The Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand and their Women Leaders
Almost 14% of forests in Uttarakhand are governed by van panchayats or the village forest councils, the country’s oldest forest management system. However, the van panchayats of Sarmoli and Shankhdhura villages are unique — they are led by local women.
This #WomensDay we celebrate the women guardians from the mountain state and their intimate ties with their community forests.
A Roundglass Sustain filmDirected by Neha Dixit
Updated August 26, 2025
A Roundglass Sustain filmDirected by Neha Dixit
Updated August 26, 2025
9 min watch
Almost 14% of forests in Uttarakhand are governed by van panchayats or the village forest councils, the country’s oldest forest management system. However, the van panchayats of Sarmoli and Shankhdhura villages are unique — they are led by local women.
This #WomensDay we celebrate the women guardians from the mountain state and their intimate ties with their community forests.
Watch the film in English. To turn on subtitles, click on the CC icon at the bottom of the YouTube video. A red line will appear under the icon once the subtitles have been enabled. Thumbnail: Neha Dixit
