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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.”
The FRA recognises the rights of forest-dwelling individuals and communities to collect, use and sell minor forest produce, including kendu leaves. A 2012 amendment further clarified that communities had the right to process, store, transport and sell forest produce without paying royalties or fees. Transit permits are to be issued by the Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC) without impeding these rights.
Crucially, FRA provisions override conflicting state laws, such as the Odisha Kendu Leaf (Control of Trade) Act. Precedents from districts such as Nabarangpur (2013) and Kalahandi (2017) showed that deregulation had majorly improved incomes for tribal collectors.
In February 2022, a meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary of Odisha reaffirmed that Gram Sabhas with CFR rights could independently trade kendu leaves and should receive support through capacity-building initiatives. However, despite repeated representations and assurances, deregulation in Baipariguda had yet to materialise.
The Gram Sabhas, however, remain hopeful. “We have worked hard to claim our rights under the law,” said Khila. “This year, we are determined not to let our efforts go in vain.”
