The cases of atrocities on women and children are on the rise in tribal populated undivided Koraput district. Not a single woman or child activist has raised voice against it.
Many girls in the village remain unmarried due to dowry system. The men folk consume excessive liquor everyday and ill-treat women. The women work as labourers and receive meagre wages. Slowly, the tribal labourers, especially women, are losing even coolie jobs and are diverted to work under the Sub-Contractors.
It is a matter of concern that tribal women from peasantry and forestry have been compelled to take up unorganised jobs like sweeping, grass cutting, clearing bushes, head loading, lifting heavy metals and hazardous wastes and sand filling, etc. Now, slowly, machines have started replacing this labour force. Thousands of tribal women have not yet recovered from the shock of displacement by several hydro-electric projects. When tribal women protest, either they are branded as extremist group and put behind bars or sexually harassed or physically tortured by the State agencies or threatened to be arrested by NSA.
Because of no land and no forest, the women folk now migrate to semi-urban areas / urban areas as labour force for working in construction sector. Many of them also work as domestic helps. This has led to a plethora of serious problems, including disintegration of families.
Tribal women, with the advent of globalization, can’t be kept secluded. In spite of the negative impact, the culture of tribals, especially tribal women, has not degenerated (culture does not necessarily mean the outwardly dress, ornaments, etc., but the intrinsic value one bears / exhibits).
In this context, still now the tribal women represent the community feeling; resist industrialisation and dream for an environment friendly egalitarian society. It is said liquor is a part of the tribal culture, but the tribal women are active in leading the anti-liquor campaign. Kondhs have shunned human sacrifice as part of their culture.
Tribal women are particularly vulnerable to the evil effects of industrialization / globalalisation during the last decade. It is also a good sign that they actively resist the liberalization process.
The tribal women have to be made aware of the processes of globalization so that they look beyond their hamlet / slum / village.
They have to be organized and their anger towards privatization has to be constructively ventilated through concerted actions.
Young tribal women are to be oriented on this process to take collective action. Until the projects come, the existing movements have to be strengthened. Evolving alternative projects for the area, which could generate more revenue and income for the country is also the need of the hour. Irrigation has to be expanded to boost agricultural production and horticulture (Kondhs are very good at cultivating pineapple, orange, mango, lemon etc.) has to be promoted.
Besides steps are to be taken for value addition of non-timer forest produces etc.
The tribal women have to be organsied to ask a portion of the dividend for the development to be decided by them. Education is must for the tribal kids.
The existence of any past project must be decided by the project affected people (PAPs) around the area. The projects must not affect the basic living conditions of the Desia Kondha women. The Government should not abdicate its welfare role within the area of the project like education, health, PDS etc. All in all, child labour must be avoided.
Staying place of the women labourers must be regularized, they must be provided with quarters and essential services like toilet, crèche, transport, leave, minimum wage, PF, gratuity, insurance etc. There must be grievance cell for tribal women to look into the sexual harassment at worksites.
Either they or their sons/daughters/dependents of the PAPs must get jobs and it must continue for generations till the company continues.
Massive plantations in the colonies, inside the plant area, avenue plantation, etc. should be undertaken. Free education and health facilities to the affected villages have to be ensured.
(Dr Maharana is a faculty member, Jeypore law College, Jeypore, dist-Koraput, Mob. : 9438170563)