The ecological history of Adivasis needs to be documented and it is the community of the tribals who can do this. This was the outcome of a two - day workshop on the study of 'Tribal Eco-Systems' which was organised here by NGO Agragamee.
Only when the tribal community will come forward to create awareness among themselves to ensure their constitutional rights like 5th Schedule, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Area Act (PESA)1996, Individual and Community Forest Resources Rights under 'Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006', Ration Card etc, then there will be real justice,” said Odisha Food Commissioner Rangalal Jamuda.
He further added that because of their illiteracy and ignorance, they are often losing their entitlements. Hence, it is time the NGOs and the Government came in one platform to act together to ensure Adivasi rights are not violated, added Jamuda. Jamuda presented some case stories of his recent visit to Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput.
“Post liberalisation, resource exploration and exploitation in tribalm areas have been rampant. On the one hand, where tribal population in largely tribal concentrated areas is dwindling, on the other, there is a complete transformation of forest- based livelihoods or economy to market-oriented agricultural economy,” stated Agragamee director Achyut Das.
Das added that ecological history of tribal areas is fast vanishing because of many external factors.
Sasubohumali adjoining Kashipur in Rayagada is one such area where in 2,037 households, Paraja, Jhodia and Kandha tribals are living in around 36 villages.
Their total pollution is 10,105, of them 5,036 male and 5,069 female. Earlier, their life was based on forest; however, now due to mining exploration and resource alienation, agricultural area has been reduced leading to resource crunch. Out of 67 springs, many have dried down.
“People earlier were used to plough and cultivate five crops in a year on one acre of land but now they are migrating to far off areas,” said tribal women leader Sumani Jhodia.
Sumani further elaborated that it is difficult to find the same soil and water that earlier the tribals had. Further, because of their ignorance, they are not getting any Government help like agricultural inputs, farm loans and benefits of MGNREGS etc.
For the first time, in a recent history, semi-educated tribal youths with technical support from Agragamee have come out with a study of Tribal Eco-Systems in Sasubohumali and they presented it in presence of research scholars, social scientists, media and Government officials, without any hesitation.