Environment protection drive launched in Nuapada Friday, 02 October 2020 | AJIT PANDA | NUAPADA

 A campaign to create awareness about environmental protection amongst village youths of Nuapada district that was launched by the Water Initiative, Odisha (WIO) in association with NGO PATANG, Sambalpur with support from Unicef on the World Environment Day ended with a meeting of youths of three villages of Khariar block on Monday.

"The objective of the campaign was also to engage village youths to participate in planning of activities under the Government job scheme MGNREGS so that the funds could be effectively used for rejuvenation of forest and water sources," said Kshirasindhu Sagaria, an activist associated with WIO, who actively monitored the campaign.

Youths of three villages of Khariar block of Nuapada district got together in the play ground of Kusmal village at the closing event of WED programme.

The youths, at the beginning shared their personal experience during Covid pandemic and the discussion gradually covered subjects of local importance like, local situation and the changes happening in their villages after the advent of Covid. Most of the youths said that, the situation in villages at present is not the same as it was before March 23.

Dagareswar Majhi was working in Mumbai as a supervisor in a construction company which made him earn ? 15,000 per month. "I was able to save at least 8 to 10 thousands rupees per month, which was sufficient enough for my 5-member family to live, but the situation after March 23 is not the same.

I have not worked since I returned from my work place," said Majhi, who is planning to move to Mumbai again on Friday next.

"The employer has assured me to pay more this time" Majhi added. According to villagers of Dumerjor, about two hundred people from their villages were going every day to nearby town Khariar to get job.

 "It has now stopped, because there is restrictions on activities due to Covid, our family members are also not leaving us to move to town with the fear of Covid," said Lokanath Nial, a resident of Dumerjor.

He further adds that about 500 daily wage workers of 1,000 households of the mentioned three villages have been forced to stop working regularly in Khariar town.

On the question of what could be done in this critical time of Covid to live safe and get an assured livelihood at the same time; the youths answer that, creation of job in villages is the only option and MGNREGS has that potential.

 The youths appreciated the trench and bunding works in the forest areas taken up by forest department under MGNREGS in different villages. "It will check soil erosion and help rain water percolate to ground" says Laxmikant Podh of Kusmal.

"We need such kind of works in villages that will help our resources develop and at the same time provide job" adds he. "But one thing that the government must consider is to enhance the wage rate, it should be at least ? 400," added he.The youths also visited the nearby forest protected by Kusmal villagers to closely observe the diversity existing in natural forest. They counted over 60 kinds of trees, creepers, grass etc in a small patch of land. "We visit the forest every day but never realise such diversities" they expressed after observation.

The youths also discussed various other issues such as how people in villages are afraid of the pandemic but not following the Covid norms like social distancing and wearing of masks.

All of them promised to take efforts in their day-to-day life to motivate people to observe the COvid-19 guidelines