Chitrakoot district's indigenous communities and other communities that have now fallen below the poverty line depend on forests and forest produce for their livelihood . This includes forest produce such as mahua flowers used to make liquor, amla or gooseberries , chironji, tendu leaves to make beedis.

In the last few years, their livelihoods have been impacted significantly due to irregular rainfall, increasing hail storms, and changes in weather patterns. In this pixstory, we have attempted to show you how the mahua picking season has been cut short into half because of climate change and how this is affecting their livelihood. A proper full length mahua season meant food security the whole year round for indigenous families; now with the shortened season, it means insecurity, poverty, debt and hunger.

Researched by Meera Chitrakoot and Monika.