Publication

Abstract : Chhattisgarh is a plaintive paradox, a state bestowed with abundant natural resources such as forests, minerals and surface water. This contradicts with the poverty line of the state. Stable income helps a family to get a proper education, good health care and food security throughout the year. The major source of income for rural society is from agriculture and forest products which is seasonal. The purpose of this study is to understand various possibility through which income can be generated and the reasons why many of those possibilities are not considered by the people to earn stable income in Malgaon, Chhattisgarh. To perceive the grassroot reasons ethnographic research methodology was implemented which involved living along with the villagers for a week. Information and details pertaining to the study were gathered through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) using tools like resource mapping, season mapping, interviewing 25 villagers and discussions with opinion leaders. The results showed that lack of knowledge, reluctance to experiment technological advances, inefficient utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), ignorance of products from cattle stock and exploitation by middlemen are the main reasons for low-income generation. This study discusses the solutions to the existing obstacles and various resource opportunities available in the village that have the potential to increase the income generated by transforming the hard work of the villagers to smart work. Villagers are unaware of the higher profit value of the finished goods from forest products. Using Human Centered Design (HCD), a technological solution can be efficiently implemented for processing forest resources like mahua, sal, karinj and eucalyptus to help increase sustainable income for people.