Phulbani is in the center of Orissa's vast tribal belt. For the last few years, Sasha has been working among the people of Bondemilla, Pusangia and Palunkia villages - these are mostly Desia Kondh tribes, but there is a larger section of other castes too. Initially they started with the preservation and documentation of craft, tribal culture, skills stories and music. But they soon realized that they cannot intervene only to preserve crafts.
Modern civilization is represented by influences that steadily erode the tribal's rich cultural base, killing their traditional skills, knowledge and lore that sustained them through centuries. There is no true awareness - the superstitions, the ignorance remains. Sasha realized that they have to preserve a culture and equip it to survive in today's world.
Although the children here go to school, the education system does not equip them with the confidence they need when they go outside their environment. Sasha works with these children to supplement what they learn at school and concentrates on issues like aspiration levels, low self-esteem and personality development. Music and dance form an essential part of their education.
Sasha has tried to create a sense of awareness, hygiene and habits. They have tried to seek effective remedies in age-old herbs. They have tried to encourage the villagers to run their own health programs and to plumb the depths of their ancient knowledge to come up with effective remedies for today. The emphasis is on prevention of diseases like malaria and TB. They work in collaboration with the state health services to distribute medicines. Sasha has institutionalized the program by forming a committee with a fund, with members from the villages, so that they may eventually be self sustaining.
There is also a herbarium where traditional herbs are collected and tested.