July 13, 10:28

Couple leaves Mumbai to help a thousand tribal families through fruit-based business

In the village of Bera, located in the Pali district, at the junction of Rajasthan and Udaipur borders, there is a small settlement that is unique because the trees there never stand bare, and the tribal communities are constantly busy with activities.

During his childhood, Rajesh Oza, a local resident of this village, often observed community members gathering every morning to collect awls, sitaphalas (peaches), and other fruits from the trees, then carrying heavy baskets to the markets. However, he noticed that they were always under pressure, forced to sell their produce quickly before it spoiled.

Over time, the young man moved to Mumbai, where he completed up to 12th grade education. He then entered the real world looking for a job, but the lack of a diploma complicated his life. He recalls: 'It was a tough period,' he says, adding that in 2016, he decided he was tired of city life and returned to his native village, trying to start over.

As he settled back into village life, he realized that although the standard of living had changed, one thing remained the same—the tribes were forced to sell their fruits at a loss.

Desire to repay the community

Rajesh notes: 'They were forced to sell at a low price.' This prompted him to think about starting an enterprise. He added: 'I wanted to create a brand that could help these tribal communities earn more, without the pressure of having to sell their produce quickly.'

This idea later became the basis for his agri-food company, 'Jovaki.' But at the time, Rajesh did not act because the task seemed too complex. The situation changed in 2017 when he married Pooja Oza. In his wife, he found not only a life partner but also a business partner who shared his desire to help the tribal communities.

Together, the couple decided to channel their resources and enthusiasm. This time, Rajesh had both a brilliant idea and someone who believed in him. Today, 'Jovaki' has helped the tribal communities in Rajasthan alleviate their plight. As of the time of reading this article, 1000 tribal women lead happier lives thanks to this couple, whose zeal led them to establish this enterprise.

Zero-waste enterprise

The rural areas of Pali possessed great agricultural potential. Harvest time was a celebration, and the fields bloomed with many seasonal fruits. The couple knew this. However, the lack of a streamlined process meant that despite a good harvest, much of the produce was wasted. Pooja observed: 'We saw that the tribes could not find buyers for these huge volumes of fruit,' and here they saw an opportunity.

She emphasized that processing these fruits would allow the tribal residents to receive better prices for their products. But even while seeing this ray of hope, they anticipated upcoming difficulties—gaining the trust of the communities. Rajesh recounted: 'I was an outsider from the city, asking these people to trust me enough to give me their produce. But they didn't trust.'

By convincing them, he said that the proverb that actions speak louder than words applies to many things in life. He started by talking to a pair of tribal residents and asked for one chance. Then he took their fruits, negotiated good prices in the markets, and passed on the profit to them. The community began to believe his words.

Furthermore, to help the tribal women earn more, Rajesh noted: 'We wanted to reduce the burden on women, who otherwise would have to walk miles to sell their produce at low prices.'

Thus, in addition to the B2B enterprise, Rajesh launched a B2C division called 'Tribalveda' in October 2021. This 'Jovaki' enterprise gives tribal communities the opportunity to get a better price for their produce and learn the intricacies of fruit processing. The main focus of the business was on the humble jamun fruit.

Under this enterprise, communities in Rajasthan produce items such as seed powder, green tea, vinegar, etc., from jamun. He explained the choice of jamun: 'I was interested in it. Diabetic patients often learn about the properties of this fruit and how it helps with this condition. Moreover, Ayurveda says that this fruit is a repository of nutrients and helps with weight control and heart health.'

The only drawback is that the fruit is available for only about 20 days a year. Thanks to 'Tribalveda,' the fruit can be enjoyed year-round. Highlighting the core idea of 'Tribalveda,' he stated: 'Nothing should go to waste. We use the peel to produce vermicompost, and some seeds for planting.'

Empowering the community

Today, 'Jovaki Agro Foods India Private Limited' is a source of livelihood for more than 1000 tribal families, according to Rajesh. He specified: 'Approximately 70 tribal women per unit participate in fruit processing, and another 150 women per unit participate in fruit collection. The village processing model in South Rajasthan has been replicated in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.'

Lilabai, one of the tribal women, said: 'We had to walk 10–20 km to sell our fruits, and even then we were forced to sell them at low prices. Now we get good rates for our produce, and the 'Tribalveda' team comes to our homes to pick up the fruits.'

Another tribal woman, Tijibai, noted that the training provided by 'Tribalveda' was very helpful. 'We remove seeds from sitaphal and make various products from the fruit. This training was very useful for us.'

In addition to collaborating with these women, 'Jovaki' trains them at all stages of fruit processing. Pooja explained: 'We assist and guide women in identification, collection, harvesting, storage, sorting, washing, processing, and packaging.'

Moreover, the couple developed a plan to process seasonal fruits that are abundant in different seasons. This means that the tribal communities are busy most of the year. Rajesh believes this has tripled their income. He detailed: 'Previously, women earned about 15,000–20,000 rupees a year. Now, during the season, they earn an additional 15,000 rupees per month.'

A change in attitude is another positive outcome the couple has observed. 'Previously, the tribes cut down trees to get firewood for burning. Now, seeing the potential of the fruit processing business, they have trees they are grateful for,' he says. 'Now they commit to preserving them.'

Currently, 'Jovaki' is a thriving business, with its products shipped across India and even reaching the shores of Great Britain. The business, which started with an investment of 2 lakh rupees, generated a turnover of 8 lakh rupees just last month through B2C jamun sales. Furthermore, Rajesh reported that in the previous fiscal year, they accumulated a turnover of 1.67 crore rupees. Pooja added that 60 percent of the total profit goes to the women.

Despite Rajesh's decision to leave Mumbai and move to the forest areas being often criticized, he believes it was worth it. 'The first few days were full of skepticism and difficulties, but life turned out well in the end.'

www.aajtak.inJuly 8, 19:12

Ancient manuscripts and map of Jambudvipa discovered in Madhya Pradesh; two-hundred-year-old text found in Burhanpur

Madhya Pradesh has achieved significant success in the preservation of ancient knowledge and India's cultural heritage. The region ranked first in the country for the number of rare ancient manuscripts registered in the Indian government's application 'Gyan Bharatam.'

Digital Registration of Heritage

Currently, 34 million 45 thousand 439 pages of manuscripts are registered in the state, with verification of 12 million 13 thousand 127 manuscripts already completed. The process of verifying the remaining manuscripts is ongoing.

Discovery of Historical Artifacts

During this campaign for digital search and registration in various districts of the state, historical materials astonishing researchers were found. A mysterious 10-foot (approximately 3-meter) map of Jambudvipa, depicting ancient Indian geography, was discovered in Tikamgarh. In Panna, an original handwritten copy of 'Rasik Priya' by the great poet Keshav Das, written in 1591, was obtained, which explains Kavya Shastra and types of heroines through the love stories of Radha and Krishna. An ancient manuscript volume of 'Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana', 20 feet (approximately 6 meters) long, dating back 220 years and preserved, was found in the historic city of Burhanpur.

Other Finds and Platform

In Datia, a historical copper document from the reign of King Uddota Singh, a local resident of Shri Radha Vallabh Mishra, dated Vikram Samvat 1828, was obtained. 'Gyan Bharatam' is a unique digital platform of the central government created to form a 'digital archive' of Indian heritage in the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. The application is equipped with a 'smart search' function, allowing any student or researcher to find a manuscript by author, title, theme, or language.

Call for Citizen Participation

The Deputy Chief Secretary appealed to the general public to provide information about any old manuscripts, copper documents, or treatises held in ancient families, monasteries, or institutions. Citizens can do this through the application to receive free digitization and preservation of materials with the support of the Government of India.

Registration Leaders in Cities

Based on registration results, the highest number of entries were made in Bhopal (24,26,172), followed by Indore (3,99,477), Rewa (2,68,763), Betul (1,00,593), Chhindwara (77,094), Panna (64,257), Sagar (60,025), Gwalior (29,870), and Ujjain (20,995).

www.aajtak.inJuly 3, 08:26

Young couple commits suicide in Mahoba after secret relationship

In the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, a pair of lovers committed suicide by hanging themselves from a mango tree. Notably, the deceased girl had her mangala painted, suggesting they may have married shortly before their death. It is believed that social fear related to them belonging to different castes could have been the cause of this tragic act.

Circumstances of the discovery of the bodies

The recent incident shocked local residents. Citizens discovered the bodies of the young man and woman hanging from a mango tree in a field near the village of Sabua, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Charkhari police station. The deceased were 24-year-old Upendra Vishwakarma and 22-year-old Arti Kushwaha. Arti had her mangala painted, and a bottle of soda, chip wrappers, and a mobile phone were found near the tree.

History of the relationship and disappearance

There is suspicion that the couple might have performed wedding rituals, vowing to love each other until the end, just before taking this terrible step. Upendra worked on a wood processing machine in the city of Charkhari, where he met Arti, and their relationship gradually developed into deep love. Their romance was kept secret for the past three years, and none of their relatives knew about it.

On Wednesday evening, Arti suddenly disappeared from home, and her family filed a police report. However, it was learned on Thursday morning about both their deaths. The man's father, Kundanlal, and the woman's uncle, Anil Kumar, are in shock from this tragedy. They claim that the couple never mentioned their relationship to anyone at home.

Investigation by law enforcement agencies

According to District Police Superintendent Dipak Dubey, the police sent the bodies for autopsy, and the forensic team collected evidence at the scene. The police are conducting a thorough investigation, considering all aspects of the case. The true cause of death will only become clear after receiving the autopsy results. Upendra's friend, Aashish Pataka, reported that he knew about the romance but did not know who the girl was. He believes that due to caste differences, the couple might have panicked and made such a decision.

www.aajtak.inJune 30, 08:19

Akhilesh Yadav's Children in Varanasi: Visited Kashi Vishwanath, Participated in Ganga Aarti

Ahead of the 52nd birthday of the head of the Socialist Party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, his wife Dimple Yadav, children (Tina, Aditi, Arjun), and relatives undertook a pilgrimage to Varanasi. Dimple Yadav performed the Mahaaarti at Baba Kal Bhairav temple, while the children watched the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat along with Member of Parliament Priya Saroj.

Temple Visits and Rituals

After this, the entire family visited the Sankat Mochan and Kashi Vishwanath temples to participate in Mangala Aarti, and also enjoyed a boat ride. The family arrived in Varanasi for a family event.

Children's Activities and Visit

Akhilesh Yadav's son, Arjun, and daughter, Tina, visited Kashi Vishwanath, and then proceeded to the Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple. They took a cruise on the ghats by boat during the Ganga Aarti. Dimple Yadav's mother also visited the Kalbhairav temple, known as the guardian of Kashi, and her photos went viral on social media. Arjun and Tina were accompanied by Member of Parliament Priya Saroj from Malishshahir.

Trip Progression and Impressions

According to information, Arjun and Tina arrived in Varanasi on Sunday evening. From there, they went with Priya Saroj to Kashi Vishwanath, where after performing rituals, they left the temple and then headed to Sankat Mochan Dham. After that, they took a water ride. In the evening, they participated in the famous Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Tina wrote in the visitor's book: 'The Aarti of Goddess Ganga charmed me. We must all work for her purity. Ganga Ma is a form of the goddess.'

Cultural Aspect of the Visit

During this trip, the family also visited three local sweet shops and tasted Banarasi peda and rasgulla. When it became known about the arrival of the SP leader's son and daughter, party activists were delighted and started gathering near the temple to meet them. Due to this, the police and administration increased vigilance.