A grassroots initiative that is empowering women indigenous communities by creating better market linkages
This is a story of three layers. A remarkable story unfolds through three interconnected visions: the wisdom of the indigenous communities, the legacy of an environmental activist, and the dedication of an ecologist-turned-entrepreneur.
At its heart are the indigenous communities – the original knowledge keepers and custodians of ancient wisdom that the world has long refused to acknowledge.
Then comes Dr. Manju Vasudevan, the second protagonist of this story, an ecologist, who became the accidental entrepreneur.
Finally, we have an unseen presence in this story – a noble soul, so noble she was taken away from us, untimely: Environmental justice activist, scholar and nature lover, Dr. Latha Anantha, who passed away at the age of 51.
The Association for India’s Development in their tribute observed: “Renowned for her tireless campaign to save the Chalakudy river from the planned Athirapally power project, she was involved in educating communities from local children to global policy makers on the simple principle that rivers must flow, and all the social and ecological implications of that. She founded the River Research Centre in Thrissur and was a core group member of the Save Western Ghats Movement among many other interlinked water and biodiversity conservation initiatives both at local and policy levels.”
(Many of us in The Fourth Plate community had the privilege of knowing her personally in campus, and have been at the receiving end of her gentle smacks for our irreverential naughtiness as impressionable young people. And we remember days that would light up in her infectious laughter. RIP, Latha chechi, as we called you).
Through Forest Post, the three visions intersect: that of Latha, of Dr Manju, who worked with her, and of course, the heroes of the story – the indigenous communities or First Peoples.
Together, they created a model for how the indigenous communities can be empowered so that the rest of the world are not intruders but silent co-walkers who honour their legacy, their habitat, and their knowledge.
It is precisely because they are the heroes of this story so much that Dr Manju – in her conversation with The Fourth Plate – had only to talk about the wonderful women and men from several forest communities, who are devoting their knowledge to create products that can be purchased on Forestpost.in
But to get to that we also need a bit of backstory:
Manju was an ecologist whose decade-long research on pollination and honey bees would unexpectedly lead her to social entrepreneurship. Her path crossed with Latha, who had founded the River Research Centre (RRC) in Thrissur.
“There is so much to learn from them; we are only facilitators, their knowledge is the core,” says Manju, speaking of the First Peoples. This philosophy would become the foundation of Forest Post, a social enterprise that helps translate the craft and knowledge of non-timber forest produce.
The journey took shape when Manju, serving at RRC, got the opportunity with the Keystone Foundation in the Nilgiris. This led her to Kerala, where she began working closely with forest communities as a facilitator.
The timing was crucial. Kerala’s First Peoples were embracing the concept of Community Forest Resource rights under the Forest Rights Act of 2006 – a long-overdue recognition of their right to manage and protect their traditional forest resources.
Even today, in many parts of India, activities like honey collection by indigenous communities are criminalized, while the people in Kerala and Chattisgarh are more aware – also due to the efforts of the Forest Department and the government.
Latha passed away in 2017, the floods hit Kerala in 2018, and soon the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything. Then in 2021, things turned around.
Tony Jose, Senior Manager at Udhyam Learning Foundation, who was then the Project Officer of UNDP in India, reached out, and visiting the River Research Centre, mooted the idea of how minor forest produce centred women enterprises could be strengthened with better market linkages. Providing training for them, the team realized, could help make these enterprises more laser focused, scalable and sustainable.
The focus was on unconventional minor forest produces, such as beewax, which didn’t have a market, while bee was already earning fair prices due to the support of the Kerala government and the Forest Department, primarily via Vana Samrakshana Samithis (forest protection committees).
Despite her initial hesitation about entering the business world, Manju, along with co-founder Dr. Sreeja KG, an agricultural economist focusing on climate change and resilience, launched Forest Post.
Manju says she was petrified at the prospect of a commercial venture. “I kept telling myself, I was not carved for business; my brain is not wired for numbers.” Tony and his colleague assured her.
And before she knew it, the brand strategy was in place, a plan was rolled out, a company was in place and a website ready. Thus started the Forest Post, which would go on to win the Outlook Traveller Responsible Tourism award under the category of Sustainable Leadership and Conservation.
As Manju would observe: “Although we aren’t sure how much our network of harvester men and women actually understand Forest Rights per say, the enterprise hopes to help them find creative – often traditional – ways of engaging with their resources. It hopes that people who choose to stay close to home find meaningful employment right there.”
Today, Forest Post works with eight forest communities – including the Kadar, Muthuvar, Malayar, Hill Pulaya, Mannan, and Irula peoples. Their product range is as diverse as the forest itself: beeswax soaps made without palm oil (protecting orangutan habitats), natural skincare products, essential oils, and traditional crafts like the kannadi payas – hand-woven mats that shimmer like mirrors and have earned the GI tag. All these can be bought online at forestpost.in
The enterprise follows a cooperative model, with production units in the forest hamlets. Their most active unit in Vellikulangara, Thrissur, employs seven people for about 15 days monthly, with communities receiving both fair wages and a 20% share in revenue. Today, Forest Post supports over 75 women through various units in Kerala.
Take, for instance, their signature beeswax soaps. In the forests of Anapantham and Vazhachal, indigenous people harvest honey from hives on steep rock faces and giant trees using traditional methods passed down through generations. The women from Malayar collectives at Karikkadav and Kallichitra then transform this beeswax into personal care products using their ancestral knowledge of natural ingredients.
Forest Post’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond their products. The indigenous communities harvest resources seasonally, knowing exactly when and how much to take without depleting nature’s bounty.
The startup’s efforts have gained recognition – reaching the semi-finals of the Bayer Women’s Empowerment Award in 2023. More significantly, in 2020, their Karikkadav Collective became Kerala’s first group to be officially empaneled by the Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).The enterprise has received a grant from the Kerala Startup Mission and has partnered with organizations including Good Market, the Buddha Institute, The Land Accelerator, and GreenR.
Manju finds that the concept of feminism has much to learn from the indigenious communities, where women demonstrate remarkable independent spirit.
However, challenges remain for the entreprise. India’s business environment favors larger players, with bureaucracy and regulations often creating barriers for community-based enterprises.
For Manju, Forest Post represents more than a business – it’s a life’s mission that honors her friendship with Latha while serving as a bridge between First Peoples and the wider world. In doing so, it demonstrates how traditional knowledge and modern markets can come together to create sustainable livelihoods while preserving ancient wisdom.
The enterprise continues to grow, not just as a business but as a model for how indigenous communities can be empowered through their own knowledge and resources, creating products that benefit both their communities and the world at large.
ENDS
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