128 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“What are the oldest seeds you have? Mustard, horse gram, millet.”
“ଆପଣଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ ଥିବା ସବୁଠାରୁ ପୁରୁଣା ମଞ୍ଜିଗୁଡିକ କ'ଣ? ସରିଆଧାନ କଳଥ ବାଜରା”
translated from Odia
Nearby, citizens voice concerns over the destruction of forests 🌳 and the perceived decline in traditional farming practices, alongside issues of fair wages and anxiety among individuals. Many also highlight the challenge of youth abandoning ancestral customs and a desire for better local opportunities to mitigate migration. However, there's a strong underlying drive towards preserving traditional seeds and ancestral farming methods, emphasizing the immense nutritional value of traditional forest foods and millets, advocating for their inclusion in public meal programs 💡. Communities also actively seek opportunities in sustainable businesses and underscore the importance of digital literacy, community dialogue (like Gram Sabhas), and traditional coping mechanisms for well-being. There's a clear desire to develop and improve local infrastructure, such as roads and playgrounds 🛣️, to foster happiness and health within their own areas.
“In ancient times, what method did your people use for farming? The answer is, they used to farm by using manure with a plow.”
“If you or your women's group is given an initial capital of 20000 rupees, what business will you do? Ans: Chicken farming.”
“If I do nothing, then I think for the next twenty years, no 'Hare' will be uttered in Mathura. It's as if our wild minds will go to cultivate sand, and our minds will wander off somewhere to bring harm to 'Hare'.”
“Are your opinions given importance in the Gram Sabha?”
“Do you conserve seeds and traditionally grow a second crop without irrigation? Yes, yes.”
“Do you want to stay in your own area or do you want to go for daily wage work? You want to stay in your own area. Okay?”
“What do you think can be done to keep the people of your village happy and healthy? Roads, playgrounds.”
“To provide maximum nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, finger millet will be included in school mid-day meals or traditional foods, followed by our various...”
“Will you implement the second crop revolution traditionally, without irrigation?”
“What old soil cultivation methods did your ancestors follow? They used old wooden plows. First, they applied cow dung manure, then they used cow dung water, hoping for good results.”
“Mmm”
“Which old farming methods did your ancestors follow? They plowed and used cow dung as fertilizer. They used cows for farming.”
“Do you save your local seeds? Yes, save them.”
“Do you cultivate zero-irrigation second crop and follow family farming practices and seed protection?”
“Is digital knowledge acquisition a barrier or an opportunity? Opportunity.”
“What kind of change or harm is happening to the forest? Ans: Trees and plants will be destroyed, animals and birds will disappear.”
“What is the Odia word for leafy vegetables used in daily food? Saaga.”
“We are tribals, we are nature worshippers. We always depend on trees and plants to live. We sustain our livelihood by eating its tubers, fruits, and roots.”
“Baby crying.”
“If you or the women in your family are given an assistance amount of 20,000 rupees, what kind of fruit cultivation would you be able to do?”
“It would be good to serve millet food, which is the most nutritious forest food, for lunch.”
“In Panda Parudu, from which forest cave has there often been cooking or playing of music?”
“Some traditional food items help to stay cool in the summer season. Pakhala bhata.”
“Is your opinion being given importance in the public meeting?”
“In earlier times, what method did people use for farming? The answer is, they used to farm by applying fertilizer with a plough.”
“What? Give twenty thousand. Hmm, you will write on my body and blow me up, and you will keep laughing, saying 'die, die'. Look, if you haven't checked any of your questions, it's not just one thing. They are sitting with books and notebooks, which belonged to Anur.”
“If you or your women's group are given 20000 rupees as initial capital, which business would you choose? Poultry farming or red mushroom cultivation.”
“Observe the changes or damages occurring in the forest. Our wild animals are dying due to destructive felling, and this is causing great loss.”
“Uh huh.”
