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Basudev Mahapatra

With no increase in tiger count, tribes continue to be relocated

June 26, 2020 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

In January this year, 110 adult members of 60 families were relocated from Khejuri village inside Similipal Tiger Reserve. Those remaining inside the reserve allege that the forest department officials carry out relocation by threatening them.

Residents of tribal villages inside Similipal Tiger Reserve, in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, are being relocated to places outside its limits for conservation and protection of tigers, the tigers’ prey base, and the forest as a whole.

Most people inhabiting the villages inside Similipal are tribes like Kol, Ho, Santal, Bhumij, etc. and particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) like the Hill-Khadia or Khadia and Mankadia tribes. Almost all of them depend on Similipal forest for their livelihood.

With many of the relocated tribal people unhappy, citing unmet promises, those in villages earmarked for relocation allege violation of laws protecting tribal rights. This has led to a conflict between tiger conservation ambitions and the habitat rights of indigenous communities living inside the forest since several generations.

Space for tigers

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) is the fifth largest tiger reserve of India. Spread over 2750 sq km it comprises a Wildlife Sanctuary and a proposed National Park. STR, however, has not seen encouraging growth of tiger population in the last few years.

According to Odisha Wildlife Organization, STR faces major threats from the four lakh people living in the periphery and 10,000 living inside, and the population growing at the rate of 20% each decennial.

A 2009 study on conservation status of STR, conducted by a committee appointed by National Tiger Conservation Authority, recommended strategies to alleviate resource conflicts between people and wildlife by facilitating voluntary relocations to create inviolate space for tigers and other wild animals.

People vs tigers

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act or FRA, 2006 and Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972, amended in 2006, mandate that voluntary relocation should be the option when it is established that presence of the right holders shall cause irreversible damage and threaten the existence of tigers and their habitat.

“Government should make public the name of experts who draw conclusions that the tribes will cause irreversible damage to the tiger habitat and there is no option of co-existence,” Sankar Prasad Pani, Bhubaneswar based lawyer specializing in environment and forest rights, told VillageSquare.in.

Emphasizing upon conservation of tigers and their habitat rights, Lala Aswini Kumar Singh, retired senior research officer of STR, said that there should be equal importance to the habitat rights of the tigers as of the tribes. “Since wild animals can’t claim their rights, creating an inviolate space for the big cats and their prey base is our duty,” he said.

Long-drawn relocation

As prescribed by the STR management plan, only Kabataghai, Jamunagarh, Jenabil and Bakua, the four villages in the core zone, were to be relocated outside the reserve. While there are 61 villages in the entire sanctuary, the state government decided, in July1988, to relocate these four villages.

Between 1994 and 2003, 72 families were relocated from Jamunagarh, Jenabil and Kabatghai villages, according to a research paper by anthropologist Madhulika Sahoo.

Families of Upper Barhakamuda and Bahaghar faced relocation in 2013. In 2015, 47 families living in Kabataghai and 35 families living in Jamunagada were relocated to Mananda and Nabara respectively. Villagers from Kiajhari and Ramjodi and a few families from Nuagaon, Baniabasa, Gudgudia and Matiagadia were relocated in between.

Forced relocation

STR authorities claim that all the relocations have been voluntary. However the tribal people said that they had been compelled to relocate.

“The forest department staff pressurize us to relocate and say that we will lose all our land and privileges unless we agree to their proposal. We are subjected to live a restricted life and our people are entangled with false cases,” Madhu Dehury (56) of Khejuri village.

However, Kapil Prasad Das, Jashipur based Deputy Director of Similipal North Wildlife Division, said, “We never undertake forced relocation but ensure voluntary relocation by educating tribal people on tiger conservation, relocation packages and the opportunities outside the forest to live a better life.”

Discontent voices

After relocation to the new settlements, people are facing many problems. “STR authorities do the same in all the cases of voluntary relocation and leave people to live in temporary sheds for months,” said Mahanty Birua, sarpanch of Astakumar panchayat.

“It’s already three months and we live under tin roofs since the officials brought us from Khejuri to the temporary sheds at Saleibeda. Although 10 decimal of land for each family for housing is marked, the houses are yet to be constructed,” said a Khadia tribe.

“The officials say construction is delayed due to nationwide lockdown. As summer has arrived, life is becoming difficult now. They could have constructed the houses before shifting us,” Ramchandra Dehury (47) told VillageSqaure.in.

Khadia and Kol tribes relocated from Kiajhari to Khandiadar are unhappy as the government provided six decimal of land instead of the promised 10 decimal. “We have no backyard to grow greens and vegetables to support our livelihood. Officials are silent about the four decimal of land,” said Ranjit Dehury (40) a Khadia tribe resettled in Khandiadar.

Inaccessible compensation

It’s not only housing, but limited freedom to utilize the compensation money also leads to hardships. “As the compensation money is in a joint account with sub-collector as a co-signatory, we are unable to withdraw and use our money in times of emergencies,” Maya Murmu (40), a widow and mother of four children living at Mananda colony for people relocated from Kabatghai village, told VillageSquare.in.

Ghasiram Marandi wanted to buy land near his new settlement at Mananda, but could not. “I cannot withdraw money at my will,” he said. Earlier, some people sought permission from the sub-collector to withdraw money for similar purposes. The administration asked them to buy land at government rates. “Who is going to sell us land at that price?” said Ghasiram.

“As the compensation packages are highlighted by the forest department, people think we got huge money and became rich. But, in fact, we survive on the monthly interest without having any access to the compensation money even in times of emergencies,” Basanti Dehury (40), mother of three children, told VillageSquare.in.

“Such stories reflecting the plights of relocated people reach the villages in Similipal making remaining people reluctant to relocate,” said Er. Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Member of Legislative Assembly from Jashipur.

“It is essential that the relocated families get all benefits of being out of the forest,” Lala Aswini Kumar Singh told VillageSquare.in. “They need to realize that their lives have changed with improved transport, education, healthcare, new livelihood opportunities, etc. after relocation. Their stories would motivate others to relocate.”

Khuntia said that the tribes should understand the benefits of relocating. “Inside the forests there is no development. They are confined to their villages for several months during monsoons. There are no schools. It takes hours to reach a hospital. Who wants a life like this? They live inside the forest because what will they do outside? How will they survive?”

“Good education and employment opportunities can be the game changers for the forest, its wildlife, and the tribes as well,” Khuntia told VillageSqaure.in. “You don’t need to force them to relocate, they will shift voluntarily to live a better life availing better services and opportunities.”

This article was first appeared in VillageSqaure.in .

Filed Under: English Tagged With: Mayurbhanj, Odisha

ଓଡିଆ ଜନଜାତିଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ରୋକିଛି ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା

March 14, 2020 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

ଗଜପତି ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଗୁମ୍ମା ବ୍ଲକ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ କେରଙ୍ଗ ଗାଁର ସାଗରିକା ରାଇକା (୨୧) ଇଣ୍ଟିଗ୍ରେଟେଡ ଡିଷ୍ଟ୍ରିକ୍ଟ ଇଣ୍ଟରଭେନସନ ପ୍ରୋଗ୍ରାମ (ଆଇଡିଆଇ)ର କ୍ଲଷ୍ଟର ସଂଯୋଜକ ଭାବେ କାମ କରୁଛନ୍ତି । କିଶୋରୀ ଓ ମହିଳାମାନଙ୍କ ସଶକ୍ତିକରଣ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଗତ ୪ ବର୍ଷ ହେଲା କାମ କରୁଛନ୍ତି ।

୧୬ ବର୍ଷ ହୋଇଥିବା ବେଳେ ବାପା –ମା’ ଠିକ କରିଥିବା ବିବାହ ବିରୋଧରେ ସ୍ୱର ଉତ୍ତୋଳନ କରି ସେ ନିଜ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟରେ ବେଶ ପରିଚିତ । ଝିଅମାନେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ବା ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ବିରୋଧରେ ସ୍ୱର ଉତ୍ତୋଳନ କରିବାକୁ ସାହସ କରିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ । ହେଲେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ପାଇଥିବା ରାଇକା ଏହା କରି ପାରିଥିଲେ ।

ବିଶ୍ୱ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ସଂଗଠନ (ଡବ୍ଲୁଏଚଓ) ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଦୈନନ୍ଦିନ ଜୀବନର ଆହ୍ୱାନ ଓ ସମସ୍ୟାକୁ ସଫଳତାର ସହ ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ନିକଟରେ ଥିବା ସକାରାତ୍ମକ ମନୋଭାବ ଓ ଖାପ ଖୁଆଇବାର କ୍ଷମତାକୁ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ କୁହାଯାଏ ।

ଶିଶୁ ଓ କିଶୋର ସୁସ୍ଥ ତଥା ଭଲ ରହିବା ପାଇଁ ଜୀବନ କୈାଶଳର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ରହିଛି । ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ନେବା, ସମସ୍ୟା ସମାଧାନ, ରଚନାତ୍ମକ ଓ ମହତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବନା, ଉପଯୁକ୍ତ ଯୋଗାଯୋଗ, ପାରସ୍ପରିକ ସମ୍ପର୍କ, ସଚେତନତା, ସହାନୁଭୂତି ଓ ଚାପ ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳର ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ରହିଛି ।

ଆଦିବାସୀ ସ୍କୁଲଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ପ୍ରଦାନ କରା ଯାଉଥିବା ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ତାଲିମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଝିଅମାନେ ସଶକ୍ତ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି ଓ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ପ୍ରଥା କମିଛି ।

ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ

ପରିବାର ଓ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟର ଚାପ ତଥା ସଚେତନତା ଅଭାବ ଯୋଗୁଁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ହୋଇଥାଏ ବୋଲି କୁହନ୍ତି ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାସେବୀ ସଂଗଠନ ପିପୁଲ୍ସ ରୁରାଲ ଏଜୁକେସନ ମୁଭମେଣ୍ଟ (ପିଆରଇଏମ)ର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧକ ସଂଯୁକ୍ତା ତ୍ରିପାଠୀ ।

କିଶୋରୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପିଆରଇଏମ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ଆୟୋଜିତ କରୁଛି । କିଶୋରାବସ୍ଥାରେ ହେଉଥିବା ଶାରୀରିକ ପରିବର୍ତନ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷାରୁ କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀମାନେ ସୂଚନା ପାଇପାରନ୍ତି ।

ଭାରତୀୟ ଆଇନ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ୧୮ ବର୍ଷ କିମ୍ବା ତାଠାରୁ କମ୍ ବୟସର ଝିଅ ଓ ୨୧ ବର୍ଷ ବୟସରୁ ସାନ ପୁଅ ବିବାହ କଲେ ତାକୁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ କୁହାଯିବ ଓ ତାହା ଦଣ୍ଡନୀୟ ଅପରାଧ । ଗର୍ଲସ ନଟ ବ୍ରାଇଡସ୍, ବିଶ୍ୱସ୍ତରୀୟ ସଂଗଠନ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ, ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ସୁଯୋଗକୁ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରିଥାଏ । ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କୁ ହିଂସା ମୁହଁକୁ ଠେଲି ଦେବା ସହ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦାରିଦ୍ର୍ୟର ଚକ୍ରରେ ବାନ୍ଧି ରଖୁଥିବା ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ଜାତିସଂଘର ଅତି କମରେ ଛଅଟି ନିରନ୍ତର ବିକାଶ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ହାସଲରେ ବାଧା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରୁଛି ।

ସରକାରୀ ଉପକ୍ରମ

ଅନୁସୂଚିତ ଜାତି ଓ ଜନଜାତି ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ପ୍ରଥା ରହିଛି । ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସରକାର ଜୀବନ ଶୈଳୀ ଶିକ୍ଷାକୁ ଅନୁସୂଚିତ ଜାତି ଓ ଜନଜାତି ବିଭାଗ, ସଂଖ୍ୟାଲଘୁ ଓ ପଛୁଆ ବର୍ଗ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ବିଭାଗ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପରିଚାଳିତ ସମସ୍ତ ଆବାସିକ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ପାଠ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ସାମିଲ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।

ୟୁନାଇଟେଡ ନେସନ୍ସ ପପୁଲେସନ ଫଣ୍ଡ (ୟୁଏନଏଫପିଏ) ଓ ସିଭିଲ ସୋସାଇଟି ସଂଗଠନ ସହ ଭାଗିଦାରୀରେ ବିଭାଗ ରାଜ୍ୟର ୧୬୭୦ ସ୍କୁଲରେ ପଢୁଥିବା ୬ ଲକ୍ଷ ୫୦ ହଜାରରୁ ଅଧିକ ପିଲାଙ୍କୁ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ପ୍ରଦାନ କରୁଛି ।

ଏହି ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ ପଦ୍ଧତିରେ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ୨୦୧୫ରୁ ଆମେ କିଶୋରାବସ୍ଥାରେ ହେଉଥିବା ଶାରୀରିକ ଓ ସଂଜ୍ଞାନାତ୍ମକ ବିକାଶ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ସଚେତନ କରୁଛି । ଏହା ସହିତ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ, ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ଓ ଯୌନ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ ଭ୍ରମାତ୍ମକ ଧାରଣା ଦୂରେଇ ଥାଏ ବୋଲି କହିଛନ୍ତି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଆବାସିକ ଆଦିବାସୀ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟଗୁଡିକର ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମ ପ୍ରବନ୍ଧକ ସୁଶାନ୍ତ କୁମାର ପଣ୍ଡା ।

ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କ ସଚେତନତା

ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ମୁଁ କିଶୋରାବସ୍ଥାରେ ହେଉଥିବା ଶାରୀରିକ ଓ ବ୍ୟବହାର ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ତଥା ଏହା ସହିତ ଖାପ ଖୁଆଇବା ଶିଖିଛି । ସମ୍ଭାବିତ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହର ପରିଣାମ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଆମେ ସଚେତନ ହୋଇପାରିଛୁ । ବାପା, ମା ମୋର ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ଯୋଜନା କରିଥିଲେ । ହେଲେ ମୁଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏହାର କୁପରିଣାମ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ବୁଝାଇଥିଲି ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ସାଗରିକା ରଇକା ।

ଅଧିକାଂଶ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ବିବାହ ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗରେ କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀମାନେ ଚାପର ମୁକାବିଲା କରିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ । ଆମେ କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆତ୍ମ ସଚେତନ କରାଉଛୁ, ନିଜକୁ କିପରି ବୁଝିପାରିବେ ଶିଖାଉଛୁ, ନିଜସ୍ୱ ପରିଚୟ ସୃଷ୍ଟି, ନକାରାତ୍ମକ ଚାପକୁ ବିରୋଧ ଓ ଜୀବନ ଜୀଇଁବାକୁ ଶିଖାଉଛୁ ବୋଲି ସୁଶାନ୍ତ ପଣ୍ଡା କହିଛନ୍ତି ।

କେରବା ସରକାରୀ ବାଳିକା ଉଚ୍ଚ ବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟର ଛାତ୍ରୀ ମୃଦୁ୍ୟସ୍ମିତା ଶବର କୁହନ୍ତି ଆମ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟ ଆମକୁ ଅନେକ ଅନ୍ଧବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଓ ଲୋକକଥା ଶିଖାଇବା ସହ ସେଗୁଡିକୁ ମାନିବୁ ବୋଲି ଆଶା ରଖିଥାଏ ।

ପ୍ରତି ଶନିବାର ଘଣ୍ଟାଏ ଲେଖାଁ ଏହି କ୍ଲାସ କରିବା ପରେ ଆମେ ଜ୍ଞାନର ମହତ୍ୱ ବୁଝିପାରିଲୁ ।

ସଶକ୍ତ ଝିଅ

ରାୟଗଡ଼ା ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଗୁଣୁପୁର ବ୍ଲକର କେରବା ସ୍କୁଲରେ ପଢୁଥିବା ରାଇମଣି ଗମାଙ୍ଗ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ସାଙ୍ଗମାନେ ନିଜ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ନେଇ ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିଛନ୍ତି । ଆମେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଅଧିବେଶନରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେଇ ନିଜ ଦକ୍ଷତା ଓ ଉନ୍ନତ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଦିଗରେ ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେବା ପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ୟା ସମାଧନର ସୂତ୍ର ଜାଣିବା ପରେ ଏହି ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିବା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଛୁ ବୋଲି ଗମାଙ୍ଗ କହିଛନ୍ତି ।

ଏ ପ୍ରକାର ଶିକ୍ଷା ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କ ଜୀବନ ପ୍ରତି ଦୃଷ୍ଟିଭଙ୍ଗୀ ବଦଳାଇ ଦେଇଛି ବୋଲି କହିଛନ୍ତି ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ତାଲିମ ହାସଲ କରିଥିବା ସ୍କୁଲ ହଷ୍ଟେଲର ମାଟ୍ରନ ଉମାରାଣି ଗୌଡ । ସେମାନେ ଆଉ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ସମସ୍ୟା ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ କଥା ହେବାକୁ ଲାଜ କରୁନାହାନ୍ତି । ନିଜ ଜୀବନ ଓ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରୁଥିବା ପ୍ରସଙ୍ଗଗୁଡ଼ିକର ସମାଧାନ ପାଇଁ ଏବେ ସେମାନେ ସକ୍ଷମ ।

ସୁଦୂରପ୍ରସାରୀ ପ୍ରଭାବ

ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷାର ପ୍ରଭାବ କେବଲ କ୍ୟାମ୍ପସରେ ସୀମିତ ରହିନାହିଁ । କଳିଙ୍ଗ ଇନଷ୍ଟିଚୁ୍ୟଟ ଅଫ ସୋସିଆଲ ସାଇନ୍ସେସ (କିସ), ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱରରେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଦାୟିତ୍ୱରେ ଥିବା ସବ୍ୟସାରୀ ରାଉତ କହିଛନ୍ତି ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀମାନେ ଗାଁରେ ନିଜ ବନ୍ଧୁ କିମ୍ବା ବାନ୍ଧବୀଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏହା ଶିଖାଉଛନ୍ତି । ତେଣୁ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟ ଉପରେ ଏହାର ବେଶ ପ୍ରଭାବ ପଡୁଛି ।

କିସରେ ଏମଏସସି ଫିଜିକ୍ସ ପଢୁଥିବା କୁମାରୀ ଦୀପାଞ୍ଜଳି ପ୍ରଧାନ କହିଛନ୍ତି ସ୍କୁଲ ଛାଡ଼ିଥିବା ପିଲା ଓ କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀମାନେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଅଭାବରୁ ନିଜେ ନିଷ୍ପତ୍ତି ନେଇପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ ।

ଛୁଟିରେ ଆମେ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରୋଜେକ୍ଟ ତିଆରି କରୁ । ଏହା ସାହାଯ୍ୟରେ ସେମାନେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନରୁ ପାଇଥିବା ଜ୍ଞାନକୁ ନିଜ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟରେ ବାଣ୍ଟି ପାରନ୍ତି । ମୁଁ ସଉରା ଜନଜାତିର, ଯେତେବେଳେ ମୁଁ ଛୁଟିରେ ଘରକୁ ଯାଏ, ସେତେବେଳେ ବନ୍ଧୁ, ସମ୍ପର୍କୀୟ ଓ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟର ସଦସ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ନିଜେ ଶିଖିଥିବା କୌଶଳ ଶିଖାଇବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ । ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ କାହିଁକି ବନ୍ଦ ହେବା ଉଚିତ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ବୁଝାଏ ବୋଲି କୁହନ୍ତି ମୃଦୁ୍ୟସ୍ମିତା ଶବର ।

ହ୍ରାସ ପାଉଛି ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ

ଆଦିବାସୀ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟର କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସଚେତନତା ସୃଷ୍ଟି ଓ ଝିଅମାନଙ୍କୁ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଗଢ଼ିବାର ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିବାରେ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରି ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଆଦିବାସୀ ବହୁଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାଗୁଡ଼ିକ ତଥା ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିହାହ ସଂଖ୍ୟା କମାଇ ପାରିଛି । ୨୦୧୬ ଶେଷ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ଗୁମ୍ମା ବ୍ଲକରେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଯୋଗୁଁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ସଂଖ୍ୟା ପ୍ରାୟ ଶୂନ୍ୟ ଥିଲା ।

ଆଦିବାସୀ ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାୟଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ପ୍ରଥା ବେଶ ପ୍ରଚଳିତ । ଜାତୀୟ ପରିବାର ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ସର୍ବେକ୍ଷଣ ୪ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ୫ଟି ଆଦିବାସୀ ବହୁଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ମାଲକାନଗିରି, ନବରଙ୍ଗପୁର, ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜ, କୋରାପୁଟ, ରାୟଗଡ଼ାରେ ଏହି ପ୍ରଥା ଅଣଆଦିବାସୀ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ବର୍ଗରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ରହିଛି ।

ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବନ୍ଦ କରିବାକୁ ହେଲେ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା ସମସ୍ତ ହାଇସ୍କୁଲରେ ଦିଆଯିବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ଅକ୍ସଫାମରେ କାମ କରୁଥିବା ଜେଣ୍ଡର ସ୍ପେଶାଲିଷ୍ଟ ରୁକ୍ମିଣୀ ପଣ୍ଡା ।

ହାଇସ୍କୁଲ ପାଠ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଲିଙ୍ଗଗତ ଶିକ୍ଷା ରହିବା ଉଚିତ ଓ ଜୀବନ କୌଶଳ ଶିକ୍ଷା କିଶୋର/କିଶୋରୀ ଓ ଯୁବ ବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଲିଙ୍ଗଗତ ସଚେତନତା ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିବା ଉପରେ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରିତ ହେବା ଉଚିତ ।

ନୂଆ ପ୍ରୟାସ

ଆକ୍ସନଏଡ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ରିପୋର୍ଟ ଭାରତରୁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ଉଚ୍ଛେଦ ଅନୁଯାୟୀ ଷଷ୍ଠ ଶ୍ରେଣୀ ଓ ତଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଧ ଶ୍ରେଣୀରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହର କୁପରିଣାମ ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ପାଠ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ସାମିଲ ହେବ ଉଚିତ ।

ଅକ୍ଟୋବର ୨୦୧୯ରେ ଓଡିଶା ସରକାର ପାଞ୍ଚ ବର୍ଷିଆ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଯୋଜନା ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରିବା ସହ ୨୦୩୦ ସୁଦ୍ଧା ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନୂଆ ନିୟମ ପ୍ରଣୟନ କରିଛନ୍ତି ।

ରାଜ୍ୟ ସରକାର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ନିରୋଧ ଅଧିକାରୀ ନିଯୁକ୍ତ କରିବେ । ଦାୟିତ୍ୱରେ ଥିବା ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ରୋକିବାରେ ବିଫଳ ଅଧିକାରୀଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ସେ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳାଗତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାନୁଷ୍ଠାନ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରପାରିବେ । ଏହି ପ୍ରଥା ସାମାଜିକ ନିୟମ, କୁସଂସ୍କାର ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ କାରଣରୁ ଚାଲିଥିବାରୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଏହାର ସମାଧାନ କରିପାରିବ ନାହିଁ । ସ୍କୁଲ ଛାତ୍ରଛାତ୍ରୀ ଓ ଗୋଷ୍ଠୀ ସ୍ତରରେ ଶିକ୍ଷା ଓ ଲିଙ୍ଗଗତ ସଚେତନତା ରାଜ୍ୟକୁ ବାଲ୍ୟ ବିବାହ ମୁକ୍ତ କରିପାରିବ ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ରୁକ୍ମିଣୀ ପଣ୍ଡା ।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

Filed Under: Odia Tagged With: ଓଡିଶା, ଗଜପତି

Life skills education prevents child marriages among Odiya tribes

March 6, 2020 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

Sagarika Raika (21), of Keranga village in Gumma administrative block of Gajapati district works as a cluster coordinator under Odisha’s Integrated District Intervention program (IDI). She has been working towards empowerment of adolescent girls and women for the past four years.

She is popular in the community for standing against the marriage her parents finalized when she was 16, since girls dared not go against social norms like early or child marriage. Raika could do so because of the life skills education she had received.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), life skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behavior that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.

Life skills required for the health and well-being of children and adolescents include decision making, problem solving, creative and critical thinking, effective communication, interpersonal relationship, self-awareness, empathy, and coping with stress.

Life skills training imparted to tribal school students in Odisha has empowered girls, and brought down the common practice of child marriages.

Child marriages

“Child marriages take place due to pressure from the family and community, and lack of awareness on the fallouts of early marriage,” said Sanjukta Tripathy, program manager at People’s Rural Education Movement (PREM), a local non-profit organization.

PREM conducts life skills education programs for adolescent girls. “Life skills education informs and empowers adolescents deal with issues such as physical changes during adolescence.

As per Indian laws, any marriage where the girl is below 18 and/or the boy is below 21 years of age is a child marriage, a punishable offence. Other than legal implications, according to Girls Not Brides, a global alliance of organizations, child marriage violates girls’ rights to health, education and opportunity.

While exposing girls to violence, and trapping them in a cycle of poverty, child marriages hinder the achievement of at least six of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Government initiative

Child marriage being prevalent among scheduled tribe (ST) and scheduled caste (SC) communities, Odisha government has included life skills education as an academic component in all residential schools run by ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department.

In partnership with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and civil society organizations, the department provides life skills education to more than 6,50,000 students studying in 1,670 schools across the state.

“Through this scientifically designed program, since 2015, we have been creating awareness about physical and cognitive growth during adolescence, and demystifying myths about personal health, individuality and sexuality,” said Sushant Kumar Panda, program manager for life skills education in Odisha’s residential tribal schools.

Awareness for girls

“In life skills education sessions I learnt about the physical and behavioral changes integral to adolescence and the ways to cope with them. We were also sensitized about the possible consequences of early marriage, which helped me convince my parents about my planned early marriage,” said Sagarika Raika.

In most cases, adolescents find it difficult to oppose pressure, when it comes to marriage. “We bring self-awareness among the adolescents, to understand themselves, establish their personal identity, resist any negative pressure, and live up to their full potential,” said Panda.

“Our community teaches us different myths and beliefs, expecting us to conform to popular gender norms,” Mridusmita Sabara, a student of Keraba Government Girls’ High School.

“After attending these classes for an hour every Saturday, we understand the importance of knowledge.”

Empowered girls

Raimani Gamanga and her classmates at Keraba school in Gunupur block of Rayagada district have dreams regarding their future. “The dreams came naturally after we attended life skills sessions, when we realized our potential and ways to tackle issues in life to move ahead for a better future,” said Gamanga.

“Such education has changed the views of the girls about life,” said Umarani Gauda, matron of the school hostel who has also received special training on life skills. “They are not shy any more to talk about personal issues. Now they are capable of dealing with issues affecting their life and future.”

Far-reaching impact

Impact of life skills education is not confined to the campus. According to Sabyasachi Rout, who is in charge of life skills education at Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), with students educating friends and peers in their village, it impacts the communities as well.

Kumari Deepanjali Pradhan, a tribal girl pursuing M.Sc. Physics at KISS, said that school dropouts and adolescents find it difficult take decisions on their own, due to lack of life skills training.

“During vacations, we prepare projects for the students so they can help their communities by passing on the knowledge they gained at the institute.

“I belong to the Saora tribe; when I go home during holidays, I try to share my knowledge with friends, relatives and other community members, and try to convince them why child marriages should be stopped,” said Mridusmita Sabara.

Reduced child marriages

By creating self-awareness among adolescents from tribal communities and helping the girls nurture dreams, life skills education has been successful in bringing down the number of child marriages in districts with predominant tribal population and in the state as well, said Panda. By end of 2016, in Gumma block, child marriages were almost nil because of life skills education

Though child marriages are more prevalent in tribal communities, with top five being tribal populated districts of Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Rayagada, as per National Family Health Survey 4, the custom prevails in non-tribal and upper class communities too.

“Life skills education needs to be extended to all high schools if child marriages across communities are to end,” said Rukmini Panda, gender specialist working with OXFAM.

“There should be gender education in high school curricula; and life skill education should be gender focused to create gender awareness among adolescents and youth.”

Renewed efforts

According to Eliminating Child Marriage in India, a report by ActionAid, negative consequences of child marriages must be included in the curriculum of class six and above.

In October 2019, Odisha government announced a five-year action plan and new rules to make the state child marriage free by 2030.

The state government would appoint a Chief Child Marriage Prohibition Officer empowered to initiate action against officials failing to prevent child marriages in their jurisdictions.

“As the custom is governed by social norms, stigma and other factors, punishments may not be the solution,” said Rukmini Panda. “Education and gender sensitization among school students and at community level would make the state child marriage free.”

Filed Under: English Tagged With: Gajapati, Ganjam, Odisha

ବିଶେଷ : ଆଦିବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ବଞ୍ଚିବାର ରାହା ଦେଖାଉଛି ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ

February 11, 2020 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବର, ଫେବ୍ରୁଆରି ୧୧ (ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର): ମୁଣ୍ଡରେ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଭାବେ ରଂଗ କରାହୋଇଥିବା ମାଟିପାତ୍ର ଧରି ଶତାଧିକ ମହିଳା ନୟାଗଡ଼ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଦଶପଲ୍ଲା ବ୍ଲକର ଗମ୍ଭାରୀଖୋଳ ଗାଁ ଆଡ଼କୁ ମାଡ଼ି ଚାଲିଥିଲେ।

ସେମାନଙ୍କ ମୁଣ୍ଡରେ ଥିବା ସେହି ମାଟିପାତ୍ରଗୁଡ଼ିକରେ ଗତ ଖରିଫ ଋତୁରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଜମିରୁ ଉତ୍ପାଦିତ ଧାନ ବିହନ ଭର୍ତ୍ତି ହୋଇଥିଲା, ଯେଉଁ ବିହନ ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଦେଶୀ ଓ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଭାବେ ପୁରୁଷ ପୁରୁଷ ଧରି ଏହି ଅଂଚଳବାସୀ ଯେଉଁ ଫସଲ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରିଆସୁଛନ୍ତି।

ମହିଳାମାନଙ୍କର ଏହି ଧାଡ଼ି ଲମ୍ବିଥିଲା ଏଠାରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଥିବା ବାର୍ଷିକ ବିହନ ପର୍ବ ଆଡ଼କୁ, ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ଏମାନଙ୍କ ଭଳି ଆଖପାଖ ଅଠର ଖଣ୍ଡ ଗାଁଲୋକ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ଆଉ ସମସ୍ତେ ନିଜ ନିଜ ଘରୁ ଦେଶୀ ଧାନ ବିହନ ସହ ଏଠାରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଥିଲେ।

ଦେଶୀ ବାଦ୍ୟର ତାଳେ ତାଳେ ଧାନ ବିହନ ନେଇ ଏଠାକୁ ଆସିଥିବା ପୁରୁଷ ଓ ମହିଳାମାନେ ଆଗେଇଚାଲିଥିଲେ ପର୍ବସ୍ଥଳକୁ, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଅମଳ ଉତ୍ସବ ପାଳନ ସହ ବିହନ ବଦଳ କରି ସମସ୍ତ ଚାଷୀ ଗୋଟିଏ ପରିବାରର ବୋଲି ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦେଇଥିଲେ।

କନ୍ଧ-ଅନ୍ଧାରିକୁଟୁ ଗାଁର କଇଁତା ମାଝି (୪୫)ଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏହା ଏକ ଉତ୍ସବ ହିଁ ଥିଲା।

ଗତ କିଛି ବର୍ଷର ଲଗାତର ମରୁଡ଼ି ପରେ ୨୦୧୯ ଖରିଫ ଋତୁରେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜମିରେ ଭଲ ଫସଲ ହୋଇଥିଲା।

“ସରକାର ଯୋଗାଇଦେଉଥିବା ଅଧିକ ଉତ୍ପାଦନକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ, ଯାହା ବଜାରରେ ମିଳୁଛି, ଆମକୁ ନିୟମିତ ଫସଲ ହାନିରୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରିପାରିନଥିଲା।

ତେଣୁ ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷ ମୁଁ ମୋ ଜମିରେ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଝୁମ୍ପୁରି ଜାତୀୟ ବିହନ ବୁଣିଥିଲି। ଆଉ ମୁଁ ଅତି ଖୁସି ଯେ କମ୍ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚରେ ମୁଁ ଏଥର ଭଲ ଅମଳ କରିପାରିଛି।

ଅନିୟମିତ ବର୍ଷା ଓ ପାଣିର ଅଭାବ ଯୋଗୁଁ ଗତ ଖରିଫ ଋତୁରେ ଆମ ଅଂଚଳର ଅନେକ ଚାଷୀ କ୍ଷତିଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ,” ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି କଇଁତା।

ଚାଷୀମାନଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ, ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଏହି ଅଂଚଳ ପାହାଡ଼ିଆ ହୋଇଥିବାରୁ ଏଠାରେ ପାଣିର ଅଭାବ ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଗତ କିଛି ଦଶନ୍ଧି ଧରି ମରୁଡ଼ି ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହୋଇଚାଲିଛି।

ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ଧାନର ମୋହଭଙ୍ଗ

ଅଧିକ ଅମଳ ଆଶାରେ ସରକାର ଚାଷୀଙ୍କୁ ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ଯୋଗାଇଦିଅନ୍ତି।

ତେବେ ଚାଷୀଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ, ସାମାନ୍ୟ ପାଣିପାଗ ଏପଟସେପଟ ହେଲେ ଏହି ବିହନରୁ ଉପୁଜିଥିବା ଫସଲ ନଷ୍ଟ ହେବାର ଆଶଙ୍କା ଥାଏ, ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଏସବୁ ବିହନର ଆମ ପାଣିପାଗ ସହଣି ଶକ୍ତି କମ୍।

“ଚାଷ ଋତୁ ଆରମ୍ଭରେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ଖୁବ୍ କମ୍ ବର୍ଷା ହୁଏ ବା ଅଧିକ ବର୍ଷା ହୋଇଯାଏ, ସେତେବେଳେ ଏହି ବିହନରୁ ଗଛ ଉଠିବା କଷ୍ଟକର। ସେହିପରି ଚାଷ ମଝିରେ ଅଧିକ ବର୍ଷା ହୋଇ ବିଲରେ ପାଣି ଜମିଲେ ଧାନଗଛର ମୂଳ ସଢ଼ିଯାଏ। ମରୁଡ଼ି ଭଳି ସମୟରେ ଜମିରେ ଏଭଳି ଧାନ ଗଛ ପୋଡ଼ିଗଲା ଭଳି ଦିଶେ। ସେ ଯାହା ଯେତେବେଳେ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଚାଷୀ ହିଁ କ୍ଷତି ସହେ,” ବୋଲି ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ବରପାଲି ଗାଁର ଚାଷୀ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ପ୍ରଧାନ (୪୭) କହନ୍ତି।

ବିଶେଷଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ ମତରେ, ସବୁଜ ବିପ୍ଳବ ସମୟରେ ଭାରତୀୟ ଚାଷଜମିକୁ ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲା, ଯାହାର ମରୁଡ଼ି ଓ ବନ୍ୟା ସହଣି ଶକ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

ଏସବୁ ପାଇଁ ପାଣି ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ରସାୟନିକ ସାର ଓ କୀଟନାଶକ ପରିଚାଳନା ସଠିକ୍ ହେବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ।

ଉଚ୍ଚ ଜାଗାରେ ରହୁଥିବାରୁ ଏହି ଅଂଚଳର ଅଧିକାଂଶ ଚାଷୀ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରକାର କୃଷି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ବର୍ଷାଜଳ ଉପରେ ନିର୍ଭର କରିଥାନ୍ତି।

“ଯଦିଓ ବର୍ଷକୁ ବର୍ଷ ଅଧିକରୁ ଅଧିକ ରସାୟନିକ ସାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକ କଲା, ତଥାପି ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭିକ ଦୁଇ ତିନି ବର୍ଷ ଧରି ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ଆମକୁ ଭଲ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ ଦେଲା।

ତେବେ ଏହା ଅଘଧିକରୁ ଅଧିକ ପୋକ ତଥା ରୋଗଙ୍କୁ ବି ଡାକିଆଣିଲା ବୋଲି କହିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ। ଚାଷୀମାନେ ବଜାରରୁ କୀଟନାଶକ ଆଣି ଫସଲ ବଞ୍ଚାଇବାକୁ ବାଧ୍ୟ ହେଲେ।

ଏହିପରି ଭାବରେ ପ୍ରତିବର୍ଷ ଚାଷ ପାଇଁ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ବଢ଼ିବାରେ ଲାଗିଲା,” ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ଜାମୁସାହିର ଚାଷୀ ରବିନ୍ଦ୍ର ମଲ୍ଲିକ (୫୫)।

ରବିନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ କହିବା ଅନୁସାରେ, ପ୍ରାୟ ୪୦ ବର୍ଷ ହେଲା ତାଙ୍କ ଅଂଚଳକୁ ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ଆସିଛି।

ତେବେ ଗଲା କିଛି ଦଶନ୍ଧି ଧରି ଅନିୟମିତ ବର୍ଷା ତଥା ପାଣିପାଗରେ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଯୋଗୁଁ ଏହି ବିହନରୁ ଅମଳ କମିବାରେ ଲାଗିଛି, ଅପରପକ୍ଷରେ ଶ୍ରମିକ, ସାର ଓ କୀଟନାଶକ ଖର୍ଚ୍ଚ ବଢ଼ିଚାଲିଛି ବୋଲି ରବିନ୍ଦ୍ର କହନ୍ତି।

ଏଭଳି ସ୍ଥିତିରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର କେତେକ ଆଦିବାସୀ ଗାଁର ଚାଷୀମାନେ ନିଜ ଅଂଚଳର ଜଳବାୟୁକୁ ସୁହାଇଲା ଭଳି ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ ଆଡ଼କୁ ମୁହାଁଇବାରେ ଲାଗିଛନ୍ତି।

ଅଧ୍ୟୟନରୁ ଜଣାପଡ଼େ ଯେ, ଅଧିକ ଅମଳ ପାଇବା ଲାଗି ଅତ୍ୟଧିକ ରସାୟନିକ ସାରର ପ୍ରୟୋଗ ଜମିର ଉର୍ବରତା ଶକ୍ତି (ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ମାଇକ୍ରୋଫୋବିଆ) ନଷ୍ଟ କରିବା ସହ ଲୁଣି ଅଂଶ ବଢ଼ାଇଦିଏ।

ଏହାମଧ୍ୟ ପରିବେଶ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ, ଜୈବ ବିବିଧତା ହାନି ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଜଳବାୟୁ ପ୍ରଦୂଷଣ, ଜମିର ଉର୍ବରତା ହାନି, ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଚାଷ ସଂପର୍କରେ ଜ୍ଞାନର ଅବକ୍ଷୟ ଓ ମଣିଷର ଜୀବନଧାରଣ ମାନ ଉପରେ କୁପ୍ରଭାବ ପକାଇଥାଏ।

ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଓ ଅସ୍ଥିର ପାଣିପାଗ ଭିତରେ ଘାଣ୍ଟି ହେଉଥିବା କ୍ଷତିଗ୍ରସ୍ତ ଚାଷୀମାନେ ଚଳିତ ବର୍ଷର ଚାଷରୁ ଗତବର୍ଷର କ୍ଷୟକ୍ଷତି ଭରଣା କରିବାକୁ ସବୁବେଳେ ଆଶା ରଖନ୍ତି, କାରଣ ସେମାନେ ସବୁବେଳେ ଆର୍ଥିକ ବୋଝ ଭିତରେ ରହିଥାନ୍ତି।

“ନିଜ ପାଖରେ ଥିବା ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ସଂପଦ ଓ ପ୍ରକୃତି ମଧ୍ୟ ଅବକ୍ଷୟର ଶିକାର ହୋଇଥିବାରୁ ଅସ୍ବଚ୍ଛଳ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଜୀବନଧାରଣ ମାନର ଅଭିବୃଦ୍ଧି କରିବାରେ ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅକ୍ଷମ,” ବୋଲି ମାର୍ଡାବାଡ଼ି ଗାଁର ଶିକ୍ଷକ ନିରଂଜନ ଜାନି କହନ୍ତି।

ଆଶାର କିରଣ ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ

ଏଭଳି ଏକ ପରିସ୍ଥିତିରେ ବୟସ୍କ ଚାଷୀମାନେ ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ଉପରୁ ଆଶା ଛାଡ଼ି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ ଆଡ଼କୁ ପୁଣି ମୁହଁ ଫେରାଇଛନ୍ତି।

“ତେବେ ଏହାରି ଭିତରେ ଏହି ଚାଷୀମାନେ ଅନେକ ଦେଶୀ ବିହନକୁ ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଭାବେ ହରାଇସାରିଛନ୍ତି। ସେ ଯାହାହେଉ ଆମେ ଓ ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଚାଷୀମାନେ ଏକାଠି ହୋଇ 50ରୁ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରକାର ଦେଶୀ ଧାନ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ବିହନ ସଂଗ୍ରହ କରିପାରିଛୁ,” ବୋଲି ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଅଂଚଳରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରତ “ନିର୍ମାଣ” ସଂଗଠନର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ପ୍ରଶାନ୍ତ ମହାନ୍ତି କହନ୍ତି।

ଜମିର ଉର୍ବରତା ଶକ୍ତି ବଜାୟ ରଖିବା ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଜୈବ ପରିମଣ୍ଡଳର ସୁସ୍ଥତା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରାରମ୍ଭିକ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାୟରେ ଆଖପାଖ ୧୮ ଖଣ୍ଡ ଗାଁର ଚାଷୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ବିହନ ବଣ୍ଟା ଯାଇଥିଲା।

“ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ ଅଦଳ ବଦଳ ବିହନ ପର୍ବର ଏକ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ,” ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ପ୍ରଶାନ୍ତ।

“ସ୍ଥାନୀୟ ଅଂଚଳର ଜଳବାୟୁ ଓ ପରିବେଶକୁ ସହିପାରିବା ଭଳି ବିହନ ହିଁ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ। ଏଥିରେ ରୋଗପୋକର ଡର ନଥିବା ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଏହା ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଜୈବିକ ପଦ୍ଧତିରେ ହୋଇଥାଏ,” ବୋଲି କନ୍ଧମାଳ କୃଷି ବିଜ୍ଞାନ କେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ବୈଜ୍ଞାନିକ ଦେବାଶିଷ ମିଶ୍ର କହନ୍ତି।

ଆଦିବାସୀ ସଂପ୍ରଦାୟ ହିଁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର ବାହକ

ସରକାର ଯୋଗାଉଥିବା ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ହାଇବ୍ରିଡ୍ ବିହନରୁ ମୋହଭଂଗ ହେବା ପରେ କନ୍ଧମାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ତୁମୁଡ଼ିବନ୍ଧ ବ୍ଲକ ଅଂଚଳର ଆଦିବାସୀମାନେ ଏବେ ପାଞ୍ଚ ବର୍ଷ ହେଲା ଦେଶୀ ଧାନ, ତୈଳବୀଜ, ଦାଲିଜାତୀୟ ଫସଲ ଓ ପନିପରିବା ଚାଷ ଉପରେ ଜୋର୍ ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି।

ସରକାରୀ ବିହନ ଛାଡ଼ି ଦେଶୀ ବିହନ କାହିଁକି- ଏହି ପ୍ରଶ୍ନର ଉତ୍ତରରେ କୁଟିଆ କନ୍ଧ ସଂପ୍ରଦାୟର ଚାଷୀ ଡମ୍ବରୁଧର ମାଝି (୭୦) କହନ୍ତି, “ସରକାରୀ ବିହନ ଆମ ମାଟି ଲାଗି ଅନୁକୂଳ ନୁହେଁ। ଏପରିକି ଏହି ବିହନ ଲଗାଇଲେ ଚାଷ ଜମିକୁ ପକ୍ଷୀ ବା ଅନ୍ୟ ଉପକାରୀ କୀଟପତଙ୍ଗ ଆସୁନାହାନ୍ତି। ସେହିପରି ଏହା ଚାଷ କଲେ ନୂଆ ନୂଆ ରୋଗ ଆସୁଛି। ଫଳରେ ଫସଲ ବୁଡିବା ସାଙ୍ଗକୁ ଆମେ ଆମର ମୌଳିକ ଆବଶ୍ୟକତା ପୂରଣ କରିପାରୁନାହୁଁ।”

ଯେହେତୁ ଆଦିବାସୀମାନେ ଅଣଜୈବିକ ସାର ଓ କୀଟନାଶକ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରିବାକୁ ଚାହାନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, ତେଣୁ ଏଭଳି ସ୍ଥିତିରେ ଏସବୁ ଫସଲରେ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ଜୈବିକ ପରୀକ୍ଷାନିରୀକ୍ଷା ବି ଫେଲ୍ ମାରେ, ତେଣୁ ଫସଲ ହାନି ହିଁ ସାର ହୁଏ।

“ଅଧିକ ଅମଳକ୍ଷମ ବିହନ ଚାଷ କଲେ ସେହି ଜମିର ହୁଡ଼ାରେ ଅନ୍ୟ କୌଣସି ଚାଷ ଠିକରେ ହୁଏନାହିଁ। ସେହିପରି ପାଖ ଜଙ୍ଗଲରେ ପତ୍ର, ଫଳ ଓ ମହୁ କମିଯିବାର ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମେ ଦେଖିଛୁ,” ବୋଲି କହନ୍ତି ଚାଷୀ ବଟ ମାଝି (୬୦)।

୨୦୧୧ ମସିହାର ଅନୁଭୂତିକୁ ମନେ ପକାଇ “ନିର୍ମାଣ”ର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ପ୍ରଶାନ୍ତ ମହାନ୍ତି କହନ୍ତି, “ଯେତେବେଳେ ଆମେ ଏହି ଅଂଚଳକୁ ଅଧ୍ୟନ ପାଇଁ ଆସିଥିଲୁ, ସେତେବେଳେ ଲୋକେ ଅକପ୍ରକାର ନିରାଶ ହୋଇସାରିଥିଲେ ଓ ଆମେ କନ୍ଧମାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ଆଦିବାସୀ ଚାଷୀଙ୍କୁ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପାରମ୍ପରିକ ବିହନ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଫେରାଇନେବାର ପ୍ରୟାସ ଆରମ୍ଭ କଲୁ।
ସେମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆମ ଉଦ୍ୟମକୁ ସ୍ବାଗତ କଲେ।”

“ସରକାରୀ ବିହନ ହିଁ ଆମର ସମସ୍ତ ଦୁର୍ଦ୍ଦଶାର କାରଣ। ତେଣୁ ଆମେ ପୁରୁଷ ପୁରୁଷ ଧରି ଚାଲିଥିବା ଆମ ଚାଷ ପଦ୍ଧତି ଆଡ଼କୁ ଫେରିବା ଛଡ଼ା ଆମ ପାଖରେ ଆଉ କିଛି ବାଟ ନଥିଲା। ଆମେ ଦେଶୀ ମାଣ୍ଡିଆ ଓ ମକା ଛଡ଼ା କୁନ୍ଧା ଧାନ, କଳା ଧାନ, ଭାତବୁରାଇ ଭଳି ଦେଶୀ ଧାନ କରୁଛୁ,” ବୋଲି କାଓବାଲି ଗାଁର ଗଣ୍ଡ ସଂପ୍ରଦାୟର ଚାଷୀ ମଥୁରା ପାତ୍ର (୬୫) କହନ୍ତି।

ଏହି ବ୍ଲକ ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ୫୦ଟି ଆଦିବାସୀ ଗାଁର ଏକ ହଜାରରୁ ଅଧିକ ଚାଷୀ ଏବେ ପାଖାପାଖି ଶହେ କିସମର ଦେଶୀ ଖାଦ୍ୟଶସ୍ୟ ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କରୁଛନ୍ତି।

ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଜୈବିକ ପଦ୍ଧତିରେ ଏହି ଚାଷ କରାଯାଉଥିବା “ନିର୍ମାଣ”ର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ସୁରେଶ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ବିଶୋୟୀ ସୂଚନା ଦେଇଛନ୍ତି।

ଲୋକାଲ୍ ଓ୍ବାୟାର୍

(ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ବାସୁଦେବ ମହାପାତ୍ରଙ୍କ ଲିଖିତ ଏହାର ମୂଳ ଇଂରାଜି ଲେଖାଟି INDIA.MONGABAYରେ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହୋଇଛି।)

Filed Under: Odia, Special, କୃଷି, ବିଶେଷ Tagged With: Special, ଓଡିଶା, କନ୍ଧମାଳ, କୃଷି

Special: Kitchen gardens improve nutritional diversity of Kondhs

January 3, 2020 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

“Unless we consume a variety of foods that include vegetables and greens, pulses and legumes, and meat and fish along with rice, where will we get adequate nutrition? How can our children have proper physical and cognitive growth?” asked Golapi Kanhar.

The question from Golapi Kanhar (35) of remote Kasirikhol village in Kandhamal district, a Kondh woman with primary education, reflects increasing awareness about nutrition and food diversity within the community.

This renewed view of Kondh women on nutrition management raises hope for Kandhamal that still battles to overcome malnutrition. Nutrition management through food diversity is the new practice in the Kondh tribal community of Odisha, with women leading the change by becoming their family’s nutrition manager.

Poor health

As per the nutrition profile of Kandhamal district, stunting is prevalent among 38.4% and wasting is prevalent among 23.1% children under five years of age. Among children of the same age group, 43.1% are underweight and 42.7% are anemic.

Among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the district, 52.7% are anemic. According to India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data, anemia is prevalent among 73.4% adolescent girls (15-19 years) and 63.3% women of reproductive age in the Scheduled Tribe communities of Odisha.

Undernutrition is at the core of all these problems, the primary cause being poor diet, or lack of micronutrients in food.

Analyzing food and nutrition insecurity in the developing world, EAT-Lancet Commission in its report Food in the Anthropocene notes that more than 820 million people have insufficient food, and many more consume low-quality diets that cause micronutrient deficiencies, otherwise called hidden hunger.

Ignorance about edibles

Despite being an agrarian tribal community, food consumption habit of Kondhs lacked in terms of diversity. “Our daily food consisted of rice as the staple and a potato smashed with a piece of onion, a green chili and a pinch of salt. Sometimes we used to eat some greens instead of potato. We had goat meat on days of festivities and household ceremonies,” said Tikima Kanhar ( 32).

“In fact we were unaware of a lot of things; we didn’t know that we could eat plantain, the plant’s flower and stem,” Tikima Kanhar told VillageSquare.in. “We used to sell the raw plantains to outsiders and vegetable vendors.”

“During childhood, we didn’t eat papaya, drumstick and many other fruits. Now we understand how essential and rich in micronutrients they are, to keep us healthy,” said Sunil Kumar Mallick, district project coordinator for state-run Mission Shakti programs, recalling his childhood days.

Poultry meat taboo

There has been a community taboo about consumption of animal-based foods. “In Kondh community, women and girls who have attained puberty are barred from eating chicken meat and egg, although they can eat mutton, which they get occasionally,” said Amara Majhi (60) of Kanakpur village in Kalahandi’s Narla block.

“The reason of such a stricture being unknown to anyone in the community. It is unscientific,” Diksha, behavioral change communication specialist with Care India’s Technical Assistance and Research for Indian Nutrition and Agriculture (TARINA) project.

“It only deprives adolescent girls and women of their right to food and nutrition that is easily available because almost all the tribal families rear chicken,” said Diksha, who uses only one name. TARINA project is implemented in 72 villages across five administrative blocks of Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts. It aims to improve nutritional status of Kondhs through a food system approach.

Hidden hunger

While there is no visible hunger among the Kondhs, micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger is widely prevalent. “That’s because of lack of diversity in their food. Most of them do not know how to bring diversity to the food plate,” said Bijaylaxmi Singh, project officer for TARINA project in Kandhamal district.

“So in collaboration with district units of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Odisha’s self-help program Mission Shakti, we organized cooking demonstration camps in project villages to educate people, particularly women, on preparing food by using a variety of vegetables, pulses and edible stems.

The cooking camps educated people on food diversity and in freeing their consumption behavior from wrong beliefs. “Our girls now eat eggs and chicken meat. We prepare dalma (a mix of dal and a good range of vegetables), vegetable fried rice, plantain stem and a variety of green leaves at home,” said Amara Majhi (61) of Kanakpur village.

Behavioral change

According to the Lancet report, switching to healthy diets are likely to benefit human health substantially, averting 10·8 million to 11·6 million deaths per year, a reduction of 19% to 23·6%.

Ninima Pradhan of Kakamaha village, in Tikabali block of Kandhamal district, is happy with the new food items because her children and other family members enjoy the food now. “Six months ago, I weighed 40 kg, but I weigh 45 kg now. It’s because of our new consumption habit,” said Rajalaxmi Pradhan (50) of the same village.

“Personal hygiene being integral to nutrition security, we educate the Kondhs about cleanliness and hygienic practices through specially designed nutrition-gender toolkit with stories and characters these women can associate with and imitate in their day-to-day life,” said Preeti Pragyan, field officer, behavior change communication and women empowerment, for Kandhamal district.

Animal-based food

Cows and buffaloes are a part of Kondh agriculture system; the animals are used for tilling and the dung as manure. “We did not milk the cows because we were not used to consuming milk. We milked cows only when someone fell sick and needed to drink milk. Rest of the time, we left it for the calves.

Community behavior regarding milk consumption has not yet changed. Though milk is available in some villages, most of the Kondh women have no knowledge of making dairy products like curd, cheese and butter. The women said that demonstration workshops on milk and dairy products, similar to that on vegetables, would be of help.

Appreciating the women’s idea, Rajendra Kumar Samantaray, chief veterinary officer of Kandhamal district, said, “We are working with a local farmers’ cooperative to promote dairy farming in the community as a business. It will help people earn and consume milk whenever they want.”

Kitchen gardens

The Kondhs being poor, creating awareness on consumption is not enough unless affordable access to food is ensured. As per the district human development report, with a poverty ratio of 75.42%, Kandhamal fares poorly on various socioeconomic indicators compared to other districts of Odisha.

“The only solution to this is kitchen garden where they can grow vegetables, greens, legumes, etc., for their consumption,” Manoj Kumar Dash, Kandhamal’s deputy director of horticulture. “With the idea picking up in some administrative blocks, nutrition scenario is changing.”

Similar interventions in the neighboring state of Jharkhand have also yielded good results. Kitchen gardens tended by women in Gumla district of the state have boosted rural diets by providing a rich variety of local cereals, pulses and vegetables, which have improved the nutritional status of their families. Read: Jharkhand kitchen gardens add nutrition to food basket

Women who have raised kitchen gardens are happy as they get vegetables from the backyard and their dependency on market for food items has decreased drastically. “I grow brinjal, potato, tomato, ginger, onion, beans, pumpkin, carrot, bitter gourd, green chilly, cauliflower and different types of greens based on seasons,” said Rajalaxmi Pradhan.

Improved health

“We cultivate rice and a local variety of pigeonpeas in our family land. We buy only spices, oil and salt from the market,” Rajalaxmi Pradhan told VillageSquare.in. Almost all the families of Kakamaha village have their own kitchen garden. Moringa, papaya and banana are common plants in every kitchen garden.

“They eat vegetables that they were not consuming earlier. The changed consumption behavior and hygienic practices have resulted in good health of people, particularly children, adolescent girls and women,” said Sunima Pradhan, accredited social health activist of the village.

“This idea needs to be scaled up and expanded to all blocks of Kandhamal and other districts with substantial tribal population living in poor conditions.

The government as well as non-government agencies should help people to convert their backyard into a family food center,” said Manoj Kumar Dash.

This Article First Appearance in VillageSquare.in.  republished here in arrangement with VillageSquare.

Filed Under: English, Environment Tagged With: Environment, Odisha

Odiya tribes shed tradition to space out childbirths

September 23, 2019 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

Gajapati & Rayagada, Sep 23, 2019

Rita Mandal (34) of Bali Sahi, a hamlet under Dhepaguda panchayat of Gajapati district inhabited by Saora tribes, gave birth to five children, of which three died. Though a series of pregnancies without interval led to ill health, she felt helpless because women of her community had no choice regarding pregnancy.

Similar were the cases of Sumitra, Sebati, Sugami and most other women between 30 and 40 years of age. Pregnancies without space led to ill health of most of these women. “Due to physical weakness, it was painful for me to go to the forest to collect firewood and other forest produce or work in my family farm,” said Arati Raita (32), mother of three children.

Use of any contraceptive method to stop or delay pregnancy is against community norms of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) like Saora and Dongria Kondh. After awareness programs, the tribal women of Odisha are now breaking this age-old practice.

Lack of awareness

The women lacked awareness on reproductive health. “They didn’t know that pregnancies without interval was the real culprit for their ill health,” Kumari Dalabehera, Dhepaguda cluster coordinator for integrated district intervention (IDI), told VillageSquare.in.

IDI is implemented in 21 PVTG village panchayats from six blocks of Gajapati and Rayagada districts by Odisha government, in partnership with United Nations Population Fund.

Experts observe that barriers, including limited awareness, socio-cultural norms and misconceptions need to be addressed for behavior change. Realizing the necessity of awareness, meetings were organized for men and women, at panchayat and block levels as part of the program.

Community norms

Kesharpadi is a remote village on the lower slopes of Niyamgiri Hills with a population of about 100 Dongria Kondhs. Kamche Kutruka (32), a Dongria Kondh of Kesharpadi in Rayagada’s Muniguda block, is a mother of six children.

Her responsibilities include household chores and working in dongor, the patch of land on hill slopes where crops, vegetables and millets are grown, while bringing up the children. “Though I face difficulties due to my ill health, there is no way out,” she said.

“It was not the community norm to use contraceptives to delay or avoid pregnancies. Most women of the community used to deliver six or seven children in a row,” Kamche Kutruka told VillageSquare.in. “Also, we were unaware of the contraceptive methods available.”

Strictly following the community norms, very few Dongria Kondh women take interest in availing the reproductive health services provided under different government schemes, said Jhili Behera, IDI cluster coordinator for Sibapadar panchayat.

Slow awakening

“When the anganwadi worker and I visited the village in June 2018, women were not interested in discussing their health issues,” said Behera. However, consistent efforts for about six months started fetching results.

“I tried to make women understand the importance and necessity of pregnancy spacing to keep them healthy as they do a lot of physical labor, working all the time either at home or at the dongor (forest),” Behera told VillageSquare.in.

Behera’s first success came with Chilika Kutruka (24), mother of two, showing interest in Antara, a contraceptive injection to be taken every three months, to delay the next pregnancy. Following Chilika Kutruka, in February 2019, five more mothers of Kesharpadi opted for Antara, rolled out in Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

Oral pills are not ideal as the women may forget to take it under too much of work pressure, observed Behera. Hence, most of the women show interest in Antara. Only one woman uses the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) Copper T, and another underwent sterilization in 2018, after having eight children.

Community-friendly communication

“Effective communication is important to bring social and behavioral change,” Sagarika Raika, IDI cluster coordinator for Bhubani panchayat in Gajapati district’s Gumma block, told VillageSquare.in. “Pictorial presentation is more effective.”

“Instead of simply speaking about the program and asking the tribal men and women to change their practice, I used pictures and diagrams to explain various issues arising out of uninterrupted pregnancy, and possible remedies,” she said.

The Kilkari audio jingles produced by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and dubbed in Saora and Kui, languages, spoken by Saora and Kondh tribes respectively, were of immense help to attract members of the communities, said Sanju Dalabehera, Sagada cluster coordinator of Rayagada’s Gunupur block.

 

Written by Basudev Mahapatra for Village Square and republished here in arrangement with Village Square.

 

Filed Under: English, Health Tagged With: Gajapati, Health, Rayagada

Biodiversity takes center stage in Odisha’s silent valley

May 22, 2019 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

“Our life starts and ends with the forest. It’s our lifeline, the primary source of our food and livelihood,” said Mukti Prasad Mallick (57), of Sugadabadi village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district that has a predominant tribal population. “We cannot imagine a life without the forest.”

“We collect the leaves of sal (Shorea robusta) tree found in plenty in the forest, and stitch them into bowls and plates for our use and also to sell in the market.

Sal seeds are also in demand because of their use by the soap industry,” said Gaura Pradhan, village committee president of Mandasaru village. “While leaves and seeds provide us livelihood, the dry branches serve as firewood.”

Odisha Biodiversity Board recently declared Mandasaru village as a biodiversity heritage site (BHS). It is one of the 14 BHSs in India, and the first in Odisha to get such a status.
In addition, biodiversity management committees have been formed, to strengthen community-level conservation.

Biodiversity conservation

Biodiversity conservation has taken center stage over the past two decades for many reasons.

There is a growing concern about protection of natural forests and unique habitats of flora and fauna besides conservation of rare species.

According to experts working on biodiversity management and conservation, at least 40% of the world’s economy and 80% of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. From assured supply of wild food to meeting livelihood demands of communities living in and around forests, biodiversity conservation has been the key.

Rich biodiversity

Mandasaru, 300 km south of Bhubaneswar, is a unique gorge ecosystem in the eastern part of Kandhamal district of Odisha. It is named after the rocks on a hill that narrow towards the top, Manda meaning rock and Saru meaning a narrow progression.

While the lower riparian and moist valleys have semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests cover the slopes of the gorge and dry deciduous forests the top plateaus. Frequent weather changes and the surroundings make Mandasaru a cousin of the Silent Valley of the Western Ghats.

Covering an area of 5.28 sq km, the 22-meter deep gorge houses 1,563 recorded varieties of plants, animals and fungi species. “Mandasaru is rich in biodiversity with two species of otters, about 40 orchids, 150 medicinal plant species, a number of wild food plants and tubers, nearly 125 mushroom species of which 20 are edible,” Prasad Kumar Dash, scientist at Odisha Biodiversity Board, told VillageSquare.in.

According to Mandasaru – The Biological Paradise of Eastern Ghats of India, a report published by divisional forest office, Phulbani (Kandhamal) in 2017, the gorge harbors terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal, and cave-dwelling fauna comprising 30 species of mammals, 150 species of birds, 148 butterfly species and more than 100 other species of different categories.

Culture of conservation

Even though the indigenous and other forest-dwelling communities living around the gorge were not aware of the global studies and growing concern about the importance of biodiversity and the need for its conservation, forest protection was a part of their culture.

According to Mukti Prasad Mallick, forests mean the world to indigenous and forest-dwelling communities. “We worship the forest, the Gdang Kutti (as the gorge is called by the local communities). We never cut a live tree,” Antony Nayak of Mandasaru told VillageSquare.in.

The report on Mandasaru cited earlier mentions that ‘their belief about anyone cutting trees from the gorge will die from a curse of the local goddess has aided their initiative (for the protection of the forest). “During some festivals, the local communities still pay homage to certain medicinal plants like pathara girdini (Drynaria quercifolia),” said Mukti Prasad Mallick.

Impacts of exploitation

While the tribes never harmed the forest and its biodiversity, timber theft and over exploitation of the flora and fauna by outsiders for medicinal as well as commercial purposes has denuded the biodiversity-rich forest and gorge ecosystem.

“Summers have got warmer. Water streams in the gorge are no longer perennial. The wells are drying out,” Pradhan told

. “As water table has gone down, we don’t get water from the tube well that is connected to a solar-powered pump.”

When experts who visited Mandasaru gorge to study its biodiversity had discussions with the local communities, the villagers learnt that degradation of the forest and gorge ecosystem were the result of overexploitation of plant resources.

Management committee

Since the forest comes under two gram panchayats – Gumamaha and Sugadabadi – two biodiversity management committees (BMCs) have been formed in the last two years with seven members in each, in compliance with the Biological Diversity Act (BD Act) 2002.

“The members include local panchayati raj institution leader, a forester and community representatives with knowledge of plants and animals. “It’s mandatory according to the Act that 50% of the members is women,” said Amit Kumar Mallick, president of Sugadabadi BMC.

Initially, the BMC had four women, as the forester then was a woman. With a new male forester in place, there are three women members at present.

“After the BMC members were trained on their duties and responsibilities as specified in the Act, they are now organizing awareness programs at community level,” Panchanan Mishra of PAHAD, a local non-profit organization facilitating conservation and overseeing implementation of BD Act told .

Community involvement

At present, community conservation is limited to prevention of felling of trees. “The implementation of the Act is still in its initial stage. We are yet to restrict outsider entry into the forest and collect a levy from the resource collectors,” said Amit Kumar Mallick. “In fact, since two BMCs are involved, the area needs to be properly demarcated to avoid conflict between the two.”

According to him, the important provision of fair and equitable benefit sharing cannot be achieved unless the BMC and communities have complete control over the forest and its biological resources. “Unless the community is benefitted from the management of resources, it’s difficult to achieve the very objective of the Act,” he said.

“Available resources have been documented in people’s biodiversity registers (PBRs),” said Mishra. So far 900 species have been documented in the PBR.

“When we see an unregistered species, we send a picture with our observations to the Odisha Biodiversity Board. After scientific examination and authentication, we document it in the biodiversity register,” said Amit Kumar Mallick.

“When we learnt that forest degradation was the reason for the water problems, we strengthened our forest protection activities.

We don’t allow anyone to cut trees in our forest,” Purna Nayak, the local guide at Mandasaru ecotourism center told .

“However the forest is open for local people who depend on it for their livelihood.”

Need for awareness

Biodiversity conservation in Mandasaru aligns with Sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for 2030 that urge to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

However, there is some confusion in the community about dependency on the forest for livelihood and involvement in biodiversity conservation and management.

“There needs to be more awareness drives and public engagement,” Ajit Kumar Pradhan, forester at Raikia range office, and member secretary of the BMCs, told .

A total population of 3,510 people in 13 villages of Sugadabadi and Gumamaha gram panchayats depend on the Mandasaru gorge and surrounding forests.

“With water scarcity and soil quality degradation, evident from decreasing ginger production in the region for which the district was once famous, already felt by the communities, implementation of the BD Act in its true spirit is essential,” said Amit Kumar Mallick.

This Story was first appeared in VillageSquare.in.

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Filed Under: English, Opinion Tagged With: Kandhamal, Odisha, Opinion

Odisha women fight malnutrition with backyard gardens

March 11, 2019 By Basudev Mahapatra Leave a Comment

Bhabanipatna, (Kalahandi), March 11

Pramila Behera, 27, of Pengdusi village in Kalahandi district has started her nutrition garden in a small patch of land beside her house. The garden offers her the freedom to decide what kind of food she serves her family.

She grows seasonal, as well as perennial crops like radish, carrot, cauliflower, peas, cowpeas, beans, okra, spinach, coriander, brinjal, tomato, onion, a variety of edible tubers, gourds and greens, to make her garden a rich and reliable source of fresh and nutritious food.

Similar to the traditional kitchen garden, the difference is that Behera grows a wide range of vegetables and legumes so as to fulfill the micronutrient needs of her family.

Nutrition gardens are gathering popularity in many districts of Odisha, including KBK, the area covering Kalahandi, Balangir and Koraput that has been split into eight districts, known for poverty.

Financial liability

“Earlier, I couldn’t fulfill the food needs of my children since we bought vegetables from the market, where prices were too high. We could hardly spend Rs 200 a week on vegetables and provisions,” Behera, working in her garden, “We don’t buy vegetables anymore.”

At least 12 women of Pengdusi have their own gardens in the backyard and grow more than 15 varieties of vegetables and greens. “We save money we spent earlier at the market buying vegetables at a high price, and eat fresh vegetables that are good for health,” said Radhamani Nayak, the village daycare center worker.

For Padma Naik, 45, of Telguda, buying food from the market to feed her 7-member family was a huge financial burden. “We spent over Rs 1,500 a month on vegetables and that was not sufficient,” Naik said.  “That’s why we started this; now, we are free to decide our menu.”

A study found that 31% of the households in the region spent Rs 1,000 or less per month on food items, and 55% spent between Rs 1,000 and 2,000. Their food budget was 57% of the total monthly household expenditure.

“Being poor, buying vegetables was a huge burden for us. We could not buy many vegetables because we couldn’t afford them,” said Akshaya Lima of Marathiguda village in Rayagada district. “I am happy now as my wife Nalini has made us food sufficient by growing over 15 varieties of vegetables and greens.”

Balanced diet

Dibyasini Nayak, 16, is happy with the nutrition garden because of the choice it offers. “Earlier we took whatever my mother served. Now, I get to pick – a cucumber, a tomato or a handful of greens,” she said. In Telguda, 25 women raise nutrition gardens to fulfill the nutrition needs of their families.

“When you have to buy vegetables, pulses, eggs and fish, you’ll automatically buy vegetables or whatever is cheaper,” said Sweta Banerjee, Kolkata-based public health nutritionist at Welthungerlife, who has studied nutrition gardens and their role in empowering women and addressing malnutrition in KBK. “But, when you grow vegetables, you can buy eggs or fish since animal protein is also important in the diet.”

Organic produce

Women show interest in nutrition gardens, as there is no financial investment, only some labor. Also, they can feed their family fresh vegetables where no chemical pesticide or inorganic fertilizer has been used.

“We get seeds from farmers and distribute among women. We do not advocate use of hybrid or high-yielding varieties, chemical pesticides or fertilizers,” said Debjeet Sarangi of Living Farms, a non-profit organization that promotes nutrition gardens in the region, with Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI) and Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM).

“There’s no input cost as improvement of soil health and pest management are through ecological methods,” Sarangi said.

Dietary diversity

Dietary diversity is key to improving nutrition security. “Women plan the crops to ensure consistent supply,” said Banerjee. “It ensures consistent micronutrient for the villagers, particularly women and children, who are more prone to malnutrition and ensuing issues.”

Nalini Lima of Marathiguda village takes pride in serving her family’s favorite vegetables and greens, and fulfilling their nutrition needs. “The objective is to improve nutrition status of pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and under-5 children, through dietary diversity,” said Sarangi.

Dietary equity

According to the dietary guidelines of Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition, ‘Nutrition is a basic prerequisite to sustain life,’ and ‘variety in food is…the essence of nutrition and health.’ “There is no dietary balance, if the woman has no control over what she cooks; with nutrition garden, she has,” Banerjee said.

The gardens also promote equity without any discrimination between male and female members of the family. “Usually male members have the prime share. In families with a nutrition garden, such discrimination is not there,” said Basanti Bag, the accredited social health activist (ASHA) of Telguda.

Mother of an adolescent girl, Sitaguru Kadraka of Krushna Patraguda village in Rayagada district said, “We need not discriminate when we have enough food. Secondly, as future mothers, girls need nourishment.”

Tackling malnutrition

The target being 7,50,000 households, to address chronic malnutrition among tribal population, more than 80,000 households in two malnutrition-affected districts, Rayagada and Kalahandi, have started nutrition gardens.

Diagnosed undernourished six years ago, Alladini Bhanda, 27, and her husband Ashok Bhanda, 34, of Ratanpur village in Balangir district gave credit to their nutrition garden for their weight gain from 35kg and 48kg, to 45kg and 64kg respectively.

“Till I started the nutrition garden in 2013 with support from Reliance Foundation, our daily meal was of rice and one vegetable, cooked or roasted,” said Alladini Bhanda. “Today, I feed my children vegetables so that there won’t be any malnutrition-induced physical and mental weakness.”

Gardens of hope

In Balangir district there are over 2,000 nutrition gardens. “Since they are poor and hit by regular draughts, we supply fences and garden tools,” Abagyanta Das Naik of Reliance Foundation said.  “We also link women with government departments for farming and nutrition-related advices.”

Since it is fenced, many of us grow banana, lemon and moringa trees to make the gardens more productive,” said Mathura Podha of Ratanpur.

In the tribal pockets of Odisha, 51.8% of adolescent girls and 30.3% of women are undernourished according to a UNICEF report. As per a baseline survey of Women and Child Development department, 72% of under-5 tribal children in the 15 high-burden districts, including KBK, are anemic.

National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS 4) 2015-16 confirms high prevalence of stunting and wasting among under-5 tribal children in KBK. When the data are so discouraging, nutrition gardens bring hopes of nutrition security.

*Written by Basudev Mahapatra for Village Square and republished here in arrangement with Village Square.

Filed Under: English, Special Tagged With: Kalahandi, Odisha

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ଭୋକାଲ୍ ଫର ଲୋକାଲର ମନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ଆପଣେଇ ବକୁଲ୍ ଫାଉଣ୍ଡେସନ୍ ଭିନ୍ନ ଅନ୍ଦାଜରେ ଏହି କ୍ୟାମ୍ପେନ୍ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିଛି ।

ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ପ୍ରିୟଜନଙ୍କୁ ଉପହାର ଆକାରରେ ଓ ଅଭ୍ୟର୍ଥନା ସ୍ୱରୂପ ଗଛଟିଏ ଉପହାର ଦେବାକୁ ପ୍ରୋତ୍ସାହିତ କରାଯାଉଛି ।

ପାହାଡ଼ି ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ହସ୍ତତନ୍ତ ଏବେ ଫ୍ଲିପକାର୍ଟରେ, ସଫଳତାର କାହାଣୀ କହୁଛି ସିଲକ୍ ପାର୍କ

ଘରର ଚାରିକାନ୍ଥ ଡେଇଁ ଏମାନେ ବାହାରିଛନ୍ତି ବାହାରକୁ । ନିଜ ହାତରେ ନିଜେ ବୁଣିଛନ୍ତି ସ୍ୱପ୍ନର ମିନାର ।

କଠିନ ପରିଶ୍ରମ ଓ ବୃତ୍ତି ପ୍ରତି ଆସକ୍ତି ହିଁ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ରେଶମ ଦୁନିଆରେ ଦେଇଛି ନୂଆ ପରିଚୟ ।

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