Can a single person fulfil the dreams of a generation? Can sheer determination uplift an entire community? Dr Manju Vasudevan has proved through her life that it is indeed possible.

When she ventured into the forests, she had no idea that her life’s mission awaited her there. But when she emerged, it was with the dreams of an entire community. These people soon became earners and entrepreneurs, and their lives were transformed. It all happened through Forest Post – an initiative founded by Dr Manju.

“Unique products from the adivasi and tribal communities have reached global markets. Pure, untouched products that had long remained hidden found their way to consumers through us,” she says.

For the upliftment of the adivasis

From childhood, Dr Manju harboured a deep love for the forest, which inspired her decision to work among the adivasis. As her father served in the defence services, she completed her schooling in various parts of India. She obtained her postgraduate degree from Pondicherry, pursued a PhD in the UK, and went on to receive a post-doctoral fellowship in California. Despite building an impressive academic career, Manju chose to dedicate her life to the adivasi communities. While trekking with them through the forest, she discovered the abundance of wild asparagus and began making pickles from it. “This led me to explore whether there were other products to be found. I discovered an array of forest resources, including honey and palm fruit. The thought that Adivasis could find rare products inaccessible to others inspired me to create income opportunities for them,” she recalls.

She now also leads the Conservation and Livelihoods Programme at the River Research Centre in Kerala and has worked alongside Dr Latha, a prominent river rights activist, as part of the river rights movement. It was during this time that she realised tribal communities lacked access to markets for their products and did not know how to sell them.

“It all began in the Vazachal region. I decided to work towards providing income for women’s collectives dependent on the forest. Initially it was purely NGO centric work. Later, in 2020, Forest Post was launched. Initially, we made small, value-added products from wild gooseberries, beeswax and other forest resources,” she recollects.

The organisation later expanded its operations to the forest regions of Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, including Vazachal, Sholayar, Chimmini, Chalakudy, Marayur and Idamalayar. This allowed them to engage with more Adivasi communities. They developed a range of unique products: soaps and lip balms made from beeswax, traditional hair oils based on indigenous haircare knowledge, mango ginger sweets, pickles and other edibles using wild ingredients.

Women power drives the venture

Women from the Muthuvar tribe began making items such as kutta (baskets), mats and geo-tags using reeds. Although the women of the Malayar and Irula tribes are Adivasis, they do not rely on the forest for their livelihoods. They were trained to create stitched and handcrafted items, which are also collected and marketed by Forest Post. Every product is made without exploiting nature. “There’s even a wild grape that can only be found in the third or fourth week of May, and we have members who search for it and collect it,” Dr Manju notes.
Today, Forest Post sells around 48 products, 80% of which are value-added. The Nelanarakom hair oil, produced by the Adivasis of Malayattoor forest, is among the most popular items. Baskets and mats from Adachitotti village are highly sought after. Some women also make jewellery from seeds collected in the forest, creating exquisite pieces. Products made from beeswax, coffee and natural skincare items are in high demand. Most of the products carry medicinal properties; for instance, powder made from palm fruit is beneficial for both children and adults. Various medicinal leaves, roots, tree bark and honey are also procured at fair prices by the Forest Development Agency under the State Forest Department. “The Adivasi women are taught and trained to make these products. They are also provided with facilities to store the goods safely. Products collected from different tribal villages are brought to the Forest Post factory for sorting and then beautifully packed for the market. All these products are also available online and are showcased at various events and programmes,” says Dr Manju.
Customers can now purchase products directly through the Forest Post website and at local organic stores. By collaborating with groups such as Kudumbashree, Forest Post has opened up even more opportunities. Products crafted by various tribes – baskets, mats, bags and other items – are now reaching a wider audience. Dr Manju Vasudevan emphasises that her greatest achievement has been the economic empowerment of Adivasi communities. “Engaging with the women’s collectives in various villages has been an experience in itself. The women now earn a steady income and are able to live independently without relying on others. They have also developed a habit of saving,” she concludes.