Odisha’s kendu leaf trade hangs in balance as tribal communities await deregulation of “green gold”

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Eight villages in Odisha’s Koraput district seek government clearance to take control the vital non-timber forest product under the Forest Rights Act

The eight Gram Sabhas have collected over 400,000 bundles of kendu leaves.

Ajit Panda

Published on: 01 May 2025, 2:24 pm

Eight Gram Sabhas in Baipariguda block of Odisha’s Koraput district are anxiously awaiting a government notification to deregulate the trade of kendu leaves — known locally as “green gold.” With over 400,000 bundles already collected, these village councils were determined to manage the trade themselves this season under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

Last year, despite securing Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights under the FRA and holding a meeting with Odisha’s tribal Chief Minister, the eight Gram Sabhas — Kalatha Jodi, Kadali Joba, Gadaba Guda, Phatki Kumbhi, Pangan Pani, Tapa Jodi, Kupuli Guda and Badali Beda — did not receive the critical deregulation letter. As a result, kendu leaves worth an estimated Rs 36 lakh were reportedly lost to rain damage, delivering a severe blow to the local tribal economy.

Kendu leaves — known as tendu leaves in other parts of India — are used to roll tobacco into beedis (local hand-rolled cigarettes) and are also valued for their medicinal properties. This non-timber forest product provides a crucial source of income for tribal communities in the region.

“We are not encroaching on areas where the Forest Department operates,” said Parbati Khila, a tribal woman and member of the Gram Sabha Maha Sangha. “We are harvesting in regions that have no designated kendu leaf collection centres.”

Bidyut Mohanty, secretary of nonprofit SPREAD that advocates for tribal rights in the region, underlined the urgency of deregulation. “Kendu leaf is a lifeline for these communities, particularly for vulnerable groups like single women and widows,” he said. “Another failure to deregulate would worsen their economic hardship.”https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/odishas-kendu-leaf-trade-hangs-in-balance-as-tribal-communities-await-deregulation-of-green-gold?utm_source=website&utm_medium=related-stories

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