In march to Jaipur, tribal groups highlight indigenous practices
The Hindu
The yatra will pass on the best practices of tribals to communities beyond southern Rajasthan and simultaneously learn about the practices of other areas
Tribal groups in southern Rajasthan have come together to defend the rights of indigenous and vulnerable communities with Swaraj activists emerging as a focal point for protection of their farming systems, livelihood and habitats. Tribal people have laid emphasis on making collective efforts to save the vital elements of water, forest, land and seed, which are crucial for their survival.
A Swaraj Sandesh-Samwad Padyatra (march on foot) began from Kopda village in Banswara district on September 11, the birth anniversary of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, who had led the Bhoodan movement. The 21-day yatra will culminate in Jaipur on Gandhi Jayanti after traversing a distance of 500 km. The aim of the yatris is to also offer indigenous solutions to the issues of tribal livelihood, culture and ethos.
As many as 200 participants in the yatra are generating awareness about the Gandhian concept of Swaraj, which holds the key to resolution of the issues of resource management, food security and agricultural systems for the tribal population. The yatra will cover Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara and Tonk districts before reaching Jaipur.
Banswara Zila Pramukh Resham Malivya and Mahatma Gandhi Jeevan Darshan Samiti’s district coordinator and former MLA Ramesh Pandya flagged off the yatra from Kopda village. Both the leaders called for a renewed focus on the concepts of tribal sovereignty and ‘seed Swaraj’ as well as return to the indigenous practices such as mixed cropping, preservation of seeds and the use of animals in farming and allied activities.
At a community discussion during the yatra’s night stay at Sagthali in Ghatol tehsil, agricultural expert P.L. Patel said the tribal farmers had almost lost their traditional practices and become dependent on markets. “This yatra is going to explore the possible models of Swaraj and find out solutions for the crisis faced by vulnerable communities,” Mr. Patel said.
Jayesh Joshi, secretary of Banswara’s voluntary group Vaagdhara, working on tribal livelihood issues, said the yatra would pass on the best practices of tribals to the communities beyond the boundaries of southern Rajasthan’s Vagad region and simultaneously learn about the practices of other areas. He said the tribal communities were the “true custodians” of Swaraj because they had painstakingly preserved their natural resources.
The best practices of the tribal people highlighted during the march included the production of local seeds, water conservation at source, use of animals in agriculture, checking soil erosion through mixed cropping and the use of uncultivated food for nutritional security. These practices have helped the tribal communities reduce their dependence on market and survive during the pandemic.