ASSAGAO, May 18 -- ERWIN FONSECA

Now in her sixties, Ujwala is a familiar figure at the Sonarkhet Temple, where she sits every Thursday selling flowers and garlands. A widow with one daughter, she has never

allowed adversity to slow her down. Despite facing health issues, Ujwala continues to work with quiet

determination. "A sense of commitment to work keeps ailments away," she says. Her income from flower sales, though modest, is sufficient to meet her daily needs, thanks to a frugal lifestyle.

Born into a farming family, Ujwala moved to Assagao after marriage. It was alongside her late husband that she first began venturing into the forests surrounding the village. Over time, the practice of foraging became an essential part of her ...