International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Sangita Devi Sharma and Kaushilya Sahu

abstract
Bastar “the tribal region of Chhattisgarh” is located 260 km away from the capital Nava Raipur Atal Nagar. Bastar “the tribal region of Chhattisgarh, which represents about 30% of the total tribal population of Chhattisgarh. The main tribes of this region are the Gonds, Marias, Bhatras, Murias, Halbas and Dhurvas. The people of the various tribes of Chhattisgarh have their own distinct cuisine. They primarily add the various types of fruits that are commonly found in the forest of Bastar. The most famous dish is the “Chaprah chutney” or red ant chutney. The red ants along with the eggs are collected from the nests and they are mixed with tomato and different spices. Red ants is said to contain valuable proteins. Among the famous drinks in bastar is the “Mahua alcohol” made out of the dried flowers of the mahua tree and “Salphi” (more prevalent in Bijapur and Dantewada areas) prepared from sap of Salphi tree. The tribes use the same on various occasions. This drink is considered sacred for the tribes of Bastar. They collect their food, firewood for cooking and in winter to keep warm; use the timber or bamboo to construct their houses; collect use grass for fodder, brooms and mats; collect leaves for leaf plates; and use harre behra for dyeing and tanning from forest. These show that the in lives of tribal’s, the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) especially play pivotal role. But the access of tribal’s to NTFPs is ever curtailed by the state. But they have rights to collect fuel; fodder and minor forest produce only from protected and unclassified forests except in Arunachal Pradesh, the tribal’s have special rights to collect all forest produce and hunt and fish freely in all forests, whether reserved or unclassified. This concession is not found anywhere else. This article will try to assess the nature and extent of tribal’s dependence on forests.