Indigenous Forest Medicine

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 want to bring all the traditional medicines, including roots and herbs, that are available. And we want to save the forest. All the traditional games that were played...

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

We indigenous people used to eat roots and tubers from the forests and sustained ourselves with them. These also served as medicine, keeping our bodies healthy. Even today, we should use roots and tubers.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

We tribal people bring herbs from the forest to treat many diseases, for the well-being of people.

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

We tribal people bring herbs from the forest and treat ailments, which is very important for health.

— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh

We can collect all the medicinal things found in the forest and show them to future generations and preserve them.

— Anupama Mahanand

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

I want to save traditional medicine, herbs, roots, and trees.

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, Odisha

We can use muIdim found in the forest as traditional medicine.

— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, Odisha

We should preserve our culture so that herbs and forests remain.

— Chanda

Traditional medicinal remedies are being prepared for obtaining by searching for medicinal herbs, fruits, roots, and other medicinal items from the forest.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We Adivasi communities are communities that depend on nature, collect roots and tubers from the forests, and use them as food, which is very nutritious and also serves as medicine.

— Ram Kumari

My name is Susmita Pradhan. We are the indigenous, original inhabitants. We wish to live in harmony with nature, producing our own food. We are demanding the government to conserve the things that are disappearing from the market. We are requesting the government to restore the forest products like roots and various forest items that are disappearing.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Earlier, in our village's forest, we found many abundant herbs. But unfortunately, the roots of these herbs in the forest are being severely destroyed. So, we will try to keep them alive for this. I will go a bit.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

In earlier times, we used to get medicine from the forest.

— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

For future generations, traditional food and herbal remedies should be available, and people should remain healthy. They wish for their preservation through this.

— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

In our tribal communities, when we fall ill, we rely on roots and herbs. So, other communities should observe us.

— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha

So that future generations can also know about all the trees and plants in the forests that protect us from diseases.

— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

In ancient times, in previous eras, people collected nutritious foods like ragi, millet, etc., from the forest, ate them to stay healthy and strong, and lived for a long time. If farmers or tribal community people cultivate those essential crops of those ancient times again, it will guide them towards the development of their life's values in the future.

— Dillip pujari · Phiringia, Kandhamal, Odisha

So that future generations can know about the trees and plants in the forests that protect us from disease.

— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

Due to the cutting of trees and plants in the village, various herbs and food items are becoming extinct. We can protect them.

— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan

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 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

Our tribe has been living in this village for a long time. We are natives of the surrounding area. Now, medicinal herbs...

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

Traditionally, we obtain medicinal products from the natural forest, various types of Hadi, Kandha, Banakandha, different kinds of leaves, brooms, and other such diverse things, as well as our traditional drinks.

— Mishra · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We must protect our forests so that herbs remain.

— Chanda

Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.

— Kachala Choudhary

We have been living in this village for approximately 100 years. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. There have been many changes in the forest; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, then within the next 20 years, along with the destruction of the forest, all types of wild animals, medicinal plants, and creepers will disappear. Camps should be organized to teach traditional forest and tribal knowledge from elders to the younger generation, transfer it to the next generation, and preserve it.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

Our ancestors used to live, grow and maintain trees, and collect fruits and roots. Now, with all the trees gone, many conveniences are being lost. Let us all plant trees again.

— Bisendra Naik · Kasipur, Rayagada, Odisha

We get treatment from the forest.

— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

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 can bring and use some medicinal properties found in the forest, such as chiro or polamula, and by showing it to the children, to them.

— Anupama Mahanand · Sundargarh, 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

If I get an opportunity, I will try to restore the various types of medicinal plants that have been lost from our traditional forests.

— Susanta Toika · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

We have been living in this village for nearly 100 years. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. The forest has undergone many changes; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, then within the next 20 years, the forest will be destroyed, and all types of wild animals, medicinal plants, and vines will vanish. Camps should be organized to teach the younger generation traditional forest and tribal knowledge from the elders, to pass it on to the next generation, and to preserve it.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

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

We should protect our culture so that our food items from the forests and cultural programs remain alive.

— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

Today our medicinal fruit foods are becoming extinct. I will try to encourage people to protect them. Along with that, I myself will also

— KusaPradhani · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha

My name is Isaac Sabar, village Zero Number, Panchayat Mandi Mandi, District Kandhamal. I feel that in the current situation, people used to use traditional forest products, which are forest-derived goods, in large quantities to sustain their livelihoods, but due to the lack of forests, they have disappeared. We want to restore the forests so that we can enjoy those forest products just like our ancestors used to.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

I have been living in this village since my grandfather's time. Our tribe originated in this surrounding area. The forest has changed a lot; valuable trees, herbs, and animals have all disappeared. If we do not protect it, the forest will be destroyed within the next 20 years, and all kinds of wild animals, medicinal trees, and plants will vanish. The younger generation should be taught traditional forest and tribal knowledge from elders and transfer it to the next generation, and camps should be organized to preserve it.

— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha