Jhargram Sal Forest Santali Tribal Jharkhand Border

Jhargram district in southwest West Bengal, bordering Jharkhand, is densely forested with sal (Shorea robusta) on the Chotanagpur plateau extension where Santali, Bhumij, Lodha, and Kheria tribal communities maintain forest-dependent livelihoods of NTFP collection (mahua, kendu leaf, sal seed), small-scale rice cultivation, and handicraft. The Lodha and Kheria are particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) in Jhargram whose rights to forest land have been strengthened under the Forest Rights Act; Kheria tribal women practise a unique scroll painting tradition — Chou painting — linked to the Chhau dance, depicting mythological scenes in bold pigments on handmade paper. The district's Belpahari and Jhargram town area were centres of the Maoist-influenced political conflict that affected West Bengal's Jangalmahal region through 2010-2011, with development deficits that drove tribal communities towards extremist political movements.