tribal life

her life

This Arunachal boarding school is fostering Adi tribe’s cultural heritage

Nilung Tungko, an all-boys boarding school in Komsing, is playing a crucial role in preserving the Adi tribe’s cultural heritage, blending traditional and modern education for children from impoverished families, focusing on the Donyi Polo faith in Arunachal Pradesh.

her life

How the commons are intertwined with Odisha’s tribal groups

Adivasi communities, especially women, have a deep connection with the commons, as they depend on these resources for sustenance and livelihood. Here are some interesting insights into the relationship.

her life

The Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu and their sacred stones

The Irulas worship deceased family members by erecting ancestral stones. The waterworn pebbles and sculptures represent the connection between the living and their forebears.

her life

A forest hunt for Chhattisgarh’s delicious Pihiri mushrooms

The rare Pihiri mushrooms found amid the lush greenery of Chhattisgarh's Achanakmar Tiger Reserve serve as a lifeline for local villagers who harvest them for income while tackling challenges like wildlife threats.

her life

Revelations from rural Jharkhand

For an urban youngster, no visit to a village ends without the mind asking questions, making comparisons and wondering what it would be like to be more than just a casual visitor.

her life

Of ducks, bulls and other lessons from a Santhal village

A rich traditional belief system, vast native vocabulary, nutritious diet and a society that works together – even a brief visit to a Santhali village is full of rich experiences.

her life

Bengal’s Sabar tribe struggles for survival

One of the poorest communities of India, 20 families of Sabar tribe toil to gather two square meals a day, subsisting on sal fruit, red ant eggs and a meagre government handout of rice.

her life

130 varieties and counting: Kerala taps tubers

Cassava, elephant foot yam, taro, arrowroot… Tubers that almost disappeared from the regular diet in Wayanad, Kerala, are now being brought back to the farms as nutritious and climate resilient crops.

her life

Cut off from forests, Odisha’s tribe struggles to survive

Once known for its intricate relationship with the forest, the Hill Kharia tribal community in Odisha now battles malnutrition and other serious health issues.

her life

Chhattisgarh’s magical mahua flowers in pics

Versatile and rich in nutrition, mahua is an important forest produce for the tribal communities in Chhattisgarh. Families store dried mahua in bulk to make mahua liquor, a popular beverage in the region.

her life

Why a road is a roadblock for Bonda Tribes in Odisha

A slushy, patchy, potholed road is pushing up transportation costs, preventing tribal inhabitants of Andrahal village in Odisha's Malkangiri district from availing government loans for building pucca houses.

her life

She wanted to become a forest officer since childhood. Now she is an IFS officer

Observing how the livelihood of her community depended on mahua flowers and tendu leaves from the forest, Stylo Mandavi chose to join the Indian Forest Service. As an officer where human-elephant conflict is common, she must always be on alert.

her life

How these creches in Odisha help tribal mothers work in peace

To improve the health of tribal children and to help women collect forest produce without worrying about their young children, the Odisha government starts creches for toddlers.