In a powerful show of grassroots resistance, more than 3,000 tribal and forest-dwelling women from over 100 Gram Sabhas across seven blocks in Kalahandi district of Odisha came together to block National Highway 26 in Ampani, protesting the Forest Department’s continued denial of Gram Sabha-issued transit permits for kendu leaf transportation.
Kendu leaves, popularly known as the ‘Green Gold of Odisha’, are a vital minor forest produce (MFP) and extremely important for the state’s economy as well, contributing hugely to forest dwellers’ lives and livelihood.
The protest, which began at 9:00 AM and lasted until 2:30 PM, was a direct response to the recent seizure of trucks carrying kendu leaves by Forest Department officials. The Department claimed the use of Gram Sabha transit permits was illegal, despite the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, a law that recognises forest-dwelling communities’ rights over the use, management, sale and most importantly, ownership of MFP like kendu leaves.
With placards in hand and chants echoing through the highway, the women demanded formal recognition of the Gram Sabha’s authority in issuing transit permits, calling the Forest Department’s actions a violation of both their rights and the law.
Top district officials, including the Dharmagarh deputy collector, SDPO, Koksara Tehsildar, and Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), along with both central and territorial forest officers, arrived at the site to mediate.
After sustained discussions, administrative officers reaffirmed the legality of Gram Sabha-issued transit permits under the FRA, 2006. They assured protestors that the forest department would no longer interfere in the movement of kendu leaves transported under these permits. Officials also promised the release of the seized truck and said legal action would be taken against the ACF responsible for the seizure.
Following these assurances, the protestors lifted the blockade peacefully.
A seven-point charter of demands was submitted to both Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Governor of Odisha Hari Babu Kambhampati. The protest was organised and led by a collective of women, Gram Sabha representatives, block Gram Sabha mahasangha and block and district level federations.
The development emphasised tribal self-governance and forest rights and brought to the fore the continued friction between statutory decentralised governance and conventional forest administration.
Sanghamitra Dubey is an independent researcher in Odisha
Views expressed are the author's own and do not necessarily express those of Down To Earth