Lockdown hits tribal community and forest dwellers in Jhargram, distress sale of kendu leaves adds to their woes 

Though, the district administration has come forward to provide jobs under MGNREGS project, but this (March to June) being the peak season for collection and harvest of MFP/NTFP makes it imperative for the government to take prompt measures to protect the economy and livelihoods of the tribal communities by providing them safety net.

Biswabrata Goswami

JHARGRAM, 2 JUNE: Tribal populace in Jahrgram, a part of Junglemahal in West Bengal are facing acute financial crisis as lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus has led to the distress sale of minor forest produce (MFP).

Tribals being the primary procurers, who are involved in the trade of kendu or tendu leaves, said their incomes have been adversely affected due to ongoing nationwide lockdown.

The collection and sale of kendu leaves, which are used to make bidis, forms a substantial part of income for the tribal people.

“Due to lockdown, there are no buyers. We might have to wait for the lockdown to get over to sell the leaves”, said Sanatan Murmu, a procurer of kendu leaves in Binpur.

Though, the district administration has come forward to provide jobs under MGNREGS project, but this (March to June) being the peak season for collection and harvest of MFP/NTFP makes it imperative for the government to take prompt measures to protect the economy and livelihoods of the tribal communities by providing them safety net.

Thousands of registered kendu leaf pluckers are sitting idle due to lack of communication from the district administrations concerned allowing them for collection of leaf.

This is despite the lockdown relaxation announced by the central government on 17 April for harvesting and processing of these forest products.

“The lockdown relaxation is for the people living in these (tribal) areas, not for the traders and contractors. For the traders to come and operate (collect and purchase the MFPs), they need to bring vehicles like trucks etc. with them to transport the (forest) produce. That is why there is a lot of confusion and it has hampered the season this year,” said Nakai Hembram, a resident of Belpahari.

Non-timber Forest Products (NTFP), also called Minor Forest Produces – MFPs, have a major role in the economy of the tribal societies. According to the government’s own admission, “around 100 million forest dwellers depend on MFPs for food, shelter, medicines and cash income”.

Across the country, there are more than 200 recognised minor forest products including kendu leaf, bamboo, mahuwa (flower & seed), sal (leaf and seed), lac, chironjee, tamarind, gum and karanj seed.

As per the data of Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) – an arm of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs – the total estimated value of only 55 forest products is Rs. 20,000 crores (Rs 200 billion). It is estimated by the government, the annual value of 13 MFPs gathered from just seven states stands at Rs. 3,802 crores (Rs. 38.02 billion).

Tribal people constitute 8.6 percent of India’s total population and constitute 11 percent of the country’s rural population. It is estimated that directly or indirectly the livelihood of at least 250 million people is dependent on forest products and its business, a government report said.

The four-month period – from March to June – is the time when most of the MFPs are collected and purchased. This earning constitutes the majority of the annual income of tribal communities. The nationwide lockdown that started on 25 March has hit the tribal community across the nation including the Jhargram district.

After the lockdown was imposed, the Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda sent a letter to all chief ministers on 6 April, asking them to initiate “proactive measures” for the well-being of the tribal population. Munda asked the states to act through Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY) to provide the tribal people safety and ensure their livelihood. Moreover, the government revised the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of 49 MFPs.

Despite this, people on the ground are grappling with many issues and for those who live in far-flung areas, it is impossible to get the price for their crop.