http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/193 Fri, 15 May 2026 14:26:43 GMT 2026-05-15T14:26:43Z http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/110 Tribal Entrepreneurship: A Case of Adivasis in Dangs Patil, Aditi; Kumar, Aditya The Dangs in many ways represent extreme geo-physical, environmental and socio-economic characteristics in Gujarat. Having 59 per cent of its total geographical area under forests amid highly undulating terrains, the district receives an average rainfall of 3,000 mm per annum. Nearly 95 per cent of its total population belongs to adivasi communities including the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PTGs). Despite vast possession of natural resources, the district which is home to 86 per cent below poverty line (BPL) households is not only the poorest in the state but also features in the list of five most backward districts of the country. This paper is based on a recent study conducted in the Dangs examines the role of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) along with other forest resources in livelihoods of the adivasi communities. It seeks to understand the Malki practice – a unique system of forest governance and critically analyses the implementation of Forest Rights Act at ground level.The study finds out that majority of the adivasi households in the study villages are involved in collection of NTFPs such as bamboo, mahua, tendu and amla from the forests besides extracting timber and fuel wood round the year. Timber is primarily extracted from trees of teak and seesam whereas fuel wood forms the basis of cooking in the villages. Despite having low monetary values, NTFPs, timber products and fuel wood continue to provide critical support to adivasi livelihoods. However, it is increasingly constrained in recent years by factors including rapid degradation of forest resources, low awareness and access to techniques of harvesting, processing and marketing of NTFPs; wide gap between the collectors and end users, unfair trade practices and lack of intervention of concerned agencies of the state. NTFP resources if used efficiently and marketed wisely can be a source of entrepreneurship opportunities.The Malki practice in the Dangs – a uniquely designed system of forest governance is another source of livelihoods for the adivasis. Under this practice, occupancy rights have been given only to those lands which are under individual possession since January 1970, but the reserved trees on these lands continue to vest with Forest Department. However, the cultivators are entitled to sell them provided at least three tree saplings should be planted for each tree being cut. The study finds that 60 per cent of the respondents have applied for Malki out of which 55 per cent got their application processed and have earned Rs 3.4 lacs per household. However, the Malki practice is only seen as a medium of earning money without thinking of the massive destruction being done through rampant cutting of trees leading to increased soil erosion, removal of top layer fertile soil and rapid degradation of forests that has led to extinction of many species of flora and fauna, drying up of rivers and other water bodies. On the Forest Rights Act, the study reveals that though majority of the households surveyed (nearly 75 per cent) are having awareness on individual rights, nearly 62 per cent have applied for individual pattas having a success rate of 44 per cent finally getting it. A large majority of the approved pattas have gone to the ruling elites particularly sarpanchs and many claims are under process for years. Major bottlenecks faced in FRA implementation in the Dangs evident from the study are lack of clarity of the application procedure, rejection of claims on flimsy grounds, misuse of power and cooption by PRIs members, inactive Forest Rights Committees (FRCs), very low awareness on Community Forest Rights, conflicting situations between FRC and JFM committees and Forest Department’s alleged role in rejecting the claims. Despite facing harassment, local activists and organizations have played a significant role in spreading awareness, using GIS technology for allotment of land and sustaining the grassroots struggle on FRA alongside bringing changes through advocacy works in Gujarat. The paper attempts to find opportunities for possible entrepreneurship in Dangs in context of the above three realities. Rural, Tribal and Grassroots Entrepreneurship Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/110 2015-02-18T00:00:00Z http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/109 Tribal Entrepreneurship through Rural Tourism and Development: A Case Study on Hee Gaon, Sikkim Paul, Angshuman Rural tourism, recent inclusion of tourism sector is working to boost up rural economy and development by generating opportunities for rural entrepreneurship. Taking rural development and subsequent entrepreneurship into count present study focuses on HeeGaon in West Sikkim. Sikkim known for its diversified ethnic cultures and blissful beauty offered by diversified topography, comprises hills and forests charmed and cajoled tourists throughout the world. HeeGaon a village of Western Sikkim has families from Limboo Tribes (as per the Central Government rule they are termed as the Scheduled Tribes or ST) due to lack of proper lands and knowledge generally migrate to cities for steady earnings. But the things have changed in the hands of people like Mr. Birendra Tambling who with the help of NGOs created entrepreneurship by resorting on ‘Home Stay’. Present study by the help of Tambling’s case tries to find out the livelihood processes of tribal people in the district to enhance rural and tribal entrepreneurship(in this case).It also suggests remedial measures to solve the problem of rural entrepreneurship(in broader view) in consultation with experts facilitating entrepreneurship model specially that of Geddes Economic Model. Rural, Tribal and Grassroots Entrepreneurship Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/109 2015-02-18T00:00:00Z http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/108 Sustainable Rural Development through Entrepreneurship Development Programs Rao, Karanam Nagaraja; Dwivedi, Amitkumar Entrepreneurship on a mass scale is the key for rural development and sustainability. Development and its sustainability are possible if they are sought to be achieved through diversification in to non -farm and service sectors in a bigger way. The dispersal of economic activities with labor intensive nature present a field for all round sustainability notwithstanding the well meaning governmental interventions in the nature of subsidies, technical and marketing supports. The major obstacles in the nature of illiteracy, inhibition, inactivity and the like that prevent rural enterprises to blossom can be effectively tackled through well designed training interventions in the rural spectrum. For instilling and promoting the entrepreneurial acumen and attitude, Entrepreneurial Development Programs (EDPs) are designed. An attempt is made in this article to study various EDPs that are being organized in India, the modus operandi of their structure, the forms of EDPs and their brief evaluation. A few suggestions are also offered to make the programs more vibrant with the ultimate objective of spreading entrepreneurial message and thereby sustainable rural development in the country. Rural, Tribal and Grassroots Entrepreneurship Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/108 2015-02-18T00:00:00Z http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/107 Rural Women and Entrepreneurship: Value Addition in Aonla Khandelwal, Neeta; Dashora, Pragya; Jain, Simple About 50% of rural Indian women engaged in farming are classified as labors as they mostly engaged in labor intensive but unskillful works and in absence of proper training, this large chunk of human resource remains underutilized. It means that there is a huge potential for promoting value addition and entrepreneurship development to this segment. With proper training and guidance these women could easily become entrepreneurs by processing farm products, growing organic products, through direct selling, agri-tourism and on-farm education. Aonla or Indian gooseberry (Emblicaofficinalis Gaertn) is indigenous to sub-continent and India ranks first in terms of production. Despite its medicinal values, non-perishable nature and low production coast it remains one of the most underutilized fruits. There is great scope to involve the women to prepare value added products from Aonla such as; Squash, Jelly, Jam, Syrup, Pickle, Chutney, Preserved Pulp, Blended Beverage, Churan Powder, Barfi, Laddoo, Sugar Syrup etc. Thus, value addition in Aonla, can improve profit margins, reduce post-harvest loss, increase export and generate employment for rural women. Given wide-spread production, it could particularly, become a boon for the farm women of UP, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Thus promoting value addition of Aonla and similar farm products may not only bring a change in financial status of scores of farm women but also can also contribute to economic growth of country. Rural, Tribal and Grassroots Entrepreneurship Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.ediindia.ac.in:8181/xmlui//handle/123456789/107 2015-02-18T00:00:00Z