District-Level Event Held on World Environment Day Community Pledges Environmental Conservation; 9 Gram Sabhas Receive Gram Sabha Empowerment Award
Date: June 5, 2026
Gumwalwada, Bastar District (Chhattisgarh), 5 June 2026. A district-level World Environment Day event was successfully organised under the ‘Aamcho Jungle, Aamcho Adhikar’ (Our Forest, Our Rights) campaign, jointly convened by Gram Sabha Gumwalwada and the District Gram Sabha Federation. The theme for this year was “Inspiration from Nature: Climate Protection and Building the Future.”
The objective of the event was to raise awareness among Gram Sabhas about environmental protection, climate change, and the conservation, promotion, and management of forests — and to inform them of their constitutional rights so that they may protect and manage their forests through democratic means.
The event opened with a cultural programme presented by children from Gumwalwada village. Their performance of the traditional Dhurwa dance left a deep impression on all those present.
On this occasion, Maha Gram Sabha President Laksminath Kashyap outlined the functioning and objectives of the District Gram Sabha Federation, stating that forests are not merely the need of one village — they are bound to the life and future of the entire region. He said that we can only use what we protect today.
Santu Maurya emphasised the importance of empowering Gram Sabhas, noting that when a Gram Sabha is strong, all work related to development and conservation becomes possible in a democratic manner.
Mandhar Nag from village Kamdev Kurushpal shared his experience, describing how community-led plantation work through collective shramdaan (voluntary labour) has flourished successfully, and that the village has resolved to plant even more trees this year.
Luku Nag from Tiriya village spoke about efforts to promote eco-tourism alongside forest conservation. He shared that through community initiatives, activities like bamboo rafting have been launched in the village, generating employment opportunities for local residents while also attracting visitors from outside.
Representatives from several Gram Sabhas — including Tiriya, Majkot, Ratenga, and Mundapal — also shared their experiences and described how they have carried out successful conservation efforts at the local level.
Anubhav Shori noted that Gram Sabhas today are significantly more aware and empowered than before, which is an important achievement. He pointed out that most of the well-preserved forests of Central India are located in tribal areas, and that the primary responsibility for their protection lies with tribal communities. He highlighted the management rights granted to Gram Sabhas under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the PESA Act, and noted that communities can draw on various government schemes to strengthen the conservation and enhancement of their forests. He also spoke at length about climate change and global warming, explaining that shifts in weather patterns are directly affecting human life, agriculture, and biodiversity.
During the event, 30 saplings were collectively planted as a symbolic gesture. An announcement was also made to launch a large-scale plantation drive across several hectares of forest land in the coming period.
Also present at the event were Rishabh Gajbiye and Sanjay Gajbiye from the Forest Department and Tribal Affairs Department, who praised the efforts being made by communities in the field of environmental conservation.
Representatives from 20 Gram Sabhas across the district participated in the programme.
9 Gram Sabhas Receive the Gram Sabha Empowerment Award
The following Gram Sabhas were honoured for outstanding work in environmental conservation, community leadership, and Gram Sabha empowerment:
Tiriya, Titri, Mundapal, Ghatkawali, Bamanras, Kamdev Kurushpal, Gumwalwada, Kondlur, Kandanar
Various Gram Sabhas also set up exhibitions and food stalls featuring dishes made from mahua, which had a notable impact on participants’ learning and awareness.
Special Contributions to the Event
Key contributors to the success of the event included: Lokuram Nag (Gram Sabha President, Tiriya), Dhiraj Thakur, Baman Poyam, Rajesh, and Ramsingh (Forest Department), Tulsi Baghel (Gram Sabha President, Dhudmaras), Basanti Gumwalwada and Mahangu Baghel (Janpad Member) from Gram Sabha Mundapal, Raju Podiyami from Gram Sabha Kondlur, Sumit Poyam (Secretary, Sarv Adivasi Samaj, Bastar District), Tameshwari Kashyap (Sarpanch, Ghatkawali), Dhansay Nag (Chairperson, CFRMC Gumwalwada), Baliram Baghel (Janpad Member, Darbha), and Anubhav Shori, Santu Maurya, Phulsing Nag, Sukhdev Baghel, Kamlesh Kashyap, Bansingh Maurya, Somaru Baghel, Laksminath Kashyap, Laxmi Manjhi, and Yashashri.
