Challenges Faced by Tribal Communities in Gopabandhu Nagar

Gopabandhu Nagar: The lack of sufficient government infrastructure and pricing strategies is compelling the tribal communities in Mayurbhanj district to sell valuable forest products like mahua flowers and sal seeds at extremely low prices.

The local tribal population primarily relies on agriculture and the collection of minor forest produce (MFP) for their livelihood.

In various tribal villages, residents report that after the farming season concludes, they dedicate around six months to gathering minor forest products such as broom grass, honey, lac, and berries like charkoli, mahua, and sal seeds, which serve as crucial income sources.

However, the absence of a fair market system has left their economic situation stagnant. Local residents, including Purnachandra Singh, Adikanda Singh, Lachhman Singh, Dibakar Singh, Sagarika Hembram, and Deepa Singh, expressed their frustrations, stating, “Last month, we collected mahua flowers; now we’re gathering traditional chakoli and sal seeds.”

They claim that traders frequently visit even the most remote villages to buy these products at meager prices, ranging from Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kilogram, only to resell them at significantly higher rates elsewhere.

Due to the lack of officially set prices or a formal market system, middlemen are taking advantage of the situation, they noted.

In 2008, the state government directed gram panchayats to facilitate the purchase of minor forest produce, but villagers assert that no action has been taken at the block or panchayat levels since then.

Consequently, tribal collectors often feel pressured to sell their goods at low prices rather than risk spoilage at home, leading to growing dissatisfaction among these communities.

Local intellectuals suggest that establishing regulated markets (mandis) for forest products could provide tribal people with a fair opportunity for income and economic stability.

When approached for comment, forester KL Saren acknowledged that currently, there are no active government initiatives addressing the pricing or procurement of these products.