Odisha’s Dhodrokusum Women Lead Forest Conservation and Eco‑Tourism

In Debrigarh’s village of Dhodrokusum, a group of women once entered the forest daily to collect firewood, mahua flowers and bamboo shoots. After meeting the Eco‑Tourism Mission, leader Maithili Bhue redirected her efforts toward protecting the forest while earning a livelihood. More than sixty women now participate in wildlife safeguarding, grass‑land restoration and eco‑tourism activities. Modi praised the transformation, noting that conservation can coexist with economic empowerment, and that the women’s collective effort serves as a model for other rural communities.