From forest collector to conservation leader: How Maithilee Bhue is changing Debrigarh
Sambalpur: For years, Maithilee Bhue, 40, walked into Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary almost daily. Like many tribal women in fringe villages, she collected firewood, mahua flowers, kendu leaves, tubers and bamboo shoots to sustain her family.
Today, the resident of Dhodrokusum village is helping protect the same forest — and inspiring dozens of other women to do the same.
Over the last three years, Maithilee has emerged as a key community leader around Debrigarh, encouraging women to shift from forest-dependent work to conservation-linked livelihoods. Her efforts have led nearly 40 women to move away from forest extraction, while more than 60 are now associated with various conservation initiatives.
Recognising her connect with local communities, Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary authorities asked her to mobilise women in surrounding villages. She travels from village to village, urging families to reduce dependence on forest resources — not to fell green trees, collect only dry firewood, and avoid harvesting kendu leaves inside the sanctuary.
The turning point came in 2023 when Maithilee became the first tribal woman from Dhodrokusum to join Debrigarh Ecotourism. After training, she secured full-time work at the Zero Point Restaurant. The steady income replaced seasonal uncertainty and helped her educate her two children, support her ailing mother-in-law, and bring financial stability home.
“When I first joined Debrigarh Ecotourism, many people in my village questioned my decision because women here had never taken up such work. But I believed it would help my family, and gradually others also realised its value,” Maithilee said.
As others saw the benefits, attitudes shifted. With support from the Hirakud Wildlife Division, women began joining ecotourism services, wildlife protection squads, meadow development, road maintenance and other year-round conservation work inside the sanctuary.
Divisional Forest Officer of Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das, said women are primary users of forest resources around Debrigarh, making their participation vital.
“Effective wildlife conservation begins with addressing the root causes of human-wildlife conflict. Today, Maithilee plays an important role in encouraging women to adopt conservation-linked livelihoods,” she said.
Beyond jobs, Maithilee promotes LPG and fuel-efficient cookstoves to cut firewood use, and pushes for toilets and proper waste management to keep garbage out of forests and reduce human-wildlife conflict. She also spreads awareness about wildlife laws.
The changes in Dhodrokusum earned it recognition as a Green Village. The Forest department has now selected it for women-managed tribal homestays, creating year-round livelihoods for local women, including widows and single women.
