Jan Adhikar Yatra by Harda tribals gives “Go Green” callsays Aide et Action South As

June 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Aide et Action South Asia carried a unique campaign called Jan Adhikar Yatra in 40 villages from May 22 on occasion of World Bio-diversity Day from Village Churni Bapcha till June 5th , 2010 at Village Sirkamba in Timbarni Block at Harda District. Cycle rally by 15 team members from AEA covered 40 villages in 12 days and have contacted 5000 villagers and promoted community discussions on environment, education and participatory governance to improve quality of lives of tribal communities in the regions which is neglected by the governments and civil society. The campaign promoted dialogue between the Government officials and community has ended with a two day event comprising painting exhibition by children on ecology on occasion of World Environment Day on June 5-6 2010.

Speaking at the “Gramin Mahotsav” the concluding part of Jan Adhikar Yatra, Mr.John Kinglsey District Collector has given a call to youth to Go GREEN to shun usage of plastic in day to day living. Inaugurating the exhibition of paintings made by tribal students, District Collector has requested mainstream population to understand the need for protecting natural habitat, forests from further deterioration and degradation. He urged a gathering of 200 women to take benefits of government schemes and ensure participation community in effective implementation of forest rights bill. Pravin Bhope Regional Manager Aide et Action Bhopal said “People’s campaign has touched 5000 tribals in 40 villages in one of the poorest districts of the country. We get to see strong demand from the tribal community to protect their resources and participate in the governance.” Dhulari who heads women groups from Umardha village expressed difficulties in marketing jute products though government claims to promote environment friendly items. Bansoo, another tribal woman said that, “We cannot cultivate our own land owing to lack of water in the region and more so we suffer from  lack of work due to environment degradation”.

Jan Adhikar Yatra has attracted participation of youth and women in large numbers in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. Community organizations which were hitherto remained inactive for a long period due has raised various issues related to development in the region. Education, basic infrastructure such as roads and lack of facilities in primary health centres are mains issues thrown up during the campaign.  Women in particular raised lack of access to potable drinking water for the villages, though cities get the attention from the governments.  Madhya Pradesh is endowed with rich and diverse forest resources. The forest areas constitute 31% of the geographical area of the state and 12.44% of the forest area of the country and large number of tribals depends on forests for their living. Tribals are raising various issues such as degradation of forest, lack of access to productive work, issues related to health and poor retention of children in schools owing to migration of the communities.

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Aide et Action works with a vision "A world where dignity is ensured for all men and women by education - lever for human development. " AeA South Asia works in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal reaching out to more than 2 lakh children from marginalized communities.