Indian Forest Service officer boosts tribal livelihoods by growing herbal brand

Gitanjali Janarthanan, an Indian Forest Service officer, expanded the Vindhya Herbals brand to increase earnings for tribal families in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Janarthanan took charge of the MFP-PARC and noticed that tribal communities received small payments for selling raw herbs and honey. She worked to change this by developing finished products like herbal teas, essential oils, and skincare. This strategy adds value to forest produce before it reaches the market.

The brand now sells products through 28 Sanjeevani stores in Madhya Pradesh and at the MP Bhavan in Delhi. The company also produces mahua-based skincare and Ayurvedic medicines for children with sickle cell anaemia. These efforts support a federation ecosystem that includes nearly 40 lakh forest produce collectors.