By Matters India Reporter

Jharsuguda, Feb 25, 2019: Mainstream media do not have space for tribals, says a tribal author and journalist from Odisha.

“The mainstream media do not have space for us tribals. We have to create our own space, an alternative media, and adivasi / indigenous media. We are creative; we have knowledge sources and opportunities. We can break barriers and we have our own role models,” said Alma Grace Barla, a tribal social worker, an independent writer and researcher on tribal issues.

She was speaking at the two-day media and journalism training for young tribals of three districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur, Western Odisha, 23 – 24 Feb in Jharsuguda.

“We discovered our first batch of writer brigades. Many of us found out ourselves to be journalists, writers, and film makers and it is possible,” Barla said at the end of the workshop.

The best news writer (in practical) appreciation went to a young boy who on the first day hesitated to introduce himself as a “taxi driver” “a school drop-out” a lesser educated among all” but he proved his capability, she said.

“One of our action plans is to keep writing and post in our WhatsApp group, where we two mentors will be guiding them how to publish their stories/writings on online media and our Group Blog,” Barla added.

Thanks to Indian Social Institute, Delhi and “Gangpur Awaz” a local Sadri newspaper that orgnanised the event.

Main objective of the programme was to create interest among tribal youth in writing and other creative media and also to promote adivasi/indigenous media. It was opened for youth, students, and NGOs and community leaders.

“It was a multi-lingual event (Odia, Sadri, Hindi and English), a first initiative by us and we are looking forward to conduct across Odisha in coming days,” Barla said.

Barla, who hails from Sundargarh, Odisha, began her career as a journalist with the “Indian Currents” magazine, a national weekly published from Delhi.

Her other passions are to work for human-trafficking victims and violence faced by migrant adivasi/ tribal girls and women mostly from the rural villages of Jharkhand and Odisha working in Delhi and neighboring states as domestic workers. She works for their welfare by voluntarily engaging herself with the like-minded NGOs and groups.