An article on the historical event of establishing the first Small and Medium Forest Enterprise in India, with the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of tribal artisans at Potka under Dhalbhum Forest Development Agency, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand. SUSANTA BISWAS has made a documentary on this historical incident titled "Artistic approach", which was selected for the 8th International Social Communication Cinema Conference 2009.

1. পালিক ৭
The first Small and Medium Forest Enterprise in India: Susanta Biswas
T
he ever-increasing pressure on forest areas for variety of potentially conflicting uses makes it
important to find not only ecological and social, but also economic incentives, for managing
forests in a sustainable manner. The awareness programs and regulatory acts seldom
become effective without the provision of alternate income generation for the poorest section of the
society.
The socio-economic survey carried out in the forest fringe villages clearly showed that
illiteracy, unemployment and poor socio-economic conditions of the surrounding people are the
main causes of the destabilization of the forest land. The development of local forest-based
enterprises represents an opportunity for strengthening the livelihoods of poor, forest-dependent
people, at the same time providing an economic incentive to conserve forests through the
maintenance of its area and its species composition over a
long period of time.
Government of India, as a part of its state planning
under the eleventh plan, is promoting Small and Medium
Enterprise, to enhance the rural income and ensure rural
development. National Afforestation and Eco-
development Board, as a working body of Ministry of
Environment and Forests, is facilitating Joint Forest
Management Committees for their sustenance by
implementing seven Small and Medium Forest Enterprise
pilot projects through its Regional Centers in seven
different regions. Among which the Regional Centre at
Jadavpur University of Kolkata successfully established
the first SMFE in India, under Dhalbhum FDA, East
Singhbhum, Jharkhand in 2007-08. The first SMFE in India is established at
The nine Joint Forest Management Committees East Singbhum, Jharkhand
under consideration in Dhalbhum Forest Development
Agency include Mejogora, Harina, Narayanpur, Roteda, Dhengam, Bhukamdih, Kundrukocha,
Ranikudar and Monahdih, consisting of twenty villages at Potka Developmental Block in East
Singbhum district of Jharkhand. It is situated near the Hata-Musabani Road, at a distance of about
sixty kilometers to the south of Tatanagar, the industrial city of Jamshedpur. The tribal villagers of
this forest fringe area are either small or marginal farmers with less than one hectare of farmland –
which causes their dependence on forest for fuel wood, fodder and part of livelihood.
The approach of forest management in participatory mode takes place by the introduction of
Joint Forest Management Committees with a benefit sharing mechanism. Close and regular
interactions with these committees help identify the artifacts which make the tribal people living in
and around forests self-sufficient enough to run an enterprise by sustainable harvesting of Non-
Timber Forest Produce (NTFP). Generating revenue for the people living in forest fringe villages
through local forest products based enterprise, exploring the importance of crafts in India and
looking at the social and economic significance of the crafts as a means of sustainable livelihood
option are important indeed.
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2. পালিক ৭
The artisans, heir to the people's traditions, play an important role in the equation of Indian
society and culture. The bold local styles that the village artisans evolve operate as a great lever in
the evolution of Indian art, adding to the wealth and variety of color and design. Adding some
technological innovations with indigenous technologies, as well as intensive skill development
training programmes for potential Joint Forest Management Committee members on Agro
forestry, processing of NTFP and Bamboo based items production, and Tassar and Lac cultivation
are required for enhancing the livelihood opportunities of the tribal people.
The bold local styles of the village artisans
The antique traditional art of grass mat weaving is an age old practice among the village
folk. Rhizobium grass, locally called ‘Gondha’ which grows on the river bed in the countryside of
Jharkhand, and brightly colored thread are the major raw materials along with the rural
technology of shuttle-less looms for the grass mat weaving art. Bamboos are also used in making
artifacts, like baskets, containers, and various consumer products.
The antique traditional art of grass mat Bamboo used in making various consumer products
Motivation and training, succeeded by guidance and entrusting responsibility to the local
communities, increase forest cover and preserve it to ensure livelihood of forest communities. It
also helps to eradicate poverty and unemployment. The womenfolk, being the true protector of
forests, maintain balance between the utilization of forest produce and preservation of forests
along with its flora and fauna, culture and society at large. Forming and strengthening self-help
groups (SHG) with the aim of making the poorest women economically empowered is necessary.
The groups begin by mobilizing their own resources to start the process of empowerment. Regular
savings and intra-lending and opening of bank accounts make the groups eligible for credit
linkages with banks for making credit available to the poor rural artisans.
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3. পালিক ৭
It is realized that the SHGs are the tools
to promote rural savings and gainful
employment. Collecting the raw materials from
forests like Gondha grass, Bamboo and other
allied materials, weaving and carving artistic
products showing great dexterity, and selling
the artifacts to the national markets by
participating in various handicraft fairs
comprise different activities of the self-help
groups.
The Regional Centre, National
Afforestation and Eco-Development Board,
Jadavpur University, Kolkata, a centre under
Forming and strengthening SHGs
the Ministry of Environment & Forest of the
Government of India, initiated the
implementation of project components with
socio-economic survey workshop in Harina
Ashram which is at the central place of Potka
block. They have organized workshops on
project preparation, training sessions on Self-
Help Group formation, review meet of
different stake-holders and exclusive training
programmes for Grass-mat apparel
preparation, Bamboo craft, Tassar and Lac
cultivation and other NTFP products. The
choice of the activity was backed by existing
traditional knowledge on making the products
Motivating the local communities to increase forest cover which helped the people to easily adopt the
new modernized lessons.
A state level buyers-sellers meet,
Banaja Shilpa Mela, was organized in
Jamshedpur at the end of March 2008 to give
the tribal villagers and their produces a nation-
wide market exposure, and establish
convergence with different other organizations
and sectors, like various Government
departments for development of funds,
Bankers for regular credit flow, Insurance
companies for social security, District Rural
Development Agency and Jharkhand Tribal
Development Society for infrastructure
Making the poorest women economically empowered development, and Corporate Sectors for
marketability of the products.
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4. পালিক ৭
State level buyers sellers meet Banaja Shilpa Mela was
organized at Jamshedpur; LEFT: Informational CD
containing audio-visual documentation on the first
SMFE building in India
The principal aim of the National Forest policy is to ensure environmental stability and
maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric stability which is vital for sustenance of
all life forms. Improving the livelihood of the forest fringe tribes with the value addition has
resulted in increase in the forest cover in Potka block and raise of per diem income substantially.
The Self-Help Groups of tribal artisans, dwelling in the forest fringe villages and forming
well motivated Joint Forest Management Committees, are actively getting involved with Small and
Medium Forest Enterprises for preserving and protecting the forest with an artistic approach.
[Grateful acknowledgement: Prof. Dr. Asis Mazumdar, Jt. Co-ordinator, Regional Center at Jadavpur
University in Kolkata, of National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board, under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India; The article is written on the subject on which Biswas has
directed a documentary film named ‘Artistic approach’. The film – produced by the Regional Centre, NAEB –
took part in the 8th International Social Communication Cinema Conference 2009 organized by Roopkala
Kendro, an Indo Italian Institute of Film and Social Communication, Department of Information & Cultural
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5. পালিক ৭
Affairs, Government of West Bengal on February 19, 2009, at Nandan, Kolkata and was also accepted for
telecasting in the National Network of Doordarshan]
Susanta Biswas is a multi-faceted personality – a Documentary Film
Maker, Corporate Writer, Translator and Editor of the webzine
Charcha. A graduate in English Literature and postgraduate in
Public Relations, Susanta was associated with Doordarshan Kendra
Kolkata, as a Newscaster, and presently with the Regional Centre,
NAEB, Jadavpur University, Kolkata under the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India.
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