From the article:
" 'Did you breastfeed these Saal trees? Why are you stopping us from cutting them down?' growled the poachers.
" 'How can you breastfeed your own mother?' retorted the resolute Adivasi women.
"The news of Adivasi women standing up to powerful poachers spread like forest fire. The women also repeatedly engaged with the Forest Ranger. An official meeting was arranged between them and forest officers. All poachers were subsequently arrested. Each one of them was fined ₹5,000. Illegal logging of trees in the vicinity of Hakim Sinan village and beyond has abated. There is still an undercurrent of threat to this collective from vested interests but the women of this SHG are confident of taking on any challenge to save their forest: their Goddess, their Mother."
(photo copyright S. Chatterjee, PRADAN)
