. With change in the mindset, villagers of Mendha Lekha have emerged, not as recipients of the state’s freebies, but as community making active contribution to the processes of growth and development. Village has also emerged as a role model of self-help and collective decision making for promoting the common good in rural area.

1. 4 Unique Village- Village Mendha Lekha; Maharashtra-- India’s first Bamboo
Economy Village
Story of success of Village Mendha Lekha is a story of continued struggle and
recognising/leveraging the power of collective decision making on the part of rural
community, which ultimately led to Mendha Lekha becoming first village in India, to
secure the Community Forest Rights on 1800 ha of its land .
With 80 per cent area under forest; Gadchiroli district of state of Maharashtra ; is known
and valued for its biodiversity, dry forests and tribal communities. Forming part of
Gadchiroli district, Tribal village of Mendha-Lekha, is also known for not only its bio-
diversity and dry deciduous forest, but also valued for struggle of tribal community
towards self-rule.
Currently, housing approximately 400 people, Mendha Lekha community lives without
following any class and caste hierarchies. The entire population is composed of the Gond
tribe, which has ruled and inhabited the surrounding forests since time immemorial.
Initially village was largely ruled by poverty; with majority of population leading a life of
subsistence, based on resources made available under different welfare schemes
launched by the state/central governments, from time and time duly supplemented by
meagre income from forest.

2. Mendha-Lekha village holds the distinction of securing community forest rights after six
years of continued legal battle, to become first Indian village to be granted such a right.
Before gaining these rights, residents of village Mendha-Lekha, for their livelihood
depended largely on subsistence farming and on the forests. The average landholding
remains at five acres. The major source of income comprises of collection of non-timber
forest produce (NTFP) and daily wages earned from labour work undertaken with
government and private agencies.
Stepping out of the position of being merely a passive receivers of state largesse,
residents of Mendha Lekha village, took up the agenda and found its power in collective
decision making, which was then leveraged; to develop power to interact with the
parastatal agencies; take cognizance of the needs and capabilities of each of its people
and creating optimum living conditions/ environment for the community.
Based on the vested forest rights and cultivating bamboo ,as raw material for the paper
industry, village now has a thriving economy, Money thus earned is being invested for
promoting development and undertaking social welfare activities in the village besides
making human living more qualitative
Right/money thus earned has led to, ensuring transparent and efficient functioning of
village gram-sabha; embedding art and science of negotiations for its rights ; establishing
basic amenities in their village and promoting good governance in the village. No
Panchayat election has taken place in Mendha village for all these years. Panchayati Raj
Institute (PRI) members in the village are selected through consensus without incurring
the expenses for an election.
Most important gain for the villagers has been, the change in their mindset/ approach
from being merely a beneficiary to become an active citizen. With this change in the
mindset, villagers of Mendha Lekha have emerged, not as recipients of the state’s
freebies, but as community making active contribution to the processes of growth and
development. Village has also emerged as a role model of self-help and collective
decision making for promoting the common good in rural area.