Sumoni Jhodia presides over the Ama Sangathan, a federation of several tribal groups in Odisha. It makes brooms and deals in minor forest produce and other local products.
In 1991, Jhodia fought her first battle against hunger in her village, Siriguda. She talked the villagers into starting a grain bank. Moneylenders objected. And then joined it too.
Forests were controlled tightly by the forest department. Jhodia, with 450 women from 10 districts, successfully petitioned the then chief minister, Biju Patnaik, into granting the women access to minor forest produce. That’s how the Ama Sangathan got access to grass. . .
