THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, June 3: The annual kendu leaf season has once again sparked tension in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, with a recent clash between villagers and forest officials highlighting the growing conflict over the collection and ownership of the valuable forest produce.
Kendu leaves, used in the manufacture of bidis, are a major source of seasonal income for rural communities. After mahua, kendu leaves are considered one of the most important forest products for the livelihoods of the poor in the region.
According to forest department sources, illegal plucking of kendu leaves is often higher than authorised collection, leading to concerns over unauthorised storage and transportation.
Dispute Over Rights to Forest Produce
The conflict stems from differing perceptions over ownership and access to kendu leaves. Villagers reportedly consider kendu leaves a traditional asset and believe they have a right to collect them from nearby forests.
On the other hand, kendu leaves are an important source of government revenue. The state auctions kendu leaf lots every season, generating substantial earnings for the exchequer.
It is this competing claim over the forest produce that frequently leads to confrontation between local communities and forest authorities.
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Clash Reported at Sildilya Kalan Village
A clash was reported on May 30 at Sildilya Kalan village under the Manatu forest range when a forest team allegedly attempted to seize a large quantity of illegally collected kendu leaves.
Forester-in-charge Sanjay Lakra lodged an FIR at Tarhassi police station on May 30.
“I have named 5 persons besides more than a dozen unknown persons who prevented our forest team from the discharge of government duties and these people were too belligerent to cause the team members any harm,” said Lakra.
According to the FIR, the five named accused are Ranjan Kumar Singh, Akchhay Kumar Singh, Satender Singh, Narender Singh and Appu Kumar.
Tarhassi police have registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indian Forest Act. An assistant sub-inspector has been assigned to investigate the matter.
Forest Department Alleges Seizure Operation Was Obstructed
The FIR states that around 80,000 polas (bundles of kendu leaves) were spread out for sun-drying at Sildilya Kalan. One pola consists of 52 kendu leaves.
“Around 80,000 polas (read bundles of kendu leaves, one pola has 52 kendu leaves) were having Sun dry at Sildilya Kalan ground. These leaves were all illicitly and unauthorisedly plucked,” the FIR stated.
“The moment the forest team began seizure operation of these huge illicit consignments of kendu leaves, the villagers mobbed us and aborted our seizure operation. The villagers retained their entire consignment of kendu leaves so illegally plucked and stored,” the forester-in-charge added.
Sources said the forest team returned without making any seizure amid fears that the situation could escalate further.
DFO Alleges Forest Personnel Were Threatened
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Medininagar Forest Division, Satyam Kumar, alleged that forest personnel were obstructed and threatened during the operation.
“Villagers and local bullies mobbed the forest team, heckled and manhandled its members, abusing and threatening with far more worse consequences if the team dared to seize the illicitly plucked and stored thousands of ‘polas’ (bundles) of kendu leaves there at the open ground in the village Sildilya Kalan,” Kumar said.
The DFO further alleged:
“The illegal operators of kendu leaves push women and children in the front of clash as a human shield for the men behind who engineer all kinds of ugly and murkier things.”
Lakra also claimed that a large number of women and children were present during the confrontation.
Auctioned and Unsold Lots at the Centre of the Dispute
To understand the recurring conflict, this correspondent spoke to K.K. Singh, Divisional Manager of the Minor Forest Produce Project Division, Daltonganj.
“There are 9 lots of kendu leaves under the Manatu range. Only 3 lots are the auctioned ones. 6 lots are unauctioned or unsold. The problem starts here. Villagers take it as their right to illegally pluck and store kendu leaf of the unauctioned or unsold lots,” said Singh.
According to him, the Daltonganj Project Division has 40 kendu leaf lots, of which only 22 have been auctioned, while 18 remain unsold and vulnerable to unauthorised collection.
Vital Source of Rural Livelihood
Officials acknowledge that kendu leaves remain a critical source of seasonal income for rural households.
“Further, kendu leaf is a source of livelihood, and villagers vie for it as fiercely for it as they go all out for Mahua fruits. There is no end to this no-win situation for the government,” sources said.
Forest department sources noted that a standard bag containing 1,000 polas of kendu leaves is valued at ₹2,035 during the 2026 kendu leaf season, making the trade an important contributor to the rural economy.
The incident has once again brought into focus the recurring tensions between forest authorities and local communities over access to and control of forest resources in Jharkhand.
