BRUKSHA O JEEVAR BANDHU PARISAD, KESHARPUR

Environmental protection, Organic Farming & Sustainable livelihoods

Head Office: Kesharpur, Nayagarh, Odisha

Address: At /Po-Kesharpur
Via-Manadhatapur
Dist-Nayagarh
PIN-752079, Odisha
India

Tel /Ph no: 7787024182,E-mail:bojbp_ngo@yahoo.co.in

BOJBP PROFILE

Organization Name: Bruksha o Jeevar Bandhu Parisad

Type of Org: Environmental Protection & Sustainable Agriculture
Establishment: Mar 1970
Geographical Area: Nayagarh
Main Office: Kesharpur, Nayagarh

Contact Person:
Mr Nabakishor Behera
Secretary, BOJBP
Ph no-7787024182
E-mail-bojbp_ngo@yahoo.co.in
Introduction:
What is BOJBP?

Set in a serene remote village named Kesharpur in Nayagarh District of Orissa, Bruksha O Jeevar
Bandhu Parisad (BOJBP- Friends of Trees and Living Beings) is a non-political, non-religious and non-
profit rural voluntary peoples organization working on protection and preservation of environment
since 1970.

Legal Status

BOJBP has been registered under:

1. Societies of Registration Act XXI of 1860: No. 314-153/1983-84

2. Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 1976 under Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. Of India:
No.105020011/1984-86
3. Income Tax Act 1961: No. Adm. (GI) 31/12-A/1986-87-68 and 80G/1986-87

Background:
Two sisters-the Binjhagiri and the Malati-both of them were abounding in flora and fauna and
streams used to flow and dance on their laps. In course of time they became the hapless victims of
peoples greed. This process of mindless exploitation of the bounties of nature hastened after
independence. The two hillocks became bald and bare. They in turn cursed their exploiters.
Recurrent droughts dried up streams and sand filled farms and fields typified the situation in the
area. Wildlife disappeared with the loss of habitat. Acute shortage of fuel wood and fodder made life
a hell. Then dawned the conscience. In the year 1970, some educated sons of the soil and the
perceptive villagers made a new beginning. They took open themselves the task of rejuvenating the
hills. Thengapalli became the mantra. Community conservation initiatives led to the emergence of a
vibrant peoples organization called Bruksha O Jeevar Bandhu Parisad in the year 1982. So began a
Saga carrying the message we cannot survive without trees far and wide.

Recognition:
1 Prakruti Mitra Award (State), 1986, Govt. Of Orissa.
2 Bruksha Mitra National Award, 1986,Govt. Of India.
3 State Indira Gandhi Environmental Award, 1988, State Indira Memorial Trust, Orissa,
Cuttack
4 Global-500 International Award, 1989
5 Best Individual Puri District Prakruti Bandhu Award, 1993 to Shramik Jogi, Honorary
Secretary of BOJBP.
6 Green Award, 1995, HEDC, United Kingdom.
Organizational Type:
Non Governmental
Non partisan
Non religious
Non racial
Non profit making
Non political
Social & Civil society organization

Work Principles:

Optimistic
Patience
Justice
Equality
Respect for Human, Animal & Forest rights
Democracy

Mission: To protect and improve the environment as a valuable asset for the people of
Odisha. To protect our people & the environment from harmful effects of radiation &
pollution.

.Vision: A clean, healthy & well protected environment supporting a sustainable society &
economy.

Past Projects Implemented Since 2008:

# Name of the Project Date Location Funded by

1 SRI(System of Rice FY 08-09 to FY12- Nayagarh SDTT(Sir Dorbji

Intensification) 13 Tata trust)

2 SRI(System of Rice FY 13-14 to FY15- Nayagarh JTT(Jamsedji Tata

Intensification) 16 Trust)
3 Sustainable FY 13-14 to FY 16- 5 village of CWS(Centre for
livelihood(Organic 17 Nayagarh world Solidarity)
farming) district & 10
village of
Odagaon
district

Governance:
There are four different constituent bodies in BOJBP for facilitating decision-making. They are

General Body -171 persons

Executive Body -37 persons

Core Group -7 persons

Organ gram Chart:

Bruksha O Jeevar Bandhu Parisad

General body

Core committee
EC
Other committees

Chief functionaries

Programmer
Administration

In operational area Sub organizations

Staff Staff Staff

Operational Area:
Nayagarh and Khurda Districts of Orissa

1. Mother operational area -22 villages

2. Sister organizations -20 nos. (300 villages)

3. Individual forest protection committees -20 villages

Philosophy:
Green philosophy (Tree First) in Gandhi an Way (non violence)

Special Remarks (Education from the South):

Hampshire Development Education Centre, England has adopted the model of BOJBP. Under the
banner Project Thengapalli (stick turn), an Oriya name, they have prepared cross-cultural curriculum
which is now being taught to 30000 students in 3500 schools.

Objectives:
1 To promote community initiatives in conservation of forests and other natural resources.
2 To raise awareness about the need for a healthy environment among all the sections of
society.
3 To promote indigenous agriculture practices with a focus on organic farming
4 To develop capacities of community institutions to conserve, manage and sustainably use
natural resources.
5 To conserve and promote indigenous knowledge systems/practices among the rural
communities.
6 To proactively promote womens participation in development initiatives
7 To work towards womens empowerment so that women get their due in all walks of life.

Activities:
Forest conservation, plantation, wildlife protection, establishment of seed bank and seedling bank,
debate competition, cultural competition, implementation of green stipend and green award, herbal
gardens, environmental education programme in schools, women empowerment, awareness
programme on soil, water, air, sound pollution and also social pollution.
Support Activities:
Free eye and dental camps and health programme like mother and child care, family welfare, leprosy
eradication, supply of low cost Seva Safety Latrine at the rate of Rs. 5/- per piece and also
womens development.

Methodology:
Personal rapport building, padayatras, mass mobilization, workshops, group discussions, PRA Study.
Training, etc.

Approach:
Fasting, Prostrate in the Village Street and Dharana. Presentation and plantation of trees on the
occasion of birthdays, weddings and funeral ceremonies.

Publication and Media:

Publication of leaflets, booklets, books, posters and pamphlets, environmental education materials
and kits in the local language (Oriya). Publication of half yearly magazine Sabujima. Besides
cultural units, Audio Visual aids like music tapes of songs carrying environmental messages, video
cassettes, slides and films, news clippings and photographs add to vast repository of resource
materials in BOJBP.

Exhibition:
BOJBP also participates in various fairs, exhibitions, students festivals and village level melas with
the objective of disseminating information to rural folks.

Research & Documentation:

Research scholars, exposure groups from NGOs, Govt. Officials, trainees, environmentalists and
visitors from abroad come for research and guidance.

Library:
BOJBP has a small special library on environment. Besides books, varieties of magazines, journals,
periodicals and newspapers are available in the study centre.
Networking:
BOJBP has actively promoted federation of forest protecting communities at cluster and district
levels. Jangal Surakshya Mahasangha, a forum of forest protecting communities, came up as a
product of the untiring efforts of BOJBP.

Training Centre:
BOJBP has a small training centre where training is imparted on environment and other related
issues on a regular basis.

Lodging and Boarding Facilities:

BOJBP has decent accommodation facilities inside its campus on the foothills of Binjhagiri. The dig
pond in the front, the towering Binjhagiri hills in the back and the greenery of the campus add
pleasure to the life of a workaholic. Simple typical Oriya food is available on advance order. These
facilities are extended at moderate charges.

Sales Centre

Seed Bank:
Seeds of indigenous varieties are available for raising saplings at reasonable prices.

Seedling Bank:
Seedlings of various species are available throughout the year at concessional rates Books, Booklets,
Leaflets and posters are sold here on no profit no loss basis.

Lessons:
In BOJBP environmental movement, six public agencies have participated. They are masses,
managerial leaders rooted in the villages, social leaders (both in the field and outside the field),
voluntary agencies, government agencies and political functionaries. The masses from the base.
Their sacrifice for the success of the programme is the greatest. Secondly, the institutional leaders.
They come from the masses and live with them. They are the managers. The brunt of the burden of
the organization falls on their shoulders. Thirdly, the social leaders. They are the germinator of the
ideas and also the perennial source of inspiration. They play a seminal role and act as catalytic
agents. The movement has underscored the importance of the role of teachers from primary to
university level as social activists to lead the movement from the front. It is the dedication of these
activists with crusading zeal that constitute the movement in its critical inputs.
Thoughts that Beckon Us:
Cooperate not confront
Assimilation not destruction
Harmony and peace and not mindless competition
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight- Build anyway
Give the world the best you have and you get kicked-Give the world the best you have
anyway
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the
smallest mind-Think big anyway
If you do good people will accuse you of selfish and ulterior motives-Do good anyway