Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised women from Odisha’s Debrigarh region for their efforts to conserve forests while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Speaking during his Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi highlighted the story of Maithili Bhue of Dhodrokusum village in the Debrigarh region and described her journey from collecting forest produce to becoming involved in forest conservation and eco-tourism.
Maithili would earlier visit the forest almost every day to collect firewood, Mahua flowers, Kendu leaves, bamboo shoots and other forest produce. The forest was an important source of livelihood for her family and several others in the area.
Her association with Debrigarh Eco-Tourism, however, brought a change in her relationship with the forest. Forest conservation became a source of livelihood for her, while also motivating other women in the area to take up similar activities.
Modi said more than 60 women are now actively involved in forest conservation in the region. While some are working to protect wildlife, others are involved in developing grasslands and promoting eco-tourism activities.
The Prime Minister said the women of Debrigarh have shown that protecting nature and achieving economic prosperity can go hand in hand.
He also praised Maithili and the other women for setting an example of how community participation in conservation can create livelihood opportunities while protecting the environment.