A Battle For Beej Bachao Andolan.
Beej Bachao Andolan was popularly known as Save Seed Movement. It was started a social activist, Vijay Jardhari and his fellow farmers, at a small village Jhardhargaon in Tehri (Uttarakhand) in 1986. The main motive behind this movement to promote indigenous seed and agriculture practices. It preserves the sociology of traditional agriculture that enables self-sufficiency, yet also inter-dependence with the society.
STRUGGLING PERIOD OF VIJAY JARDHARI
When Vijay Jardhari and his followers would visit any village telling locals, foot marches, get-togethers and meeting to create awareness towards protecting traditional seeds the people make fun of them. But Jardhari has dedicated his life to this movement and never lose his hope and zeal to collect the seeds. He promotes the indigenous practices like BARANAJA (meaning twelve grains).
MAJOR SET BACK IN 2006
The Beej Bachao Andolan(BBA) suffers a lot when his major heroes Kunwar Prasoon died in 2006. As this movement remains not register and is more like a people’s campaign. So the movement sustains because the financial support from the government cut off.
SET UP A LANDMARK IN TEHRI REGION
Now there is collection over more than 700 traditional seeds, which were a part of hill farm. The collection of 220 variety of kidney beans,300 variety of paddy,10 variety of maize,9 variety of soya and 12 variety of finger millet many more. This collection surprised the same villagers and even to the government, growing the popularity of the organic product.
AWARDS AND HONOUR
After the struggle of 32 years, he honoured as, THE INDIRA GANDHI PARYAVARAN PURASKAR IN 2008. It legally authorised financial support from the government. Now Beej Bachao Andolan(BBA) get more popularity through their efforts. Tehri set up as a revolution places for its unique movement to conserve traditional seeds, appeal to local farmers. Also, this discontinues growing cash crop like peas, potatoes and soybean.
