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Guwahati: 'Banashristi', a brand that sells products crafted by the Joint Forest Management Committee/Eco-Development Committee (JFMC/EDC) communities as part of a market promotion strategy, has become quite well-known in Assam. The outlet's products include natural products, unique handicrafts, and handloom products.
The most prominent 'Banadrishti' retail outlet is located just inside the premises of the Assam State Zoo. It is part of the Forest Department's efforts to establish an independent identity for these products made by communities living near forests.
"These stores are there not only in the Zoo, but also in Pobitora, and a hornbill park near Nellie", Kumar said. "They are expanding across Assam", Assam State Zoo Director Ashwini Kumar informed Business North East. "People residing near forests who live in the fringes are trained to make products so that they can earn alternative livelihoods", Kumar, shared with Business North East, giving more insights into this initiative. "This training is provided across Assam", he informed.
This initiative has been implemented under the livelihood enhancement program of the French government-aided project, the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation. The products produced are also marketed in the local market as desired by the JFMC/EDC communities. It is a forest-produced brand created by the Department of Environment and Forests and implemented by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) and Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN).
The project aims to restore forest ecosystems in collaboration with forest dependent communities, enhancing their livelihoods and ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Initially, 15 trades were identified by the forest-dwelling communities and skill development was taken up rigorously in the interior villages.
Kumar further informed that the process is now under the observation of Pesa, an NGO. "To start with, they collected data from the villagers from selected villages. The concerned District Forest Officer (DFO) collects all details about it. The project is in the initial phase."
The target groups include about 200 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and 28 Eco Development Committees (EDCs), representing over 20,000 households. The project approach involves adding value to goods and services generated by communities through sustainable use of forest and non-forest resources, promoting capacity building and training for value addition, labeling and certification of products, and developing non-forest-based livelihood alternatives to enhance employability.
