In Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, a tribal village revived itself by mapping 12,800 Mahua trees, replacing liquor brewing with laddus, cookies, and collective income through Gram Sabha-led self-governance. Learn how SAMVAD and Climate Asia empowered real grassroots climate action.
How a Forest Flower Transformed a Tribal Village in Jharkhand
In the heart of Bokaro district, Uda Majhlitand—a once-fractured tribal hamlet—has rewritten its story around a humble forest flower: Mahua. What was once a source of conflict, brewing, and limited economic value has morphed into a beacon of sustainable development and community pride.
From Conflict to Collective Governance
Historically, families competed for Mahua flowers, primarily to brew liquor—a culturally embedded practice. This led to disputes and environmental neglect. With the arrival of SAMVAD, underpinned by the PESA Act, the villagers reactivated their Gram Sabha—the village assembly—to manage resources collectively
They mapped 12,800 Mahua trees, assigned ownership to families, and used registers and guard schedules to ensure stewardship. “We identified and allocated Mahua trees among the families. … Every villager developed a sense of responsibility,” shared Ghanshyam, SAMVAD’s secretary
Doubling Income, Renewed Aspirations
Shifting away from liquor, the village now produces laddus, pickles, and cookies from the Mahua flower. Last year alone:
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₹12.5 lakh in collective forest produce sales
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Families yielding ₹60k–₹80k/year each
Laldeep Soren reflects:
“Earlier, we had no income; today we have steady growth… My children are studying in a hostel outside our village… Providing them education was a distant dream; now it is a reality.”
Climate India Partnership: Scaling Solutions
A three-year partnership with Climate Asia has further bolstered SAMVAD’s reach, providing technical skills, policy engagement, and global best practices
Satyam Vyas, Climate Asia CEO, notes:
“Impactful climate solutions begin at the grassroots level… platforms like pitch‑forums empower organisations like SAMVAD to embed climate adaptation into their programs.”
A Model for Community-led Sustainability
Uda Majhlitand’s journey exemplifies how community governance, ecological care, and livelihood innovation can converge. The village now explores new ventures—from Sal‑leaf plates to sericulture—against a backdrop where “forest is our life”