Tag: tribal communities

Events in Goa

Goa Forest Diversity Festival 2026 Inaugurated, Celebrating Nature, Culture and Conservation

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, January 17, 2026: The inaugural edition of the Goa Forest Diversity Festival 2026 was formally inaugurated today by Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, in the presence of Union Minister Shripad Naik, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Kamal Datta.



Dedicated to the forests of Goa and the communities that have lived in harmony with them for generations, the festival brings together culture, tradition and conservation on a single platform. More than a celebration, the initiative seeks to create a dialogue and collective commitment towards understanding and safeguarding Goa’s rich forest biodiversity.

The festival aims to connect people with forests not through statistics alone, but through stories, food, art, performances and lived experiences. One of its most distinctive highlights is the Angon Experience—an immersive traditional space featuring live demonstrations by Chanekars, Khajekars, traditional coconut craftsmen, clay potters, gardening experts, Kokedama artists and other local artisans who reflect sustainable practices passed down through generations.

The Forest Kitchen, described as the soul of the festival, showcases tribal and traditional cuisine prepared by forest communities and Self-Help Groups. These recipes reflect seasonality, ecology and respect for nature, underscoring how sustainability has long been embedded in traditional ways of life.

Another major attraction is the Green Bazaar, curated with stalls offering eco-friendly products and forest-based goods that support local artisans and sustainable livelihoods. The initiative reinforces the message that conservation and economic opportunity can coexist.

Throughout the festival, visitors experience a seamless blend of culture and conservation, with strong green messaging such as Mhaka Naka Plastic. The opening ceremony featured performances by Sonia Shirsat and her orchestra, followed by Morulo Dance, Katti Fugdi, a Jagor Act and a forest-themed light show by Vajra Aigal.

Addressing the gathering, Chairperson Dr. Deviya Rane highlighted that the festival provides a unique platform for tribal communities and Self-Help Groups to showcase forest-inspired cuisine and culture. She emphasised the importance of sensitising youth and citizens to issues such as plastic pollution, wildlife protection and sustainable living, noting that conservation requires active community participation beyond legislation.

Dr. Rane also outlined plans to create a Mini Forest in the heart of the city, envisioned as a living public space where nature, livelihoods and community converge. As part of this initiative, 20 festival stalls will be converted into permanent structures to support Self-Help Groups, local artisans, forest-based producers and eco-entrepreneurs, creating a regular marketplace that promotes sustainable livelihoods and green entrepreneurship.

The festival also witnessed the launch of the coffee table book “Forest Recipes of Goa, Stories of Tribal Food”, a photo-essay by Ms. Assavri Kulkarni, published by the Goa Forest Development Corporation. Another highlight was the release of the wildlife documentary “Falling off the Radar, Waterfalls of Goa”, directed by wildlife photographer and filmmaker Mr. Giri Cavale and produced by the StoryLark team.

The Goa Forest Diversity Festival 2026 stands as a celebration of Goa’s natural heritage while reinforcing the shared responsibility of conserving forests for future generations.

Events in Goa

Rural Journalists Spotlight Displacement and Development in Maharashtra at MOG Sunday Talk

Tanisha Cardozo

Panaji, August 2025 — The intersection of development and displacement took centre stage at the Museum of Goa’s recent MOG Sunday session titled PARI: Stories from the Margins. Journalists from the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) presented gripping firsthand accounts of how large-scale projects in Maharashtra are uprooting rural and tribal communities, threatening their livelihoods, homes, and futures.

Among the highlighted stories was the impact of the Samruddhi Mahamarg, India’s ambitious Mumbai-Nagpur expressway, which stretches 701 kilometres through Maharashtra. Families dependent on river fishing were forcibly evicted without compensation, losing both their homes and their means of survival. Similarly, hydropower projects in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats have displaced entire villages, leaving residents with little recourse despite holding proof of property ownership.

Jyoti YL, a journalist who reported from Maharashtra’s tribal and rural districts, shared poignant narratives of despair and invisibility faced by those affected. “For people on the ground, it often means displacement, despair and invisibility,” she said during her virtual talk. She recounted stories like that of Tulshi Bhagat, who travels over 40 km daily from Shahapur to Mumbai to sell palash leaves at the flower market, enduring police harassment and poverty.

The session also touched on the plight of children, whose education suffers due to school closures or mergers. Sons and daughters of migrant sugarcane workers and brick kiln laborers often have access only to makeshift classes run by community groups, with government support rarely materializing.

Video journalist Shreya Katyayini highlighted the importance of trust-building in rural journalism. “When I walk into a house, I don’t pull out my camera first. You have to almost become invisible so the story continues to be about them and not about you,” she said, emphasizing the empathetic and patient approach necessary to bring these stories to light authentically.

The MOG Sunday event reinforced the critical role of grassroots journalism in documenting development’s complex and often painful consequences on India’s rural heartlands. It serves as a powerful reminder that progress must be measured not only by infrastructure but by the dignity and rights of the people it impacts.

Sports

Govind Shirodkar Elected as Gakuvedh President: A New Era for Goa’s Tribal Communities

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In a significant development, the Gawada, Kunbi, Velip, and Dhangar Federation (Gakuved) has announced its newly elected Central Managing Committee for the triennial term 2025-2028. Govind T. Shirodkar has been elected as the President, marking a new era for Goa’s tribal communities.

The Newly Elected Committee

The newly elected office bearers include:

  • President: Shri. Govind T. Shirodkar
  • Vice-Presidents: Shri. Nilesh Gawade, Shri. Francis Culaco, Shri. Ramkrishna Jalmi
  • General Secretary: Smt. Ujwala Gaonkar
  • Joint Secretary: Smt. Harsha Wadkar
  • Treasurer: Shri. Mahesh Kunkolker
  • Central Managing Committee Members: Shri. Caitan Carvalho, Shri. Devanand Gaude, Shri. Sandesh Gaonkar, Shri. Geetesh Gaonkar

Gakuved Federation’s Legacy

Founded in 1981, Gakuved Federation has played a crucial role in Goa’s tribal movement, advocating for social justice, constitutional rights, and sustainable development for the Gawada, Kunbi, Velip, and Dhangar communities. The federation has been instrumental in securing Scheduled Tribe status, demanding political representation, filling of backlog & reservation in Government jobs, and fighting for land rights and livelihood security.

A Commitment to Continuing the Legacy

The newly elected committee is committed to continuing this legacy, focusing on education, employment opportunities, land rights, and political representation for Goa’s tribal communities. With its strong grassroots presence, Gakuved has actively campaigned for the preservation of tribal culture, environmental protection, and the implementation of welfare schemes.