Forest Bounty Harvest

We used to gather forest products like mahua, cook them, make cakes, and eat them in the forest. Even now, we will learn from our ancestors.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Karamdihi, Sundargarh, Odisha

People will now bring mahul char kendu found in the forests that they had lost in the past, prepare it as food, and eat it.

— Priti Majhi

Our people still want to eat the old food and forest products that were cooked, whether by forest dwellers or Mughals.

— Gitanjali Bhoi · Sundargarh, Odisha

Wants to eat Mukhani bhaji and Khatta Aamdi bhaji from the forest.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

We can bring the native Kakada found in our forest, cook it, and eat it.

— SINESH PELMAL · SKIP NO LOCATION

To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

People want to bring back the lost forest food products.

— Priti Majhi

Let fodder or mahua found in the forest be given to eat.

— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha

I will collect food found in the forest and feed the children, and use it traditionally.

— Anupama Mahanand

We can bring Mahula's char tendu from the forest and use it in food and also give it to children.

— Anupama Mahanand · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha

Mahua, Char, and Kendu from the forest should also be made available for food without any obstruction.

— Priti majhi

My name is Rashmita Pradhan. Just as our ancestors remained healthy by eating fruits and roots found in the forest, prepared without chemicals, we also wish to eat the same food now. We are from tribal-dominated areas. Our forest is our lifeline. Therefore, our ancient traditions should be restored, and our forest should not be destroyed. Thank you. Raika Kandhamal.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Rina Kuonro. We are the tribal indigenous people. We produce food and collect from the forest, and we express our desire to live with the forest or with nature. This is a humble request to the government for us, and please pay attention to the forest-derived food that we can obtain.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

We can give fruits found in the forest like :- Tendu, Char, Aonla in our lunch.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

The edible items found in the forest are Kendu, Chaar, and Mahua, which

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

Grains and other food items are included from the forest.

— Sunita Kumari

We get our nutritious diet from the forest, such as Mahua fruit Doli oil in the form of fat, Kodo, Bhaddi, Kulthia, Mahua flowers, Jamun, Mahua kheer, Bhaji, etc.

— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

Forest products such as Jharakunduru, Pitalu Konda, and various other types of edible forest produce are available. These also serve as food for animals and birds, and consuming them provides nourishment.

— Anirudha Marai

We get various types of fruits and roots from the forest.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

Grains, food, and foodstuffs are included from the forest.

— Sunita Kumari

From the forest, we collect ruguda mushrooms, mudhi saag, kuiler saag, girel flowers, bhindua kadi, and so on. If all these are nutritious foods for us, they should be included in the midday meal.

— RINA BEHERA · Hemagiri, Sundargarh, Odisha

From the forest, we bring mahua and mahua seeds.

— Kekti Tekam

Currently, we are seeing that people are gradually obtaining the fruits, medicinal plants, greens, and nutritious food that were available in the forest.

— Ramadas Badanayak · Udulibeda, Malkangiri, Odisha

We get various greens and various fruits from the forest.

— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha

If forest foods like Char, Mahua, Kendu, Mango, and Jam are added to PDS and mid-day meals, consumers will get nutritious food.

— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha

My name is Maneni Pradhan, from Raikakonda Malu. We, the indigenous original inhabitants, produce food from the forest and want to live with nature. We are expressing this desire. We are humbly requesting the government that all these efforts be made for us.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Include forest-based food items such as Mahua laddoo, Chaar laddoo, Fuljhi, etc., in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

If the government distributes forest foods like Mahua, Kendu, and other such forest produce to children as PDS food.

— Priti majhi

I want to bring back the medicinal items, food items, and root vegetables found in our forest, so that they do not disappear.

— Laxmi Bagh · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We used to eat sitha saga since ancient times. Even now we wish to eat sitha saga, and we will. The forest is being destroyed now.

— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

From the forest, we also get many things as vegetables, such as

— Kekti Tekam

Yes, I remember we have been frying and eating mahua, the forest food.

— Priti majhi

Local forest food is available. It should be included through PDS and in meals, and the government should promote it.

— Laxmanlal

Yes, it is food eaten in the forest, which we include as food. Oh oh.

— Rakesh kumar Kumar

Our ancestors lived by eating forest-grown tubers. We also now wish to prepare and eat all the food that is made through the destruction of those tubers. Therefore, we request the government to stop all of that and make arrangements.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Nutritious local tubers like Pitikanda, Charendakanda, and Naangalakanda, found in the forest, can be included in dishes.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha

Let me tell you. We are forest dwellers; we have eaten wild fruits. Our gods and goddesses, our worship, and all our traditions are different. When it comes to food and drink, we can even cook meat on a traditional stove and serve it. What else is cooked like that?

— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha

Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh