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**Headline: Odisha Tribal Villages Thrive as Forest Rights Empower Communities**

**Kalahandi, Odisha -** In a remarkable shift, tribal villages in Odisha, particularly in the Kalahandi district, are experiencing unprecedented economic and social empowerment thanks to the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. The FRA grants forest-dwelling communities ownership over forest resources, enabling them to bypass exploitative intermediaries and directly benefit from the sale of bamboo and kendu leaves (used in bidi production).

The remote village of Palki, once mired in poverty, now boasts a community fund of ₹8 lakh after striking a direct deal with a trader for bamboo. This newfound prosperity allows the village to invest in education and sustainable forest management.

Similar success stories are emerging across the region, with villages like Pipadi managing thousands of acres of forestland and issuing their own transit passes for forest products. The FRA is not without its challenges. Earlier this month, forest dwellers blocked a highway after the Forest Department attempted to stop the movement of kendu leaves that villagers were authorized to sell. This forced the Forest Department to agree to not interfere with the sale of minor forest produce. This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for control over forest resources, and the growing defiance of local communities.

These villages reinvest revenue into forest development and community programs, improving livelihoods, education, and infrastructure. Women are playing a central role in this transformation, earning wages and contributing to their families’ well-being. Experts say that allowing villagers to benefit from forest resources has led to a more sustainable usage of forest resources.

While progress is being made, activists emphasize the need for full autonomy for forest villagers in negotiating and selling their produce. They advocate for the government to intervene only when market manipulation occurs, ensuring that tribal communities fully realize the benefits of their forest rights.

This shift in Odisha exemplifies the transformative potential of empowering local communities to manage their own resources, fostering sustainable development and challenging outdated colonial-era laws that have long marginalized forest dwellers.

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