Badibahal village, nestled in the Gandhamardan foothills of Paikmal block in Bargarh district, is home to 149 families who depend on agriculture, forest resources, and daily labour. Among them, 38 Scheduled Caste households carry forward traditional bamboo craft skills, relying on the forest for raw materials.
The community also makes leaf cup plates and brooms, supplying local markets in Bargarh and Nuapada districts. Annual incomes reflect the diversity of their work:
- Bamboo craft: Rs 15,000–20,000 per season per individual
- Leaf cup plates: Rs 10,000–15,000 per season per individual
- Non-timber forest produce: Rs 60,000 annually
Recognising the demand for modern bamboo crafts, MASS partnered with OLM to organise six months of skill training for 30 families. This effort led to the formation of a bamboo producer group, supported with Rs 10,000 from MASS, Rs 2 lakh from Mission Shakti, and Rs 50,000 loans for 15 families from OLM.
Scaling up production brought challenges, particularly the scarcity of Katanga bamboo in nearby forests. In response, the community prepared a forest management plan and secured 1,000 bamboo saplings from the Forest Department for plantation. With regular protection and care, bamboo shoots have regenerated, and villagers have expanded the protected area to ensure sustainable bamboo availability for future livelihoods.
This initiative reflects Badibahal’s determination to balance forest conservation with economic development, proving that traditional skills, when combined with modern support, can create resilient and sustainable communities.