TRADITIONAL FOODS
Re-seeding the past for a better future

Tribal communities in Similipal are being encouraged to conserve seeds and water, use bio-inputs and inter-crop millets with other crops. Farmers are optimistic that this can bring them food security and better livelihoods. 

#Adivasis #Land #Organic #Agriculture
CROP PRODUCTION
Reviving millet cultivation and consumption

The emphasis on rice and wheat production for decades has steadily reduced the importance of millets. once a staple for many Indians, especially adivasis. Some states, like Odisha, are trying to change this. 

#Food Security #Agriculture
WITCH-HUNTING
Women targeted by superstition, crime

Odisha has the second highest number of reported cases of witch-hunting. Superstitious beliefs are made out to be the reason, but discrimination and revenge are often the real causes.

#Culture #Gender Violence #Human Rights
HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICT
Odisha sees surge in elephant electrocutions

Habitats and corridors for wild elephants are shrinking due to other development priorities, and local communities are unwilling to tolerate the growing number of human-animal conflicts.

#Wildlife #Environment
RURAL HEALTH
Odisha hopes pharmacists can fill in for doctors

Facing an acute shortage of doctors at its rural health centres, the state government hopes that some of their work could be done by pharmacists instead. But public health advocates are not so sure.

#Public Health #Health
TRAFFICKING ANIMALS
Pangolin poaching rises amidst pandemic

Repeated lockdowns and curfews have been a golden opportunity for wildlife traffickers targeting termite-eating pangolins in Simlipal National Park and adjacent districts.

#Wildlife #Environment
NUTRITION GARDENS
Local fields of health and livelihood

Odisha's Livelihood Mission promotes local gardens to help adivasis find food security. These also improve nutrition levels, and provide additional income from surplus produce.

#Adivasis #Child Health #Food Security #Livelihoods #Women's Health #Health
FARMING DISTRESS
Lockdown, cyclones and maize farming in Odisha

Repeated natural disasters, closed mandis and a forced halt to transportation of produce have brought maize farmes in Nabarangpur and other districts to the brink of distress.

#Agribusiness #Livelihoods #Agriculture
LEARNING ONLINE
Dual lesson plans can bridge the digital divide

A pilot program shows how learning can continue despite the lockdown, and also how the gap in technology-assisted learning available to children in government schools can be closed.

#Curricula #Education #KARNATAKA
COVID IMPACT
Pandemic compounds Adivasis' long misery

Scheduled Tribes were marginalised even before Covid-19. Now, in Odisha's tribal districts, they face a worse reality. Livelihoods are vanishing, and health risks loom large.

#Adivasis #Livelihoods #Public Health #Poverty
RURAL LIVELIHOODS
Falling prices hit turmeric farmers hard

As Covid-19 rages through the rural areas, hundreds of thousands of tribal farmers in Odisha's Kandhamal district are selling their turmeric harvest at half the usual market rate. 

#Adivasis #Livelihoods #Agriculture
CAG AUDIT IN ODISHA
Waiting for compliance patiently
CAG AUDIT IN ODISHA : Waiting for compliance patiently

Himanshu Upadhyaya examines a CAG audit report to point out the blatant non-compliance of environmental laws largely by the Forest officials.

#Environment
MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE
Setback for optimal river basin planning
MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE : Setback for optimal river basin planning

Shripad Dharmadhikary explains why setting up a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi Water Dispute will not help the people or the river.

#Environment #CHHATISGARH
BAUXITE IN BAPHLIMALI
In Odisha, more tribal voices against mining

The Kashipur movement against mining operations that threaten local livelihoods and ecosystems has seen merciless suppression and gross violation of human rights.

#Mining #Environment #Human Rights
TRIBAL SUB PLAN
Diversion of funds mars tribal welfare plans

Despite numerous development plans and programs, the tribals of our nation remain the most marginalised group. Abhijit Mohanty examines the Tribal Sub Plan funds and what's happening with them

#Adivasis #Caste #Government
  • Population : 46.3 m (2019 est)
  • Area : 155,707 sq.km.
  • Density : 298/sq. km.
  • Sex Ratio : 979 (2011)
  • Child Sex Ratio : 941 (2011)
  • Literacy : 77.30% (2020)
  • Forest Cover : 33.15% (2019)
  • Lok Sabha MPs : 21
  • Rajya Sabha MPs : 10
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