In a consultation workshop, the participants collectively arrived at a plan of action to ensure that the agenda of conserving Commons (shared natural resources) as an answer to climate change moves forward in a steady and sustainable manner.
Along with journalists, legal experts, academicians from NRMC, XIM University, Bhubaneswar, and representatives from international institutions such as UNDP and Water Aid, civil society organisations such as POREVARTHAN, SPREAD, Samonaya Trust, Seva Niketan, FoGGO, Seba Jagat, YAR, MASS, SEWAK, CREFTDA, RCDC, NIRMAN, SHAKTI, RCDC,DFF, Boudh,Jangal Surakshya Mahasangha, Nayagarh, DFF, Balangir, Jana Kalyan Sanstha, SEWAK, PRADAN, Harsha Trust, Vasundhara, Samonaya Trust, and Lok Bikas Parishad, participated in the workshop.
In Odisha Commons play a crucial role in contributing to the livelihood, disaster and overall climate resilience of the state and its people. Apart from playing meaningful role in combating climate disasters, the Commons also contribute significantly to the household incomes of dependent communities.
The Panchayati Raj Act, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) and Forest Rights Act (FRA) have created an enabling legal and policy context for community-led Commons restoration in the State. Further, the 2011 Supreme Court judgment on Commons directs all States to protect and restore Commons, and restores it to the Gram Sabha/ Gram Panchayat for the common use of the communities. More so, there is now an amount of about Rs 500 crores available annually by the Governments through MGNREGA for restoration of natural resources
The participants designed a vision for the State and clear pathways to collectively walk towards the same. The workshop stressed on building an 'alliance for Commons’ for collaboration around translating research into implementation for scale and Government integration, improve awareness about opportunities to use the Commons by integrating data and technology.
Among others the workshop was addressed by FES regional team leader Meenadas Mohapatra, Swapnasri Sarangi of Commons Collaboration, Prof Satyendranath Mishra of Xavier University , Commons expert Sisir Pradhan, Ranjan Panda of Water Initiative and Sahana Srinath of Communication Team of FES