Jharkhand

• 03 Feb 2025

Udhwa Lake

Why in News? 

The Ramsar Convention has recognized four new wetlands in India, increasing the total number of such designated sites in the country to 89.

Key points 

• New Additions to the Ramsar List: 
  • Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) 
  • Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) 
  • Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim) 
  • Udhwa Lake (Jharkhand) 
• State-Wise Distribution: 
  • Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of Ramsar sites in India, with 20 wetlands. 
  • Sikkim and Jharkhand have joined the Ramsar list for the first time with their new designations. 
• India’s Global Ranking: 
  • India has the highest number of Ramsar sites in Asia and ranks third globally: 
    • United Kingdom (176 sites) 
    • Mexico (144 sites) 
    • Over the last decade, India’s Ramsar sites increased from 26 to 89, with 47 sites added in just three years. 
• Significance of Wetlands: 
  • Wetlands are areas covered by water temporarily, seasonally, or permanently. 
  • They provide crucial ecosystem services, including: 
    • Flood control 
    • Water supply 
    • Biodiversity support 
    • Food, fibre, and raw material sources 
• The Udhwa Lake:  
  • Location: 
    • It is located in Sahebganj district of Jharkhand. 
    • It is situated in a small village called Udhwa, which is named after Saint Uddhava, a friend of Lord Krishna in the Mahabharatha. 
    • It is the first Ramsar designated wetland from Jharkhand. 
  • Establishment: 
    • In 1991, the sanctuary was established to safeguard and conserve the diverse bird species found in the region.  
    • Designated as the sole bird sanctuary in Jharkhand, it plays a crucial role in preserving the natural heritage and biodiversity of the area. 
  • Rivers: 
    • The Sanctuary has two water bodies Patauran and Berhale, interconnected by a water channel. Patauran is a comparatively clean water body.

The Ramsar Convention

• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, under the auspices of UNESCO, aimed at conserving wetlands of international importance.  
  • In India, it came into force on 1st February 1982, under which wetlands of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites. 
• Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.  
  • It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. 

Sarna Code

Why in News? 

The Rashtriya Adivasi Samnvay Samiti, based in Jharkhand, has urged Scheduled Tribe associations across the country to join a protest demanding a separate Sarna religion code in the upcoming Census.

Key Points 

• Protest at Jantar Mantar: 
  • The Rashtriya Adivasi Samnvay Samiti will lead a mass demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 28th February 2025 to demand a separate religion column for Scheduled Tribe communities in the Census. 
  • The protest call has been circulated among other Adivasi groups, including the Kendriya Sarna Samiti, which have also pushed for a separate Sarna religion code. 
    • Adivasi organizations, primarily from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal, have demanded a separate religion column in the Census for decades. 
• Impact of the Movement in 2011 Census: 
  • In the 2011 Census, the movement led to 4.9 lakh people marking their religion as Sarna in the ‘Others’ column. 
  • Over 80% of these respondents were from Jharkhand, highlighting the strong regional support for this demand. 
    • Since 2011, the demand for a separate Sarna religion code has gained momentum, particularly in eastern and central India, with increasing mobilization from tribal communities.

Sarna Religion 

• About: 
  • Sarna religion is a nature-worshipping faith practiced by many tribal communities in India. It is also known as Sarna Dharma or the Religion of the Holy Woods. 
  • They are concentrated mainly in the tribal belt states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam. 
• Features of the Sarna religion:  
  • They worship nature, including water, forests, and land. 
  • They believe in protecting forests and pray to trees and hills. They do not worship idols. 
  • They do not adhere to the Varna system. 
  • They celebrate the Sarhul festival, which is the New Year festival.