Hello. Generally we don't come to know about good things. They are not much acknowledged. Writing this article so that many people come to know about a very good initiative. Chaitramji Pawar! I know him as very close friend of my maternal uncle Dr. Anand Phatak. They also have worked together. When I was studying Baripada, I also had close interactions with him. Chaitramji Pawar- the pioneer of development in "Baripada" hamlet in Dhule district of Maharashtra! In today's language, he is a great rural innovator. And even more common terms, he is super rich with many crores with him! But no, he is not "that type of crorepati!" His wealth is the forest resources of his village and although its value in money is many crores, for them it is invaluable.
Baripada! A small tribal hamlet located near Magi- Tungi peak adjacent to Maharashtra- Gujarat border! Today Baripada in itself has become a peak of international level! But its rise from the valley and darkness is worth knowing and inspiring. Chaitramji is its trailblazer. He is the first generation who got high education in this region. He learned with plenty of difficulties and struggle in those days. He learned in the school and outside also. After completing M. Com around 1990, he started working for development of his village Baripada under the guidance of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. He took all good things- come from what direction and implemented those in his villages. Improved farming, forest conservation, water conservation, experiments of rural development and so on. It was in 2005 that Indian Government brought the act for Joint Forest Management. But many years before this, Baripada was doing joint forest management. Over the years they worked extensively on 5 Js- Jungle, Jameen (land), Janawar (animal), Jal (water) and Jan (people).
Just think! He was the first highly educated person and he also had got a good job! But he refused that path and then onward marched on the path of development of his village. He was accompanied by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, experts and guides from agriculture and conservation sectors and others. Chaitramji and Baripada villages continued their hard work and them implemented what they learned. Days passed, months and years passed! Their work got expanded. The earlier forest was saved from cutting. In fact, it grew. They were rewarded with a dense forest. Even rare wild animals too came there to stay. Taking minimum fuel from the forest, they continued their conservation work. The village implemented everything towards rural development- improved stoves, bio-gas, four- formula rice farming. Not all experiments were not readily successful. There were difficulties and opposition too. But they were determined and therefore they continued their journey with time.
In 2003, suddenly Baripada came into focus with the international award of IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). Later on it received plenty of state level and national level awards. It started forest vegetable competition initiative for conservation of traditional varieties. The village became lush green with forest conservation on area over 2500 acres. Women’s health, women’s education, self help groups and other issues were also worked up on. Today, Baripada has become a very unique brand and brand ambassador of development! It completes almost all criterion of sustainable development. There are no landless. Nature is blessing Baripada immensely. As Saint Kabeer had said, he had returned back the clean body and mind which nature had given, Baripada is also following the same path. Baripada too has protected natural wealth and actually has increased it.
Later on Chaitramji became a guide to other villages. He became a senior figure in Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and later on an expert on various committees of the Government. Many villages and activists took inspiration from Baripada. Chaitramji and other activists also worked in that direction. Chaitramji tells, forest conservation or water conservation in just one village is not sufficient. It needs to take place in entire the region. Then only drought is avoided and environment is conserved. Today Baripada is a towering peak of development; but he along with his people strive that it does not remain an island, but a continent of development. Baripada should not remain a one- off model of decentralized development, rather it becomes the prevalent highway of development and he is working in the state and outside with this objective.
Some years ago in one biodiversity survey, forest resources, tree with fruits and animals were assessed. This assessment was based on many criterion such as capacity of providing oxygen, products, soil conservation and others. It revealed that value of forest resources in Baripada is in crores! But this village is different. Here nature is God and trees- animals are regarded as family. Therefore, this village is free from effect of the outside world. Actually, if village resources are “marketized”, then everyone can get so much of financial wealth! But they are more driven towards wealth of the nature! And Chaitramji never says that “he” has done this. All villagers and rather all people visiting Baripada, “we all have done this”, is his approach.
Chaitramji was awarded Padma Shri award. Actually, it is Government of India should be congratulated! And instead of wishing Chaitramji or Baripada for their further journey, we should wish ourselves that we all should learn something from him and implement it at our levels! There is some information about Chaitramji Pawar and Baripada is available on internet and also a book is published in Marathi.
(Thanks for reading. You can share with your near ones. - Niranjan Welankar 09422108376. Sky watching, meditation, fun learn and fitness sessions. Date of writing the article: 29 April 2025)
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