01.03.25

Formation of Women-Led Community Enterprises in Jharkhand

The Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE) aims to strengthen women-led producer companies (PCs) in Jharkhand’s Forest economy. Through these enterprises, women will gain enhanced economic returns and formalise the trade of SFPs, shifting collection from unstructured to organised market engagement.

In Simdega, a women-led PC is being established. The PC will provide a structured mechanism for aggregation and direct market linkages, reducing dependency on middlemen and improving income stability.

Historically, women and wealth have been perceived as separate spheres in the rural economy. In forest-dependent communities, economic aspirations are often limited to subsistence rather than wealth creation. Collecting seasonal forest products (SFPs), such as sal seeds, bamboo, and hazelnuts, constitutes a key source of income. However, due to informal and fragmented value chains, women receive minimal financial returns despite labour-intensive collection.

Key Developments:

A total of 120 villages in Simdega have been identified for sal seed aggregation. Their current tenure status is as follows:

• 46 per cent have secured Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) titles.

• 21 per cent have CFRR claims under review at the District Level Committee (DLC) or the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC).

• 17 per cent have CFRR claims currently in process.

• 16 per cent have not yet initiated the CFRR claim process.

The PC’s success relies on the establishment of Community Forest Resource Management Committees (CFRMCs), which will oversee sustainable harvesting and trade of SFPs. To facilitate structured financial transactions, bank accounts will be opened in the name of Gram Sabhas (GSs). CFRMCs will then issue agreements for sustainable harvesting and resource management.

Beyond market formalisation, we are developing a scalable model for women-led PCs in Jharkhand that addresses systemic barriers and establishes institutional frameworks. We aim to position women as key economic stakeholders and foster sustainable, community-driven wealth creation through this replicable model.