Keonjhar: Despite a lot of development taking place in mineral-rich Keonjhar district, the economy and livelihood of several tribals continues to hinge on the forest in certain pockets.
However, the tribals are now finding it difficult to keep their kitchens running only by selling fruits, roots, leaves at local markets as forest collection of produce has fallen drastically due to growing deforestation over the years.
Distress sale of forest produce in the absence of proper marketing facilities has also taken a toll on their age-old livelihood.
Continuous depletion of forests and large-scale mining are among major factors responsible for the shrinking livelihood of tribals.
“Earlier, we used to manage our household expenses by selling forest produce which is available aplenty for eight months while we used to manage for the remaining four months on podu cultivation. As forests have vanished to a large extent, forest produce is not available in plenty,” said some tribals.
According to reports, forest produce was earlier found aplenty in several pockets under Bansapal, Telkoi, Ghatagaon, Sadar, Harichandanpur and Jhumpura blocks.
The forest produce on which tribals are mainly dependent include a variety of roots, leaves, yam, sweet potato, mango, jackfruit, black berry, kendu, gooseberry, resin, tamarind, mushroom, mahua flowers, greens, lakha, kusuma, and tooth-brushing sticks.
Firewood collection, which forms a major part of their traditional livelihood, does not fetch them good earnings anymore.
To some extent, tribals manage to sustain themselves on some kind of insects and hunting of wild animals. Though their dependence on hunting has decreased, many still continue to hunt wild animals despite prohibitions, it is alleged.
Many admit that they sell firewood in the local market and to roadside eateries but are unable to make a profit. They collect sal leaves, which are used to make leaf-plates and bowls. The leaves have a good demand in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar markets. However, it is the traders who make good money through sale of sal leaves and often tribals are exploited, it is alleged.
Khasa Dehuri, a woman of Sapakanta under Bansapal block said, “Forests are vanishing fast. Now we have to trek miles into the forests to collect produce. We manage by selling whatever little forest produce we can find.”
“Most of the time, we are cheated by traders while selling firewood and leaves. The price we get is hardly enough to compensate the hard work that we put in while collecting and carrying the produce to markets. Our traditional means of livelihood is at stake,” said Sukumari Juanga, a woman of Gonasika.
Sanatan Nayak, a resident of Bansapal, echoes Sukumari’s views. “We have always had to work hard for a livelihood. However, the rate at which forest cover is declining due to mining, our livelihood is at stake,” he said. Dusan Nayak of Suakati, said, “Tribals of 10 villages earlier used to depend on Gandhamardan forest. Mining has left our livelihood in a deep crisis.” PNN
