Water Conservation Efforts and Community Feedback in Jharkhand
By Jagabandhu Sanda, Baby Patar, Kapra Mahali, Sulekha Rani Mahato, Dulari Hansda and Budheswar Mahato Keystone Foundation has been working in several villages of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts of Jharkhand to promote Agroecology, Natural and Ecological Farming practices. Agriculture continues to be an integral part of the lives of the communities we work with […]
Forest Education Orientation & Training Workshop in West Bengal
By Jyoti Patale, Eastern India Team Consultant, Networks and Alliances The first orientation and training workshop on Forest Education for Eastern India was held on July 25th, 2024, at the PBKSKS (Paschim Banga Kheria Sabar Kalyan Samity) office in Rajnowagarh, Purulia, West Bengal. 34 members attended the workshop, including teachers from Community Learning Centres (CLCs) […]
Agroecology Workshop & Training Meeting of the Eastern India Initiative
By Rohan Mukerjee, Eastern India Team, Networks and Alliances Programme Coordinator Since its inception in 2022, Keystone Foundation’s Eastern India Initiative has been steadily expanding, with projects currently being carried out across 5 districts of Jharkhand, and 2 districts each in West Bengal and Odisha. On the 10th, 11th and 12th of June the staff, […]
Paper Bag and Leaf Plate Community Enterprise in Kalajhor village
By Rohan Mukerjee, Eastern India Team, Networks and Alliances Programme Coordinator Kalajhor is a Santal village located in the forests of Seraikela Block, Seraikela-Kharswan District Jharkhand. Since 2022, Keystone Foundation, represented by Jagabandhu Sanda (Consultant) and Community Resource Person (CRP) Budheswar Mahato, has been working with the community of Kalajhor to promote Agroecology approaches, conservation […]
Agents of Change: Women-Led Mahua Enterprises in Jharkhand
By Jyoti Patale, Eastern India Team Consultant In the Musabani block of West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand, lies Vikrampur, a Santhal village witha few Sabar community members. Since 2022, Keystone Foundation, led by Jagabandhu Sanda(Consultant) and Community Resource Person (CRP) Kapra Mahali, has been working closely with thiscommunity. Members of Vikrampur are involved in promoting agroecology […]
Water Security Initiatives in Paharia Villages of Sundar Pahari Block, Godda District, Jharkhand
April 23, 2024 By Rohan Mukerjee and Soumik Banerjee Keystone Foundation commenced work in the Paharia villages of Sundar Pahari Block, Godda District, in 2017 through the Using Diversity (UD) Network with Soumik Banerjee as a partner. The UD network enables civil society groups and community leaders to revive and promote uncultivated foods and traditional […]
Field Visits to Kheria Sabar villages of Purulia District, West Bengal
By Rohan Mukerjee Alongside Paschim Banga Kheria Sabar Kalyan Samiti (PBKSKS), Keystone Foundation has been working with the Kheria Sabar community in Purulia district of West Bengal since 2020. Our work in the region commenced through the Using Diversity (UD) project. Subsequently, Community Resource Persons (CRPs) in different blocks of the district have been supported […]
Finding Community and Nourishment in Traditional Millet Preparations in Odisha
March 6th, 2024 By Jyoti Patale On February 12th, the Paudi Bhuyan community, located in the Mundatopa village of Banspal block, Keonjhar district, Odisha, came together to prepare traditional millet recipes throughout the day. Millets like foxtail, Sorghum, Gundali (little millet), and finger millet were used to make tasty dishes. The journey from grain to […]
Celebrating Harvests in Jharkhand and West Bengal
January 4, 2024 By Rohan Mukerjee During the peak of the harvest season this winter, two food festivals were organized – one in Hatnada village, Hudu panchayat, Seraikela block, Seraikela-Kharsawan district, Jharkhand, and the other in Mirgichami Sabar Para, Bandwan block, Purulia district, West Bengal. These festivals celebrated the diverse variety of crops and uncultivated […]
The Story of Reviving Traditional Foods in Jharkhand
By Jyoti PataleConsultant, Eastern India November 8, 2023 Part 1: Saraikela Nestled just 20 kms away from the bustling city of Jamshedpur, the villages of Saraikela, Jharkhand find themselves at the crossroads of traditional and market driven agricultural practices. Influences by market forces, these communities have started a dual approach to farming, cultivating both traditional […]
