Traditional Ecology & Health

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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 should preserve our culture so that herbs and forests remain.

— Chanda

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

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

Here, our ancestors used to cultivate sava, medon, mijhari, and kodo, whose rice and bread were eaten. Today, they are slowly disappearing. Therefore, we should preserve them so that they remain a part of our lives forever. These are very nutritious and powerful food items.

— Ram Kumari

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

— Laxmi Bagh · Sundargarh, 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

Ratnagiri Pradhan village and Rajgora Panchayat, Konda Kanjamedi block, Konagazi Konabala. The traditional dance and music from our past are currently disappearing. Therefore, we want to revive and preserve those dances, songs, and traditional songs. We also want to revive traditional foods like Kandula, Biri, Kuiri, Kangu by cultivating them. If we preserve this tradition, the quality of our traditional food will be beneficial for us. Therefore, we will continue our efforts to preserve them.

— Sidheswar Nayak · Nuagaon, Kandhamal, Odisha

The villagers of Amba are making efforts to protect and revive their existing traditional forest. If the government provides some assistance to protect various types of herbal medicines, they will surely be able to protect them.

— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha

My name is Sabita Pradhan. My village is Ghosaguda. The block is Tikabali. In earlier times, we used to cultivate in the forests. And we used to cultivate millets, corn, black gram, and horse gram. We used to cultivate all those. Fertilizer was not even needed there. And even if we want to cultivate now, we are not getting seeds. That's why we are requesting the government that if they provide us with seeds, we will be able to cultivate and sustain ourselves.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

My name is Sukanti Pradhan. My village is Lambakupa. GP is Pikorodi. Block is Tikabali. District is Kandhamal. In our rural areas, the main food items that were cultivated, such as ragi, millet, maize, black gram, and green gram, did not require fertilizer. That's why our ancestors lived for a long time. Currently, because we are not cultivating our traditional food seeds, many kinds of diseases are occurring. So, if we can get traditional food and seeds from the government, then we can return to our previous state.

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

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

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

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

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

Our ancestors used to consume grains like Kuri, Kudra, Humli, and other similar produce. Those grains are now gone. If the government conducts a survey/preservation effort for them, it would be very beneficial for our people in the future, meaning there would be no illnesses or similar problems.

— Mohan AHARI · Udaipur, Rajasthan

My name is Surendra Podra. I am from Gurumundi village, Katinga Gram Panchayat, Dani block, Kandhamal district. I want to highlight the environmental degradation of today. Our ancestors used to live in the forest, depending on roots, greens, and various other things. But... I express my desire to bring back that kind of environment.

— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha

We are gradually destroying the traditional seeds of ancient times. We should preserve those seeds. Otherwise, some medicines and plants are leading to their extinction.

— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Gitilāta, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand

My name is Maneni Pradhan, from Raikakonda Malu. We, the indigenous original inhabitants, produce food from the forest and want to live with nature. We are expressing this desire. We are humbly requesting the government that all these efforts be made for us.

— RITARANI PRADHAN · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

If we do not make some effort, we will lose our traditional seeds, medicinal herbs, pure environment, air, etc.

— Kachala Choudhary

Traditional songs and forest herbs should be protected.

— Chanda

Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.

— Rupesh Maravi · 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

We must protect our forests so that herbs remain.

— Chanda

The government should protect the traditions and forests of the tribals; if the tribals exist, the forests will also be safe.

— Gopal · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

But we need to protect the traditional farming that was done before.

— Niranjan Bisi · Bissamcuttack, 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

To protect even the supreme traditional methods, we need to make people aware and tell them about our old seeds which grow naturally by nature.

— 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

The inherited seeds of gram, shiyali jowar, which were sown as a second crop in traditional farming methods and were very good for nutrition, are decreasing today. Efforts should be made to save them. The government should provide encouragement.

— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh

The traditional farming methods of our tribal community should be promoted by the government.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The traditional farming methods of our tribal community should be promoted by the government.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The local seeds in rural areas, such as Kuri corn, Kang, Bawaata, etc., should be protected by the government, and they are most important for this soil according to our ancient tradition.

— Anil Pargi · Cheekhli, Dungarpur, Rajasthan