Known as the Lady Tarzan of Jharkhand (Muturkhan Village), Jamuna Tuddu is a 32-year-old woman who raised her voice against the timber mafia to protect trees. Jamuna’s group of 25 women goes for a routine forest patrolling with lathis and traditional weapons in hand.

They sing traditional folk warning songs to stop illegal woodcutters from cutting trees. They scan the 50-hectare forest and search for these illegal elements in East-Singhbum.

Summers were difficult as there was no shade to protect them. Life was tough without firewood for their kitchens, forage for cattle and water levels dipping across a 15-km area. Circumstances like these prompted them to take action against the timber mafia.

The last 10 years have seen the timber mafia chopping down every tree over 3 meters tall. The hilly terrain had become barren and dry. The same barren land has over 1 lakh trees today.

Team MSN She