183 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“The most nutritious local forest food items like Char Belwa etc. are mainly known.”
“सबसे पौष्टिक स्थानीय वन खाते पदार्थ जैसे चार बेलवा आदि मुख्य रूप से जाने जाते हैं”
translated from Hindi
Nearby, the community voices highlight significant challenges including a critical lack of employment opportunities 💸, leading to outward migration, and substantial gaps in essential infrastructure 💧 such as roads, water supply, and sanitation. Concerns are also raised about education, health services, and the impact of forest degradation on traditional food sources, alongside anxieties about displacement due to new projects. Despite these issues, there is a strong collective drive to preserve and promote indigenous culture, languages, and traditional food habits. Villagers actively engage in organic farming, local craft production, and express a desire for self-reliance through small enterprises, provided with initial capital. Community organizations are working to raise awareness about schemes and foster a vision of a capable and developed India by 2047 💡, emphasizing local solutions and the utilization of natural resources.
“With 20 thousand rupees, I will do vegetable farming.”
“If women are given an initial capital of ₹20,000 through groups to choose for themselves.”
“The attire of the tribal community is different, which the villagers know by names like Dhotia Dhotia, etc.”
“Earlier, a lot of edible items were found in the forests that could be eaten and added to midday meals, but now, due to damage to the forests, many things have become extinct.”
“We try to inform people about our culture, our identity, and our customs, and people should act according to their culture.”
“People do their own work independently, using their own strength, and they keep working continuously, just as an engine works.”
“Good morning, Mr. Lobo and Giannis Zacharias, the heart of the group, every time he comes.”
“Indigenous people live in hilly areas and carry out their agricultural work there.”
“In any cultural program, Baiga people wear a plume on their head and kurta pajamas.”
“Here, there is a great lack of education and health, due to which people are unable to receive good education.”
“The people of our village migrate because, with the employment guarantee scheme stopped here, there is no work, so everyone leaves.”
“The road from my village Ghurkhuta to Chhattisgarh is 2.50 km. It should be constructed.”
“Tall people farm by ploughing with oxen and grow crops that are very useful and chemical-free.”
“Our goal is to see India as a developed nation; by 2047, when its people become fully capable, then we will consider our country to be fully capable and developed.”
“Farmers are busy with farming work. Currently, paddy harvesting is ongoing. After that, some job-related cutting work will begin.”
“The traditions, customs, and food habits of the tribal society were discussed, with the village head, Sarpanch, Mukaddam, and other members present.”
“We village people make many things ourselves, such as making plows, making beehives, etc.”
“Old traditions, customs, lifestyles, and food habits can be maintained, and society can be known by its different identities, such as the Baiga here.”
“We worship our gods and goddesses according to what our ancestors taught us, and through the medium of their worship rituals.”
“Villagers migrate out because there is no employment here, and the employment guarantee has been completely shut down, leaving people without jobs.”
“We cook food with wood, by burning wood, and that food is very delicious.”
“To preserve my culture, I run a program where I teach small children dance or my language for two hours every evening.”
“2 grams of DDS from each, and they have approximately five to six members in each panchayat.”
“For the community to know about the current circumstances, we try to make people aware and tell them about the current situation.”
“I will open a small shop.”
“Our villages are falling within the submerged area. An incomplete project is currently under construction here, which will cause a lot of difficulties for the tribal people after they leave this place.”
“Today and tomorrow, he told people through this religious organization that it is a religious organization.”
“Yes, we do farming without irrigation.”
“The Baiga tribe has its own distinct dialect which today's children or youth are shy to speak. They cannot speak it.”
