A dimension within Indigenous Forest Rights
This theme highlights the importance of forest foods, foraging practices, and their nutritional benefits as natural resources.
150 voices speak to this
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Overall Community Sentiment
We get various greens and various fruits from the forest.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
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
We get various types of fruits and roots from the forest.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
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
Grains and other food items are included from the forest.
— Sunita Kumari
From the forest, we also get many things as vegetables, such as
— Kekti Tekam
From the forest, we get leafy vegetables, tubers, mushrooms, and fruits. All these kinds of things are available.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
Grains, food, and foodstuffs are included from the forest.
— Sunita Kumari
To include forest-based foods like Mahua ladoo, Char ladoo, Phuljhi, etc., in PDS and midday meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
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 can give fruits found in the forest like :- Tendu, Char, Aonla in our lunch.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
The forest contains nutritious foods like Pitalu, Baya, Tunga, Water Yam, Elephant Foot Yam, Bitter Ginari greens, Putukuli, Honey, Amla, Bahada, and Kendu. The government should consider adding some of these to the PDS (Public Distribution System).
— Prasanna Pradhan · Mayurbhanj, Odisha
In our forest, mushrooms, ruguda, karadi, and giril flowers are found. These should be served in mid-day meals at PDS schools.
— RINA BEHERA · Sundargarh, Odisha
Forest produce fruits found in the forest like Kendu, Char, and Mahula contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in students' mid-day meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
In the forest, there are many types of food, such as various nutritious tubers (kandha), which can be given during midday meals in schools and also protect against various diseases.
— Deepanjali Nayak
We are getting all kinds of seasonal produce from the forest.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Lamingi, Rayagada, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, contain abundant nutritious food. It would be good to include them in the mid-day meals of students.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Jamunkira, Sambalpur, Odisha
Mahua flowers and other foods obtained from the forest are very nutritious. Therefore, it is appropriate to include these foods in PDS or mid-day meals.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Let the Mahua, Char, and Kendu (products) from the forest be processed for food.
— Priti majhi
Nutritious food found in the forest: Mudhi saga, Chhati saga, Bhadbhadia saga, Koila saga, Munga saga, Ghumi saga, Tartha saga.
— Parsuram Sa · Sundargarh, Odisha
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
Nutritious local tubers like Pitikanda, Charendakanda, and Naangalakanda, found in the forest, can be included in dishes.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
Mahuwa seeds, herbs, Pohri, and Putu Lakh are brought from the forest.
— Kekti Tekam
Local forest produce like Kendu, Char, Jamun berries, Mahula contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods from the forest should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Forest-produced fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahula, found in the forest, contain a large amount of nutritious food. It would be excellent to include these in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Forest fruits like Kendu, Char, and Mahul, found in the forest, are rich in nutrition. It would be beneficial to include them in students' midday meals.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Nutritious diet from the forest: seasonal fruits, jamun, mahua, mango, charoli, jaggery, peanuts, and Shegaon vegetables.
— Surajsingh Parmar · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
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
In our forest, fruits, roots, leaves, flowers, and leafy vegetables grow naturally. There are no chemicals in them, and they are completely nutritious. It would be good to serve them for lunch.
— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, 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
From the forest, we bring mahua and mahua seeds.
— Kekti Tekam
The aquatic plants, tubers, mushrooms, and all other forest products found in the forest are nutritious food. Therefore, if we can add this food to PDS and school mid-day meals, it would be very good.
— Sushama Digal · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
The edible items found in the forest are Kendu, Chaar, and Mahua, which
— Vijay Kumar bhardwaj · Kasdol, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh
Local forest produce like Kendu, Chaar, Jamukoli, and Mahul are rich in nutrients. Wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school midday meals to provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children. During festivals, we do not provide packaged food and market/shop items to guests.
— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha
Tungemasha, potatoes, and Panikonda are all found in the forest. If Panikonda is included in PDS and mid-day meals, then children will remain healthy by getting nutritious food.
— Basanti · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
In our forests, various edible fruits and flowers like Chhode ki Bhanji, Patari, Peepar, Katto, Laheren, Kotwal, Bhanji, Fisdi, Gadsukhadi, Banspihari, and many others are found.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Various types of forest roots, millets, Wild leaf and Mahua products to be provided with PDS to students.
— Saroj Kumar Suna
The things found in the forest are fruits and roots, such as Kendu, Char, Mahua, and Amla.
— Laxmi Bagh · Subdega, Sundargarh, Odisha
If the government distributes forest foods like Mahua, Kendu, and other such forest produce to children as PDS food.
— Priti majhi
Local forest produce such as Kendu, Chaar, Jamu Kali, and Mahul contain nutrients. To provide more nutrition for the physical and mental development of children, wild leafy greens and traditional foods should be included in school mid-day meals. During festivals, we do not include packaged food and items from markets/shops to offer to guests.
— DASHARATH SINGH · Sambalpur, Odisha
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
By cherishing and utilizing the traditional foods and herbs found in our forests and lands, we can sustain ourselves and combat malnutrition while preserving our natural heritage.
Drawing strength from ancient customs and the jungle's bounty, our community thrives by living independently and preserving traditional foodways for future generations.
We ensure our children's well-being and cultural continuity by teaching them about the forest's bounty and the richness of our ancestral language and traditions.
By integrating diverse farming practices with deep knowledge of local forest foods, we ensure our community's sustenance and future well-being.
