Sumani Jhodia
Sumani Jhodia is an Indian tribal activist hailing from Rayagada district of Odisha best known for campaigning against the sale of liquor in tribal areas, advocating for tribal rights over minor forest produce, and opposing government policies that lease tribal land to private companies for industrial projects. In 1995, Biju Patnaik, then Chief Minister of Odisha, appointed her as one of the unofficial advisors on sustainable development, literacy, and the poverty-alleviation programmes. Sumani was honoured with 2003 Rani Gaidinliu Zeiliang Stree Shakti Award by the Government of India.
Early life and education
Sumani Jhodia was born in the Siriguda village in Rayagada, Odisha. Her family is part of Jhodia Paroja, a tribal community with a population of 50,000 living across 85 Indian villages, particularly in the Kashipur block of the Rayagada district. Primarily a forest-dwelling community, Jhodias make a living by collecting forest produce, practicing podu chasa, and engaging in various forms of daily-wage labour.Sumani's father, Ravi Jhodia, encouraged her to attend school, but she dropped out after six months due to the nearest school being three kilometres away. By 17, she was married and had her first child. At the time, Ramdhar Jhodia was considered to be the most literate man in her village, having studied till Class 9. He worked as a night schoolteacher with Agragamee, a local non-governmental organization. The village elders persuaded Sumani to enrol at Agragamee, where she learned to read and write. She also attended Agragamee's leadership development programme that made her aware of the exploitation her tribal community were being subjected to.