337 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“Ma, do you know anything about the Developed India 2047 vision? And do you want some development in your village, or are there difficulties with mega projects?”
“ମା ବିକସିତ ଭାରତ 2047 ଭିଜନ ଉପରେ କିଛି ଜାଣିଛ କି ଆର ତମେ କାଣେ ତମ ଗାନ କିଛି ଡେଭଲପ ଚାହୁଛ ବାଣି ଅସୁବିଧା ହଉଛି ଜି ମେଗା ପ୍ରୋଜେକ୍ଟ”
translated from Odia
In your area, citizens highlight pressing concerns regarding basic infrastructure, particularly a severe lack of reliable drinking water 💧 and inadequate road access. Environmental issues are also prominent, with reports of significant deforestation leading to loss of wildlife, pollution, and the scarcity of crucial medicinal plants. Furthermore, there are widespread concerns about the quality and variety of food provided in public distribution systems (PDS) and mid-day meals, with calls for more nutritious, local, and traditional items to be included, as children are frequently consuming unhealthy foods. Despite these challenges, there's a strong collective aspiration for a 'Developed India 2047' 💡, envisioning progress in education, technology, and an equitable society free from discrimination. Citizens demonstrate remarkable entrepreneurial spirit, with numerous requests for financial support to establish small businesses, diversify farming practices (especially resilient dryland farming methods), and create local livelihoods. A profound commitment to preserving tribal culture and traditions, including songs, dances, and unique customs, is also evident, underscoring a desire to maintain identity amidst development.
“Respecting and following elders, living together with them, respecting everyone, and loving everyone.”
“When I get twenty thousand rupees, I will open a fancy store, manage the charges, and a house.”
“If I clear out a small shop, I'll get a thousand. Let's clear out the small shop for salt, biscuits, and chili and go.”
“By 2047, our India will be completely transformed, considering all the roads and infrastructure. Technology will also greatly increase, and everyone will be educated. There will be no small or big people, nor any caste distinctions.”
“Odia people will get more nutrition if they consume butter-rich food, forest sago, tribal sago from the forest, and Kondh roots.”
“We should preserve our culture so that our people, our tribes, and all our things remain ours. If we do not look after it, we will vanish tomorrow. No one will even know, not even our children. That is why our culture is preserved.”
“Lisika Banua, instead of the 2047 Developed India Vision, 2030 would be better. It would be good if there was a paved road for Naren to go to high school.”
“My dear Sanju, listen to the Panchayat, we 0000”
“Now I am in a lot of trouble because I am not in the forest. It would be very beneficial if medicinal plants were supplied to the village. Now that is not available, so please provide those.”
“My name is Sakunta Mahananda, from Pendramal village. In my house, farming is done without water, just like we cultivate green gram, black gram, and horse gram, and we store them safely for the next rainy season using limpatar and futkel leaves.”
“Ma, do you know about the 2047 vision for a developed India? Do you want to see some development in your village? Should there be a school in our village?”
“I can do that.”
“If I get a thousand chickens, I, a poultry farmer, will manage my household.”
“Humans used to have very useful things. Now, beneficial things have died out. Therefore, since those things are no longer present, our country has become very polluted. As a result, even birds are not there.”
“Our grant is ₹20,000. If we receive it, we can do fish farming, our family will eat well, and we can earn by selling. Also”
“Our brothers' mother, these are very small, they will become a problem for me, brother.”
“These people are serving food (perhaps including MDH products). At the place where this food is provided, they should sometimes include a fried item. Please give me my leafy greens and dal, specifically drumstick leaves and kulera leaves. Also, serve kala bhaja, puda bhaja, and guda bhaja (various types of fried side dishes).”
“If I give up my culture, what will you say/do? If all the culture I have, including my worship, food, drink, and attire, were to disappear, people would understand the loss.”
“Yes, mother, you remember some traditions that you like and that make you happy collectively. Yes, like Puspuni, when all the children gather and do Cher Chhera, and I will also do it.”
“A tribal child living in the forest used to worship the earth, the sky, the mountains, the moon, the sun, and the lord Buddha.”
“We are doing that which we are, my Jhunuga, black gram, Kulu oil. While Jhunuga, this is black gram, and we are doing this, and then do that.”
“Yes, we cultivate without water, such as hardy crops. These include Moong, Urad, and Mustard.”
“In 2047, public education here is also very significant, and technology has also advanced greatly. However, there is a flaw/dishonesty among the people, because of which, even if everyone works together, all tasks face challenges.”
“Our tribal community is unique. Our tribal people are distinct because our attire, our cuisine, our lifestyle, and all our customs are different.”
“It will charge without water, just like picking up dry items. It will charge without water. Now keep it safe.”
“If I find what was lost, I will give it to a shop again, I will give it to a fancy store, and if I get money from the fancy store, I will go home.”
“Earlier, whatever songs like Humogeet, Sajani Geeta, Dalkha Geeta, and all such things girls used to sing, girls should not do those anymore.”
“Badama, your tribe is different compared to others. Why is it unique, and what else will they offer? We are getting information about the forest to see. What will be there, Badama? You will see everything like elephants and horses. And Rake was eating everything.”
“We cultivate green gram as a second crop, which grows without water, relying on dew. The profit we get from it is also good, and the lentils we get, we consume ourselves.”
