Studies on Livelihood Trends of Santhal and Munda Tribals in Jharkhand

The Jharkhand state is bestowed with rich natural resources, abundant biodiversity and excellent human resources. Forest based livelihoods by the tribal people mainly revolve around collection, processing and utilization of various plant products like fuel wood, lac, tooth brush, leaves for plate and cup making, fodder and browse, vegetables, fruits, seeds, flowers, bamboos, medicines, mushrooms, oilseeds, oilseed cake, spices, honey, oils, gums, resins, gum-resins, dyes, wax, brooms, fibers, floss, silk, charcoal, fencing, wildlife products, thatches, baskets, ropes, mats, handicrafts, pickles, beverages, abiotic products etc. The tribal constitutes about 7.5 percent of india’s population. Their main occupation is agriculture. The Santhals, Mundas and other tribals still use traditional agricultural equipments like plough driven by ox. They make plough from locally available timber .They call it in Santhali language as Nahel and in Mundari as ‘Hal’. The point of the plough is made up of iron which is called ‘phal’ (S) or phar (M). It is fixed on a solid prismatic wooden block known as ‘Nahel’. It is further fixed with a rectangular wood known as’ Nahelbah’ (S). A handle known as ‘chandli’(S) is attached with it. A wooden rod is fixed with ‘Nahelbah’ at 30degree, knows as ‘Isi’(S) Which is joined with yok (Arrann). Many small and marginal farmers including the tribal farmers have started using high yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides and sprayers. The growth in the level of overall awareness among the beneficiaries was observed. The tribal farmers and other marginal farmers of the regions have more food to eat and have lessened the period of food scarcity. Improvement in food habits reduced the problems of malnutrition, under nutrition and starvation. In the sample villages vegetable consumptions have improved the overall health and hygiene of the farming community of the region. The vegetable sales enabled the farmers to educate their children, better clothing and other such benefits.