The Institute conducted an awareness cum sensitization programme on the relevance for establishment of rural as well as urban tribal markets for direct sale of farm produce and other household commodities for over 45 tribal farmers of Guptapada tribal village in Jatani Block of Khordha District, Odisha on 14th day of the Pakhwada, in collaboration with a leading local NGO ‘Amrita’ Community Resilience Resource Centre. Awareness was created and spread among the farmers about the tribal markets, generally known as “haats", which are vibrant centres for commerce and social life among indigenous communities, where people trade their goods like handicrafts, food, and forest produce. These haats are generally organized at weekly intervals by the tribal communities and help in exchanging their traditional culture. They were also sensitized about ‘Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) - a Government of India cooperative for tribal socio-economic development, Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) and National Agriculture Market (eNAM) etc. Another awareness programme was organized for the School Children on the Biography and inspirational story of ‘Bhagwan Birsa Munda’ in order to shape young minds for better India. Later, they were briefed about life, struggles, and contributions of ‘Bhagwan Birsa Munda’ and other eminent tribal leaders and freedom fighters. About 30 school children of tribal communities participated in the programme. The awareness programme was conducted and coordinated by Dr. S.K. Mishra, Dr, H.K. Dash and Dr. Om Prakash Verma. Some of the action and activity photographs of Day-14 (14.11.2025) are presented below.
