Journals Proceedings

Abstract

The study aims to project the impact of livelihood contributions of forest resources to the tribal community of Jharkhand. The paper contributes towards the change in social life of tribal community in perspective of economic and social aspects. Forest produces providing the supplementary livelihood opportunity for accessing food security during their food insecurity period due to mono-cropping pattern followed in Jharkhand. Traditionally community has been involved in collection and trading of these forest produces for filling their needs but they have been exploited and these primary collectors of the produce do not get fair price as per the quality of the produce.More over with the poor marketing infrastructure wherein lack of both availability and access to storage facilities compels them to sell off their produce to the first market contact that is generally the haat or the petty trader. Forests in Jharkhand spreads over an area of 23605 square kilometers, which constitutes about 29.61% of the total area of Jharkhand. Moreover, out of the 23605 square kilometers of forests, 82% of area falls under the protected forests, whereas 17.5% of the land falls under reserve forests. The study reveals the increase in economic status of the family of collectors with an increase in income of Rs 50000 annum. The occupational shift was observed during the seasons of collection of NTFP for the local people.The involvement percentage of household in collection and trading in the study area was found to be 25% to 100% as collection season varied. Women participation was found to be 80% in marketing of the produces which was breaking the myth of of men domination in decision making for economic status of the family. Role of agriculture was found to be 30% , forest produces 43%, daily wage labour 13% ,business or shop 3% , service sector in primary sector 5%, service in secondary sector 4% and others 2% in liftig up economic condition of the tribal community in the study area. In dealing with the collection and trading activities women in the tribal community in the study area were found to be more participatory and decisive showing the gender equality within the society. Keywords—forest economy, NTFP, tribal community, income, women participation, gender equality