The change in leadership within the Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees of Chhattisgarh’s Naxal-affected Sukma district scripts a major milestone for local governance. After the major corruption scandal, two young tribal women, Dilpa Kichche (23) and Pushpa Madkam (22), stepped in as managers, becoming the first women from remote villages in the region to hold these positions. Arayna Women’s Cotton Printed Kurta Set with Pants & Dupatta | Elegant Ethnic Wear for Women | Floral Print | Comfortable Suit Set
Tendu leaves, used for manufacturing bidis, are a critical seasonal source of livelihood for forest-dependent tribal communities in Chhattisgarh.
The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) discovered that a portion of ₹7 crore reserved as bonus payments for tribal tendu leaf collectors (for 2021-22) had been misused.
In exceedingly volatile, Naxal-prone pockets like Jagargunda, Kistaram, Golapalli, and Konta, the absolute lack of banking facilities meant nearly 50% of these massive payouts were distributed through cash. This heavy-cash system created systemic loopholes for corruption.
The scandal led to the suspension of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and the managers of 11 Primary Minor Forest Produce Committees, forcing a complete renovation of the local procurement system.
To fill the vacuum left by the suspended officials, the forest department launched an immediate recruitment drive. Out of 11 newly appointed managers, 9 were men, and 2 were young tribal women who broke traditional barriers to lead. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper lands in New Delhi to fast-track the landmark £25.5B UK-India trade pact
Dilpa Kichche (23)
originating from Korapar, a remote village roughly 50 km from the district headquarters, Kichche’s background is deeply marked by the region’s conflict. Her uncle was killed by Naxals when she was a child, and her village still lacks a mobile network or school. Her father, a schoolteacher who passed away in 2011, sent her 200 km away to Dantewada so she could get an education.
Pushpa Madkam (22)
From Madkampara village, Madkam successfully completed her Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from a college in Sukma. She applied for the role through a local Common Service Centre and is notably the first woman from her entire village to secure a government job.
During their very first procurement season, Kichche and Madkam supervised the collection of 8,236 standard bags of tendu leaves, valued at approximately ₹4.52 crore. A night of healing turned into a morning of ashes, leaving heartbroken families searching through the chaos
More than managing procurement, their appointment coincides with a massive financial-inclusion drive to wipe out corruption
Moving away from dangerous cash payouts, the government mandated 100% online transactions through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) across the district. Over 17,000 new bank accounts were opened in deep conflict zones last year alone. Total tendu leaf collections distributed directly to tribal bank accounts surged from ₹39.04 crore (across 41,021 accounts) to ₹46.41 crore across 46,625 accounts. As Sukma sees an increase in security and development, local forest officials note that the aptitude of Kichche and Madkam is already building widespread confidence among other tribal women to pursue higher education and claim institutional roles.