faith in community effort and one must give women an equal share in the course of every decision-making process, including both management and governance.



CHARKHA FEATURE