Women play a central and indispensable role in the tribal economy and political structure. Their contribution extends beyond household responsibilities to include agriculture, forest-based livelihoods, livestock management, handicrafts, trade, and participation in social and cultural institutions. Although the status of women varies among different tribal communities, they generally enjoy greater economic participation and social mobility than women in many traditional caste-based rural societies. However, despite their significant contributions, they often face limitations in formal political representation and decision-making due to changing socio-economic conditions and patriarchal influences. In the tribal economy, women are the backbone of agricultural production. They participate in almost every stage of cultivation, including land preparation, sowing, transplanting, weeding, harvesting, threshing, and storage of crops. In shifting cultivation practiced by many tribes, women actively contribute to clearing fields, planting seeds, and collecting produce. Their labour ensures household food security and sustains agricultural productivity. In several tribal communities, women work alongside men without rigid occupational segregation, reflecting a relatively cooperative division of labour. Forest resources form an important component of tribal livelihoods, and women play a vital role in collecting minor forest produce such as fruits, nuts, roots, medicinal plants, honey, bamboo, tendu leaves, and fuelwood. They