In an apparent move to defy Maoists, large numbers of Dongria Kondhs of Rayagada district on Saturday demanded that construction of proposed projects begin in their villagers soon.
The traibals’ demand assumes significance when the Government is taking active measures to combat Maoists in the Niyamgiri foothills. In a meeting with the Superintendent of Police K Siba Subramani on July 1 here, these issues were raised by at least 40 Kondhs in Sibapadar gram panchayat under Muniguda block.
These tribals hailed from the nearby villages of Kesarpadi, Khambesi, Serkapadi, Jarapa and Panimunda.
The Kondhs demanded supply of clean drinking water, accessible healthcare facilities and civic infrastructure like pucca roads and schools.
“There are no roads in our village. We were scared of the disruption and violence caused by Maoists. We could not meet Government officials though we wanted to raise our problems. Now, we have got an assurance from the police to speak up and be heard,” said a villager from Jarapa.
Meanwhile, police said it acts as a facilitator between the tribals and the civil administration in providing the basic facilities to the villages inhabited by them.
“Road works have started in some villages in Niyamgiri hill on a priority basis with adequate deployment of police forces, and works at other villages will start soon,” said SP Subramani.
The SP was quite optimistic that the welfare programmes would win tribals’s confidence in the administration. The community policing programmes are being regularly organised at the Dongaria Kondh villages which have created approachable grounds for them to talk to the police, he said.
At least 9,000 Kondhs live in the 102 villages in the Niyamgiri hills.