CHANGING STATUS OF TRIBAL WOMEN IN ANUPPUR DISTRICT OF MADHYA PRADESH THROUGH MINOR FOREST PRODUCTS (MFPS)

The tribal women, constitute like any other social group, about half of the total population. Tribal societies generally view gender as complimentary and classless, where each role is defined but complimentary to the other. Men focus on cultivation and women plant and gather the foods, thus both roles are necessary and complimentary in the universal relationship of the family/community. Traditionally, tribal women and men had equal access to lands, animals and resources, and this was beneficial to the collective. However, as a result of the integration and adjustment efforts of dominant culture, capitalistic systems and the ideal of individual ownership, tribal women in particular experience less opportunity to access their natural resource and lands. As a result Gender relations within tribal society have been changing. The present paper is based on empirical study carried out in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh that highlights the trouble of tribal women in present scenario and how the minor forest product changes the life of tribal women.