168 neighbours have shared what matters to them — in their own words.
“I comparatively make fried moong chaso.”
“ତୁଳନୀୟ ଭାବେ ଛଣା ମୁଗ ଛାସୋ କରାଯାଏ ମୁଁ କରେ”
translated from Odia
Nearby, the main topics are a mix of challenges and aspirations. Residents frequently express challenges related to limited economic opportunities, particularly a need for capital to start small businesses 💰. Concerns are also prevalent regarding poor infrastructure, specifically bad roads and lack of internet access, hindering daily life and education 🛣️. Furthermore, there's a strong desire to combat the disappearing native languages, songs, and cultural practices, alongside anxieties about food security and nutritional deficiencies, especially concerning children and pregnant women, with a noted shortage of traditional forest foods. However, many submissions propose constructive solutions, advocating for micro-enterprises like pig farming, goat rearing, paddy processing, vegetable cultivation, and broom making as paths to self-sufficiency and children's education. There's significant emphasis on leveraging local resources like Mahua and other forest products for nutritional benefits, suggesting their inclusion in school meals. Citizens are also keen on preserving their unique tribal identities, languages, and traditions through education and community engagement 💡. Improving infrastructure, ensuring women's safety, and creating employment for youth are highlighted as crucial for a developed India.
“Paddy business”
“If you give us 20000, we will play.”
“Earlier, we used to eat mahua until 8 o'clock. But now, by the time we eat it like before, whatever little is produced, we consume it entirely. Meaning, our day somehow ends with this heavenly mahua.”
“Even in a safe India, women should be able to return safely from any place, even at night.”
“Mahua fruit/extract contains vitamins. It would be beneficial if given to school children to eat and if one also consumes it.”
“The next news is about the Jansen women of the Khadia community.”
“We Oram Sabaro want food, and we Oram Sabaro are completely different from all other communities.”
“Language, song, and dance are disappearing, the next generation should preserve them.”
“If you first give me twenty thousand rupees in hand, I will do pig farming and educate my children further. I will ensure they study.”
“The cold has increased a lot, it's not good to stay in the forest, so I will buy a blanket shawl.”
“Will buy and sell paddy. Prepare rice.”
“It would be beneficial to give food items made from Mahua to pregnant women, children, and school children.”
“Nose”
“I will buy brooms, collect them, and then take them to another country to sell them for more money and save.”
“If twenty thousand is given to me, I will clear the land, prepare the plots, and remove obstacles.”
“Fried moong dal with buttermilk is made, I make it.”
“Mahua-made food”
“Amen. Lao, Korla, Bhindi, and jholnga, chonhi, semmi semmi, all of these.”
“If we give 20000 to the women of our group, we will tie broomsticks and sell them in the market.”
“If we boil honey with tamarind for school children, they will eat it well. If we fry it, it's also good. If we boil and drink its juice, it contains vitamins, which is good for children.”
“We will keep and cultivate all the makhana, ridge gourds, and beans ourselves. I will buy them.”
“Women of the Kadia community can be identified by the marks engraved on their forehead, due to fate/a curse.”
“If you give 20000 Taka, you will spread corruption to every household and indulge in bribery.”
“We are Khadia. We are known as Khadia society because of our language. No one else has such a language.”
“I will buy paddy, process it into rice, and sell it. I will spend on my children's education.”
“In developed India, priority should be given to providing employment to unemployed youth, and the problem of migrant labor from our state should stop.”
“Jamal devoured my pre-dawn meal and the communal plate; it was also eaten from here.”
“Give our group 20000, buy paddy, make rice, and sell it in the market. Make this business regular.”
“If 20 thousand rupees are provided, they will buy old paddy, process it into rice, and sell it.”