Odisha: The lifestyle of the villagers of Muduligadia has undergone a sea of changes after the village being declared as the first eco-village of the state.
The living standard of the tribal community in the village has also improved with the change in their social and economic status.
Muduligadia is now preparing itself to welcome tourists.
The walls of the village are being painted in maroon colour and decorated with traditional 'Jhoti'. And the villagers are trying to do as much as they can do to attract more and more tourists.
The deadline for the preparations has been decided as the onset of winters.
Located in the Baispalli Reserve Forest Sanctuary region of the state, Muduligadia village is not an ordinary village.
Ever since it has been assigned the status of and Eco Village, it has undergone a severe transformation.
Every household of the village has an LPG connection and a dustbin is placed in front of each one of them.
The lush green village has been made plastic-free.
Every house has electricity supply along with drinking water supply and toilets.
Read:| Water crisis in India: Hard times for cities
According to the villagers, their lives have undergone a drastic change ever since the new status was accorded to their village this year.
The tribals residing in the village are worshippers of nature.
Muduligadia village is also located at a short distance from the Ecotourism and sand resort in South Badmal Manganasi of Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
This facilitates the tourists with a visit to this Eco Village.
An Eco-Tourism Centre was set up at the village in 2015. Then, it comprised of only three cottages built on the sand bed of Mahanadi river. They had been built under a project of the Mahanadi Forest Division.
The number of such centres has gone up to 19 today.
Villagers say that untouchability was highly prevalent in the area before. But now, the situation has improved as people have begun to accept the tribals of the village because of tourism.
Apart from the villagers, there is a team of 33 members who look after the maintenance and development of the village.
In 2018, tourism earned the villagers a total income of about Rupees one crore.
However, as per the state tourism department, they can avail only 10 per cent of the total profit from tourism.
While on the one hand, the village is developing in terms of income and tourism, on the other hand, there are no education facilities in the village.
With not a single Anganwadi Centre or school, the children in the village are devoid of even the basic education.
The villagers have stuck to their traditional roots for years now, but the lack of education makes the children vulnerable to many flaws of society.
Though there is a facility at a distance of a few kilometres where students go for learning, there is still a need for a better learning environment in the village itself.
Read:| Tis Hazari Violence - LIVE: Delhi HC says no need to clarify Nov 3 order, calls it self-explanatory
