Community Empowerment Through IPR: Enhancing Economic Opportunities for Tribal Communities in Maharashtra

Author(s)	Prof. Gauri Prashant Borade
Country	India
Abstract	Indigenous knowledge in Maharashtra from Warli painting to traditional uses of wild plants and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is both a cultural asset and an economic opportunity for tribal communities. Appropriately designed intellectual property rights (IPR) tools like Geographical Indications, collective trademarks, defensive documentation, and benefit-sharing contracts; can protect these resources from misappropriation while creating sustainable livelihoods. This case study examines four Maharashtra examples for Warli art; documentation of tribal botanical knowledge in Jawhar/Palghar; NTFP livelihood studies to draw lessons about how IPR and community-centered approaches can contribute to Viksit Bharat by empowering tribal communities economically and socially.
Keywords	Non-timber forest products (NTFPs), Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS), intellectual property rights (IPR), Geographical Indications (GI), Botanical Knowledge
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2025
Published On	2025-10-08
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.57442

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