By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:MP and former Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan visited the famous ‘Devrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary’ during his visit to Bargarh and interacted with the tourists from home and abroad who have come here. He visited the ‘Dhodrokusum’ village of Debrigarh, which was praised in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, visited the nature home-stay there and met and interacted with the local Maithili Bhui.
Shri Pradhan further stated that the innovative nature home-stay concept made of mud houses like ‘Dhodrokusum’ has brought a new revolution in the field of social and economic empowerment of the local people along with increasing revenue. The local mothers and sisters who were previously completely dependent on the forest are now earning their livelihood by connecting with ‘Devrigarh Eco-Tourism’ while protecting the environment, which is inspiring for the entire society.
He expressed his deep gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for giving special recognition to the commendable efforts of the villagers in wildlife conservation, rural development and self-reliance of local women at the national level through ‘Mann Ki Baat’. MP Shri Pradhan said that this unique effort of forest protection and women empowerment, along with the expansion of eco-tourism along with environmental protection, is a shining example of self-reliance and self-reliance of the new Odisha.
