Zonal convention addresses challenges faced by pastoral communities in Eastern India

Ranchi, August 21, 2023. A two-day zonal convention on "Rights of Pastoral Community" with the theme "Sheepherders as Climate Justice Activists!" concluded at the Press Club in Ranchi. SAMVAD, a grassroots civil society organization and ActionAid Association organized the meeting to highlight challenges faced by pastoral communities in Eastern India. Speakers, including pastoral community members, government officials, and subject experts, discussed invaluable experiences and multifaceted challenges faced by pastoralists. The discussions aimed to find solutions tailored to their unique needs. Shankar Bhagat from Raniganj, West Bengal, highlighted sheep rearing challenges and generational shifts in preferences. Abhimanyu Bhagat from the same region emphasized government incentive shortages. Sabar M Debasi from Rajasthan shared challenging first-hand experiences as a sheepherder.

Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director of ActionAid Association, shared alarming grazing land statistics. "Over the last 15 years, grazing lands diminished by 31%," he disclosed. Climate change drives these changes, affecting livestock and markets. Sandeep highlighted pastoral communities' challenges as climate justice advocates and the need for collaborative efforts to address this. He aspired to extend the initiative's reach to villages across states and involve youth.

Ghanshyam, Director of SAMVAD, Jharkhand, said that “pasture is not a caste; it is a community with collective feelings and living patterns. These communities operated based on scientific principles that deserve understanding, recognition and documentation.” 

Sudhir Pal, an activist in animal husbandry, highlighted pastoralists' invisibility in policy circles, urging policymakers to recognize their role. Ms C. Thakur, Research Scholar, shared key findings on pastoral communities' challenges and rights. Debabrat Patra, Zonal Director, ActionAid Association, emphasized pastoral communities' contributions to the ecosystem. He discussed their role in soil productivity and maintaining livestock diversity. Pastoralists contribute to conserving biodiversity and maintaining domestic animal diversity.Saurabh Kumar, Regional Manager of ActionAid Association, responsible for work in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh, highlighted the crucial necessity of maintaining a balance between environmental conservation efforts and the space necessary for the livelihoods of pastoralists.

In the eastern Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal, over 2.5 million people from diverse communities rely on sheep rearing. These nomadic pastoralists encounter challenges like limited resources, shifting climates, and restrictions on forest and grazing lands. Pastoralists have varied identifications and lack access to basic amenities. They face problems accessing social security and other entitlement services.SAMVAD and ActionAid Association hosted the convention to recognize pastoral community diversity and empower them as custodians of ecological justice.