From manufacturing bamboo tea to planting a new forest, these Adivasi entrepreneurs and visionaries finally got their recognition in 2021.
1. Tulasi Gowda, the 'Encyclopedia of Forest'
Tulasi Gowda, a 72-year-old woman belonging to the Halakki tribe of Karnataka, was conferred the Padma Shri award on November 8 for her contribution to the protection of the environment. Since childhood, Tulasi has been planting trees and protecting them. It is estimated that she has planted 30,000 saplings in her lifetime. Tulasi Gowda also joined the forest department as a temporary volunteer, where she was recognised for her dedication to nature preservation. Barefoot and dressed in traditional attire, she received India's fourth-highest civilian award from President Ram Nath Kovind during a ceremony in New Delhi.
Source:- Indiatoday
2. Rahibai Popere, the “seed mother”
Rahibai Popere is known as “seed mother” for preserving 154 indigenous varieties of seeds. Without her efforts the world would have lost many species of plants and grains. The indigenous crops need only water and air to grow (and not chemical fertilisers) as opposed to hybrid crops that require more water and pesticides. Popere is a farmer from Mahadeo Koli, a tribal community from the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
She is also associated with BAIF Development Research Foundation, a national NGO involved in implementing pioneering development programs in different parts of the country. Rahibai was conferred the fourth highest civilian national award Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind for her contribution in the field of agriculture.
Source:- Republicworld and Gaon Connection
3. Kanchan Ugursandi, first woman biker to cover 18 passes of the Himalayas
A tribal mountain biker from Jharkhand, Kanchan Ugursandi became the first woman to finish the world's first solo motorcycle expedition covering 18 treacherous passes of northern Himalayan mountain ranges. Ugursandi traversed the distance in 25 days and crossed 18 passes to include the world's highest motorable Umlingla pass at 19,300 feet made by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The solo motorcycle expedition also played a pivotal role in promoting road and Covid safety awareness in the border areas.
Source:- OutlookIndia. Photo: Twitter
4. Archana Soreng, environmentalist
The 26-years-old environmentalist from Odiahs was a participant at COP 26 held in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. She belongs to the Khadia tribe and has been chosen as one of seven members of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. Archana Soreng firmly believes that any climate action will be fruitful only when the indigenous people, who live in close harmony with nature, are included in it. She became an environmentalist after being inspired by her late grandfather and late father, both tribal leaders in their village in Sundergarh district. She wishes to understand more about her tribe and gain the wisdom of her ancestors, and has dedicated her life towards documenting indigenous practices including healthcare, environment preservation, forest protection, agriculture and lifestyle.
Source: ndtv.com
5. Samir Jamatia, bamboo technologist
Bamboo grows in abundance in North-East India and Samir Jamatia has been winning accolades for using technology to make the most of it. He has been involved in making many items–bamboo tea, bamboo rice, bamboo utensils, and even bamboo salt, thereby making headlines in 2021. Jamatia has worked with the National Bamboo Mission and the Bamboo Society of India in the past. Trained in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan and India, Jamatia has been involved with using bamboo waste to make utensils thereby ensuring zero wastage. Source: Indian Express