39 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“Mom, if 20,000 rupees are given to your team, what will you do? I don't know either. You won't keep even one. It's done. What?”
“ମା ତମକେ ୨୦୦୦୦ ଟଙ୍କା ତମର ଦଳକେ ଦିଆଗଲେ ତମେ କାଣା କରବ। ମୁଁ ବି ନି ଜାଣି। ନା ଧରବୁ ନା ଗୁଟିଏ। ହେଇଗଲା। କାଣା”
translated from Odia
Nearby, citizens express a mix of concerns and aspirations. There are significant challenges regarding environmental degradation, with forests being cut down and wild animals destroying crops. Concerns are also raised about the lack of awareness regarding the 'Developed India 2047' vision and issues with nutritious food provision in PDS/midday meals. Basic infrastructure needs like house-to-house water supply and CC roads are highlighted for certain villages 💧. Despite these hurdles, there's a strong collective desire to secure financial assistance, particularly for seed money (20,000 rupees) to initiate small businesses and farming ventures. A deep commitment exists to preserve traditional culture, festivals, and indigenous agricultural practices for future generations 💡, reflecting proactive community engagement in their development and a desire for prosperity.
“Mother, if we had celebrated Nuakhai, why would your culture be neglected? If we had celebrated Nuakhai, we would have experienced prosperity, how beautifully we would have united, and made the gods and goddesses so beautiful.”
“Daimati Pradhani. Forest life and festivals.”
“Mother, if I give you 20,000 rupees, what will you do with it? Will you open a grocery store? I will give you that money, but it's not for a grocery store. It will be given to you as seed money.”
“There is a tiger, but there's no growling sound from it. Don't talk about the growling. He is speaking what needs to be spoken. Why are you saying this?”
“Mother, to whom do you want to pass on your culture? We want our Babuna, as our child, to perform puja for our gods and goddesses, doing something good. That is what we want. And your tradition states it is so.”
“Mother, if you give 20,000 rupees to your group, what will you do? We will open a shop and with that money, we will bring things for the shop. Oh, we'll do that easily.”
“I want to save the tradition.”
“Daimati Pradhani - Oh. Mung beans, Urad dal, and Chickpeas.”
“Mother, why do you cultivate without planting? Why do you farm? How do you know how to store my black gram, pigeon pea, chickpea, and lentil seeds? You preserve them using neem leaves and dauna leaves.”
“Sunita Pradhani. We must preserve our traditional culture to inform and show the new generation.”
“Brother, what can be seen on your side? Are you from this village or elsewhere? We are from a different village. We are from a different village, that's why we are here.”
“Hello, Didi, you put in 15,000 and it's gone/stuck. What will you do? Do whatever you wish to do. [Unclear speech]. Hey, tell him. Sell it. Yes.”
“Daimati Pradhani Millet and Kodo rice”
“Daimati Pradhani, Sanpatrapali, grows vegetables.”
“What is the government's vision in 2047?”
“2047 2000 India”
“Mother, if 20 thousand rupees are given to your team, what will you do? We will do business. What business will you do? We will do small-scale business, we will do small-scale farming.”
“Mother, do you know anything about Developed India 2047? No? You won't know? No? Will you tell your children? No? Have they said anything about empowering women? No?”
“Yes, Dada, you are a resident of the forest. How do you see the changes in the forest? We are seeing all the changes in the forest. All the trees in the forest are being cut down. All the animals and birds are coming everywhere and eating all our rice, black gram, and lentils. Oh, Surasahi people!”
“Mother, are you farming without rain? Why are you farming? Are you cultivating moong and black gram? Yes, then how are you able to store it? Yes, we have stored it.”
“I am not able to transcribe the audio as it appears to be silent or contain no discernible speech.”
“Sunita Pradhani. The 2047 vision should be achieved by 2030. In Sanapatrapali village, in the ST settlement, house-to-house water supply is needed and CC roads should be provided.”
“Daimati Pradhani. People from the Adivasi community belong to different classes.”
“I am unable to transcribe the provided audio as it contains no discernible speech.”
“Oh Grandpa, do you remember any festivals or celebrations that you want to show the children again? Our New Year is here, and Cherchera is here. We used to practice the tradition of asking for things (from others during festivals), and we are teaching the children the same. The children are also asking for things, and we are telling them to do so.”
“Mother, why didn't you tell us about these things you're facing? We were doing things collectively, and that felt good. If those things had been kept, we would have shared the expenses or eaten them together. So many encounters, so many discussions.”
“Sister, tell your e-guard how the forest was before and how it is now. The forest used to be good, there were many trees.”
“Ma, if 20,000 rupees are given to your group, what will you do? I will buy a flour mill machine, I will do tailoring, and I will manage my family. Just enough to get by.”
“Daimati Pradhani Millet and Kodo rice”
