Inclusion and economic empowerment of rural-tribal women in lac value chain and market: a case study of Udyogini

The tribal communities in central India are excluded in many ways from accessing and benefiting from the fruits of mainstream development. Within tribal groups, women are more marginalized and sidelined than men despite their multiple roles in the household. Women’s exclusion from the mainstream knowledge systems, market sphere and their limited access and control over the resources affects the overall development of tribal communities. Key for economic growth of tribal communities is the equal participation and promotion of women’s physical and economic rights. This necessitates for a purposive design of activities and institutional mechanisms for both socially inclusive economic empowerment and environmentally sustainable growth by building their knowledge and skills to restore NTFP-based value chains for sustainable livelihoods. The present paper is an attempt to analyse and document the findings of an inclusive Lac livelihood model executed by Udyogini, a national-level NGO established by World bank in 1992, with support of PACS to address the geographical, social, technological and economic inclusion of tribal women in the Lac supply chain and downstream market integration to improve their incomes in Gumla district of Jharkhand state. It is found that by employing inclusive strategies, scientific technologies and participative approaches, the socially excluded women could be organized, engaged and integrated successfully by leveraging proven Lac-based livelihood model in the value chains and markets for increasing their incomes. The women demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities to handle markets and acquired economic empowerment over the incomes generated for family needs, mostly for education and health, while in some cases for assets building. The case study provided ample evidence that disadvantaged women could be receptive, Cooperative and capable of acquiring new skills and leadership responsibilities for value chain refinement, micro-enterprise development and management through appropriate training and skill building. Udyogini in partnership with PACS has revived the neglected and insignificant Lac-based livelihoods for social and economic inclusion of tribal women through inclusive approach in the trouble torn Gumla district in Jharkhand.