Equitable and Sustainable Livelihoods for Tribal Communities

In Jharkhand, certain communities have been identified by the Government of India as “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups” (PVTGs). Often settled in small clusters near forest areas, PVTG groups experience high levels of poverty, low literacy rates and geographic isolation. They adopt livelihood options based on the eco-systems in which they live, primarily focused on gathering and selling Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFPs) such as Tamarind, Saal Leaves and Mahua.

Lacking access to markets and pricing information, PVTGs are often exploited by middlemen and buyers who aim to procure forest produce at very low prices. Tribal communities are unable to equitably benefit from their hard work and the majority of product profits flow to others in the value chain.

Without productive assets or sustainable sources of income, these tribal communities struggle to meet basic consumption needs and are extremely vulnerable to life shocks, which keeps them trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty. The ongoing COVID pandemic has further added to their vulnerability, often resulting in distress sales to raise much-needed funds for basic needs.

Our dedicated Trickle Up staff and trainers will partner with PVTGs to build their capacity to work collectively to produce a greater volume and higher quality of product. By training and investing in processing equipment and training, women from these communities will be able to develop microenterprises that enable them to obtain better prices for their produce.

To ensure that an equitable portion of profits are captured by the PVTG communities, we will also work with program participants to access market information and negotiate better terms with buyers.

The following products will be developed as part of this project:

a)     Tamarind pulp which is a major crop produced in Jharkhand and traded throughout South India.

b)   Mahua Powder and oil which are used to produce toffee, jam, sweets and manure

c)     Saal Leaf plates which are eco-friendly and low cost to produce and bought in bulk at higher prices in larger markets in Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Trickle Up seeks to provide sustainable pathways out of poverty for vulnerable populations in India. Through capacity building, training and infrastructure (basic processing plants) we will create economic opportunities for 500 PVTG families who will see on average, an increase in income of 50 percent. . Over a period of six months, each tribal woman engaged in the project will earn at least three to four thousand rupees. As a result, families will be able to improve their food security and economic resilience. This in turn, will help them withstand the frequent climate and other shocks as well as provide them with economic means to move out of extreme poverty

But we cannot do this without you. Your support, no matter the amount, will help us create resilient livelihoods for participants and support them as they build capacity and infrastructure and connect to markets.