The Earth Day was celebrated on April 22 at Allapani village under Bada Manada Gram Panchayat of Bisoi Block in Mayurbanj district, where the village was presented as a model eco village.
Attending the function, ambassador of Global Eco Village Network-India (GEN-India) Karmi Beshra said a systematized methodology like setting up eco village needs to be devised to effectively and efficiently tackle natural disasters. Near about 600 indigenous tribal communities attended the celebration.
Among others BDO Sambu Nath Nandi, assistant programme officer, NREGA Sukumar Muduli, THREAD workers Nirmal Kumar Swain, Panamani Majhi, Uttam Kumar Biswal and Sarapanch of Badamanada Gram Panchayat Gangadhar Marandi spoke.
Traditional seeds, minor millets and pulses were also demonstrated and exchanged among the farmers. Near about 60 varieties of seeds and millets were demonstrated to generate awareness.
Notably, THREAD along with its partner Odisha Nari Samaj (ONS) has been working for socio-economic development of the excluded groups (SCs and STs) with special focus on indigenous women in the eco village movement. Allapani village has different institutions like MNREGA watch Club, NRHM and ICDS committee, Forest Right Act and PDS committee, RTI committee which aim at systematically and legally tap all the rightful resources for the tribals.