Qualifications: MA in Natural Resources and Governance, TISS Hyderabad, 2019.

BA in English Literature, BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, 2017

Email: biswa@dakshin.org

Profile: During his Masters, Biswa developed a strong interest towards various issues underlying conservation, development, and the role of community institutions in the governance of commons. The Natural Resources and Governance course designed by the Foundation for Ecological Security gave him adequate field exposure to understand the nuances of grassroot issues. As part of a team, he was involved in a study of International Forestry Resources and Institutions on how local institutions and governance arrangements shape forest use and management outcomes.

Biswa was also involved in mapping of coastal commons in Ganjam, Odisha which was an action research project aimed at documenting the uses of the coastal and marine commons by the coastal communities, related traditional ecological knowledge, and existing governance systems. This documentation is aimed at strengthening the claim of local fishing communities over their commons in the context of their marginalization and alienation. He worked with the Community Health and Wellbeing programme of Dakshin which aims to address health issues of fishers by liaising with existing public health systems for around two years. Currently, he is associated with the SeaChange initiative in Odisha.

Publications:

Das, B.S. (2020). The Shore Scene: How Coastal Regulation Zones Can Help India’s Fishers Reclaim Coastal Commons. The Bastion