By: BIGITENDRIYA DEBSHARMA
This study explores the relationship between traditional knowledge systems, forest‑based livelihoods, and sustainable development among the Lodha community of Kadamdiha village in Jhargram district, West Bengal, recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Based on primary data from 221 individuals collected through household surveys, structured interviews, and ethnographic case studies, the research identifies a young population with a high dependency ratio and persistently low educational attainment, especially among women. Livelihoods remain predominantly subsistence‑oriented, centred on daily wage labour and forest product extraction, while the prevalence of nuclear households signals a shift from joint family structures. Forest resources—particularly sal leaves, firewood, and minor forest produce—form the core of household economies and are closely linked to a substantial body of indigenous knowledge, notably ethnomedicinal practices involving species such as Rauwolfia serpentina and Hemidesmus indicus. Case studies reveal the continued relevance of traditional healers alongside increasing engagement with biomedical services. Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihood Approach, cultural ecology, and indigenous knowledge frameworks, the study argues that traditional ecological knowledge remains vital to livelihood resilience and sustainable development, underscoring the need for its integration into policy.
