We were informed by the youth team of Madhonar and Kachora that they were ready and will arrange a gram sabha meet where our team, Saathi Ngo would take a 2 day training/awarness. They touched upon numerous themes like management and planning of the community forest resources for the community forest resources management committee, collection of forest produce as well as the recently passed Pesa day on 24th november relating to rights and planning, decision making capacity of the gram sabha. I was excited but for the excruciatingly painful journey that leads to back pains and possibly ill health for days.
One has to find a thin line of road which sometimes just isn’t there through a maze of deep potholes and dust and the fear of being overrun by the mining trucks which just don’t end. We took chart papers, water bottles (forgot soap), and warm clothes for the overnight stay, 60 kms from Narayanpur. This village isn’t on maps and hence no directions either. However our team of community facilitators decided to take an internal route that consisted of a single lane road under the PM Gram Sadak Yojna which was often dirt or rocky roads, but it was ten times better than what we had to go through before. This ride was seriously fun as it crossed through villages, near mountains and through a literal nala ( small rivulet). The village houses are a thing to admire. The entire ecosystem is but this one straight away leads me to think what wrong we have done with our cities. They have a small built structure for shelter, and a larger area around covered by fenced wooden planks. Apart from the aesthetics, this is so conducive to human activity and living. One can venture off of his house to sit, get fresh air, socialize etc. And the hens and their chicks. They are so cute when they run from you behind their mother to take shelter under her wings. Then chirping and running off to forage with their pigeon-like neck movement. They all roam around freely with the local dogs adapted to not hurting them. And the distance between houses ensures real space, instead of piling up houses one above the other costing a fortune. We crossed the big beautiful hill of Temrugaon that is one majestic sight to watch.
We reached madhonar first and one of our community facilitators, Rajen ji continued here whereas , Ajay ji and I decided to go to kachora. The Gram Sabha was almost in full attendance waiting for this exciting gathering with ‘guests’ visiting their village. They offered us Lal Chai in Sargi leaves and we were charged and then we began. Some details for anyone who reads this on CFRMC and forest produce collection. We began with chain introductions, then Ajay Ji asked them to give up fear and shame and to ask questions, not just here, but in life as well at all times. We then began by asking what they value about their village. Their answers ranged from trees, water and their jungle as the most precious resources. We calculated an estimate of the value they get from their surroundings which they would have to otherwise pay had they had to avail such services living in a city. It included firewood, hens, milk, fish & meat, traditional herbs and medicines, bamboo etc. and it came out to around 10 lakh rs annually which really got their attention. Then we explained their rights under PESA and FRA where they can govern their traditional village area, make plans and use resources as per the willingness of the Sabha which included making ponds, check dams, boring, designation of cattle grazing area, using Thengapalli methods to avoid fire, bulk collection and sale of forest produce after value addition and market linkages etc.
That the urban were dying to pay any amount of premium to trade the air they breathe, the organic food they eat and their sustainable and self sufficient lifestyle, whereas we are hand in glove in destroying our own most prized possession. We told them that under the PESA 1996 ratified by CG PESA 22 they were entitled to the rights of the forests they have been traditionally living in, rights on the forest produce and to sell or market it, plan their own development activities and manage their own resources as per local knowledge instead of being forced to carry out top down orders. Which areas need more seed plantations, which area is suitable for ponds or dams, where to dig the borewell are all areas where they can and should plan out their own vision with everyone’s assent . We asked them to list out their challenges and solutions to their Jal, Jungle, Jameen and they listed out issues like theft of firewood, overgrazing, fire, washing away of top soil, mining, toilets etc.
The stars were twinkling like I have never seen before. Once before in Himachal Pradesh, I did see them, a lot at once, but this was special. It was completely dark. In the dark, and silence, you begin imagining things, seeing things not there, voices that were never there, noises transform into human vocabulary and call signs, leaves falling become footsteps. I went to the lake as everyone was about to sleep, at 9 pm, way too early for me. I asked Dasharam twice, the youth leader of Kachora, if there were animals or anything dangerous out there since I would roam around for a while in the night. He assured me that there wasn’t any danger. Assured, I started walking into complete darkness, something I haven’t seen before, like I couldn’t see anything in front or behind me now. I started freaking out even though there was nothing significant that would change the assurances of Dasharram for a rational mind. Half frozen due to the cold and rest out of fear, I walked into the distance and laid down on the grass to gaze at the sky for a while, & I couldn’t help but think what are we as a civilization doing wrong, moving away from such lifestyles and chaining ourselves to loneliness and work.
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