World Tribal Day Special: Tribal Women of Khunti Write a New Chapter of Self-Reliance

09 August 2026, Khunti (Jharkhand): On World Tribal Day, the tribal women of Murhu block in Khunti are demonstrating how collective ownership, traditional knowledge and women-led entrepreneurship can transform rural livelihoods.

Promoted by Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) and Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI) – Tata Trusts, the Murhu Nari Shakti Kisan Producer Company Ltd. (MNSKPCL) has emerged as a strong example of tribal women-led economic empowerment.

More than 3,766 tribal women are shareholders and owners of the company, while over 8,113 farmers benefit from its services. Registered on 5 March 2018, MNSKPCL has an all-women Board of Directors that takes key decisions related to procurement, processing, marketing and financial management.

The company’s annual turnover has grown from ₹48 lakh in 2018–19 to ₹6.11 crore in 2025–26, with a target of ₹6.78 crore for 2026–27.

MNSKPCL is adding value to traditional products and livelihoods through Kodo millet flour, lac bangles and handicrafts, tamarind, mango, jackfruit, paddy, vegetables, goat, pig and poultry rearing, and fisheries.

The initiative has contributed significantly to household incomes. 4,620 families have achieved annual incomes above ₹1.20 lakh, while 6,690 families are engaged in two or more livelihood activities. In addition, 66 rural micro-entrepreneurs have been developed.

The journey reflects a wider transformation: tribal women are no longer merely beneficiaries of development programmes—they are shareholders, entrepreneurs and decision-makers shaping their own economic future. Their collective success demonstrates how sustained mentoring, local leadership and community ownership can create lasting pathways to self-reliance.