In the Siyari Panchayat of Bokaro’s Gomia block, climate change stopped being an abstract idea when daily life began to fray. Rainfall grew erratic, dry spells lengthened, and farming and forest-based livelihoods came under strain.The strain was most visible in Birhor Tanda, a settlement of the Birhor people, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, where frequent power cuts after sunset plunged the hamlet into darkness and disrupted children’s education.

For Mukhiya Ramvriksh Murmu, repeated conversations at the Conference of Panchayats helped connect these disruptions to a larger climate crisis and to the need for local, low-carbon responses.

That realisation reshaped how the Panchayat approached development. With support from ONGC’s CSR programme, Siyari installed 72 solar streetlights, prioritising Birhor Tanda so children could study safely at night. Solar systems were added to schools and community buildings, and a solar-powered lift irrigation pump was set up at the main pond, reducing dependence on unreliable grid electricity and costly diesel. At the same time, the Panchayat mobilised villagers under the Birsa Mango Horticulture Mission, planting 2,880 mango saplings along with 800 other fruit and shade trees. Efforts to strengthen forest-based livelihoods and promote organic farming ran alongside these energy interventions, tying climate action directly to income and food security.

The changes are most visible after sunset. Children now read under solar lights in lanes that were once dark. Farmers have more reliable access to irrigation water, allowing steadier crop planning despite unpredictable rains. New orchards promise future income, while expanding tree cover is slowly improving the local microclimate. Forest-based enterprises, including value-added mahua products, are creating additional livelihood options.

“Conferences of Panchayats showed us that climate change is not tomorrow’s problem, it is today’s reality,” says Ramvriksh Murmu. “If village leaders act with sensitivity and vision, even a small Panchayat can cut carbon, protect livelihoods, and secure a better future for its children.”