Voices

Indigenous peoples across the world experience the consequences of historical colonization and invasion of their territories and face discrimination because of their distinct cultures, identities and ways of life. In recent decades, the international community has given special attention to the human rights situations of indigenous peoples, as shown by the adoption of international standards and guidelines, as well as by the establishment of institutions and bodies that specifically target these peoples’ concerns. The rights of indigenous peoples are further promoted by international and regional human rights mechanisms. By  resolution 49/214  of 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World's Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the W...

The Tribals/Adivasis/Indigenous people of India are/were never Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Budhists..etc. The fundamentalist forces say that they are Hindus by birth which is not true. Because the type of workshop these Tribals do is completely different than the Hindu religion. The Christian Missionaries said that they don't have religion which is not true. They have a peculiar and unique way of worship. They do not have structure form of worship. However, they perform their worship near river or springs, on the top or below the hills, in or near forest by offering water, milk, incenses, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, crops, cut animals or birds and try to satisfy God/gods/spirits by offering their blood, heads or heats..etc. The government of India calls them as Schedule Tribes and includes them in Hindu population in Census.

Bhubaneswar: 19/02/2015- A two days workshop was conducted on TSP by Indigenous People’s Forum – Odisha (IPFO) in collaboration with ISI New Delhi, OROSA Bhubaneswar, ANGANA Sundargarh and Samajik Seva Sadan Sundargarh under the banner ADIBASI DARBAR at Red Cross Bhubaneswar on 15th and 16th February 2015. The 17 number of different tribes out of 62 tribes had gathered together to express their views on the implementation of TSP after being enlightened by the imminent resource persons; Dr. Danzil D’suza from ISI New Delhi and Dr. Bipin Jojo from TISS Mumbai. After hearing from the participants who were a group of adivasi intellectuals from 17 different tribes of Odisha, the honorable guest of the day honorable Minister of state for commerce and transports department in government of Odisha shri Ramesh Chandra Majhi promised to schedule a date for a Tea Time Meeting with all Adibas MLAs of the state and IPFO members (representative of 62 tribes of Odisha) in the assembly hall short...

In schools we learnt that we plant trees for the grandchildren. It means we plant trees and our grandchildren enjoy the fruits, sheds, woods etc. That means we grow old and fed away and could not benefit from the recompense. So, the focus is on the grown up and old people. To this extend, the more the elder people work, the more “ changes” will take place in the future.                     But it is opposite in the development area we focus on the old and grown up people by giving a lot of trainings and instruction hoping that they will bring a change in the society. But in reality they are already old enough who starts journey towards their fading way. Thus, they could bear a little and the “ change” is being reduced. On the other hand, if we train and instruct the children and youths, they would bring much more change in the society, because they would be applying it in their day-today-life when they will be grown-up...

Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Mr. Dhirendra Panda and Dr. John Dayal The Tow Days Networking and Strategy Planning meetings of Selected Church Commissions of Odisha was organized at Kharvel Hotel, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar on 20th and 21st March 2014 by Odisha Forum for Social Action (OROSA). Around 52 participants throughout  Odisha had come for this meeting. Dr. John Dayal (an Indian journalist and civil rights activist who supports minorities such as Christians and Dalits), Mr. Dhirendra Panda (well known Human Right Defender of Odisha and Director of CSNR) and Fr. Ajay  Kumar Singh (A Prominent Human Rights Activist of Odisha and Director of OROSA) were the facilitators of the Day.   Several important issues, threat, challenges and opportunities of the development of Adivasi, Dalit, Minority, Women and Children were the center point of all discussion in the meeting. There were two group discussions on how to response to the rising RSS forces in our respective places and w...

As Christians we have The Bible and the following 10 major principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) to guide us to be perfect followers of Christ: 1.       Dignity of the Human Person : This is typically the protection and promotion on human rights. Thus, every Christian has to promote and protect the rights the people especially the targeted groups whose rights are being violated every day. 2.   Common Good and Community: Everyone is entitled with some responsibilities for the good of the society. Some people have completely dedicated their lives for the service of the society. Others are partially dedicated for serving people. But all people have personal responsibility to serve for the common good in the community. 3.     Option for the Poor: When we serve the community we have to always look for the most poor, the neediest and the most marginalized people in the community and society. Very often we serve the society in the name ...

Bhubaneswar: The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion visited Bhubaneswar on 21st Februbary 2014. The Special Rapporteur Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt met the various victim survivals from all over Odisha at Hotel Swasti Premium from morning 10.00 AM to 5. 00 PM. The main topic of sharing was the problem of how the right tribal, dalit, women, children and minority are being violated by some fundamentalist forces. There were many prominent community leaders and Civil Society leaders present in the gathering. From left: Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh (Director OFSA), Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt (UNSR), Mr. William Stanly (Chair Person) and Mr. Dhirendra Panda (Director CSNR) Some of the prominent leaders from left in the attached photo were: Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh (Director OFSA), Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt (UNSR), Mr. William Stanly (Chair Person) and Mr. Dhirendra Panda (Director CSNR). Mr. Jugal Kirshore Ranjit presented the issues of minority as a whole in the state of Odisha. Fr....