Sustainable Livelihoods and 
Tribal Women’s Empowerment: Evidence from a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra in Jharkhand, India

The Van Dhan Yojana was launched to push the production and value addition of minor forest products to improve the livelihoods of tribal populations. However, research supporting its role in promoting women’s empowerment and sustainable livelihoods at the grassroots level is limited. This study seeks to investigate the experiences of women associated with the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) in Siladon, Khunti district, Jharkhand. A qualitative case study methodology was employed, and the main data were collected via in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 28 female beneficiaries. The data were analysed through thematic analysis using NVivo software. Five interrelated themes emerged: skill development and human capital formation, increased awareness and government support, social and economic empowerment, sustainability, and community development and spillover effects. The findings demonstrate that VDVK participation improved women’s income-generating opportunities, decision-making abilities, technical competencies and understanding of government programmes, while fostering collective action and sustainable resource utilisation. Simultaneously, participants recognised challenges related to irregular income, unequal access to host trees and enduring sociocultural constraints. The study, employing the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and Sen’s Capability Approach, illustrates that forest-based entrepreneurial interventions can enhance livelihoods and empower women if they are supported by training, market access and institutional assistance.