Sacred groves and inclusive education: Empowering tribal women in Odisha

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the role of sacred groves in promoting inclusive education and empowering tribal women in Odisha."Spirituality and ecology of the sacred groves.Although the holy groves harbour an abundance of biodiversity, a living Indigenous knowledge system is also preserved among the Indigenous community of the sacred grove keepers.The need to protect the holy grove and the transmission of intergenerational knowledge through the traditional roles of tribal women helps maintain a strong cultural identity and promotes ecological stewardship of the area.The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with a focus on ensuring equity, access, quality, inclusiveness, and accountability, promotes the integration of Indigenous knowledge at all levels of formal education.Based on secondary data analysis of government reports, ethnographic fieldwork, and policy documents, the study discusses the potential of sacred groves as educational resources.The reflexive use of sacred forest knowledge enhances ecological literacy, sustains traditional living, promotes gender justice, and supports tribal women in securing sustainable income opportunities.Advocacy to promote policy paradigms like community conservation and co-managed educational strategies that connect formal education and Indigenous knowledge could be the way forward.The study suggests that acknowledging the contributions of tribal women and initiating community-centric education might conserve their sacred groves and empower tribal women, thereby leading to the continuance of the valorisation of Indigenous knowledge, and inclusive and sustainable community development.