Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) of Odisha
Volume I (Ethnography)
Editors A.B. Ota S.C. Mohanty
Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI)
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
II
Volume I (Ethnography) 2015
©: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), Bhubaneswar
Published by:
Director
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), Bhubaneswar
ISBN 978-93-80705-40-8
Price :
Printed at:
Capital Business Service & Consultancy, Bhubaneswar [email protected]
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After a few years of independence, as a counter to the policy of segregation of tribals adopted by the British rulers, many Anthropologists advocated a policy of integration of the tribals in the national mainstream of the country. The opening of gradual access to the tribal areas all over the country and the extension of formal administration to tribal areas opened for tribals many floodgates of varied contacts with outsiders. Yet, at present, among the tribes living all over India, there are certain vulnerable groups who are relatively more isolated. The isolation leads to inability to access many public goods and services which has resulted in their backwardness, pre-agricultural level of technology, declining or stagnant population with low level of literacy in comparison to others.
During the 5th Plan (1974-79) period, Government of India decided to put special emphasis on the all round development of these vulnerable tribal groups. They were designated as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) on the basis of the above cited qualifying characteristics. In course of time, 75 such groups were identified in 14 undivided States and 01 Union Territory of Andaman and Nicober Islands for the purpose of receiving special attention for their sustainable development. Now, they have been re-designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) by Government of India.
Article 46 of the Indian Constitution lays down as a Directive Principle of State Policy that the State shall promote, with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and exploitation. Apart from these constitutional obligations, the Government in particular and the society in general also have a moral responsibility for the development of the backward classes of the country as a whole. Coming to Odisha, it has the largest number of PTGs among all the States of India. There are 13 PTGs living across the length and breadth of the State with an enriched cultural
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economically backward. Though natural and serene, from infrastructural point of view, their habitats are underdeveloped. However, like man of nature, they perfectly adapt to their eco-system and lead a very simple life with limited needs and aspirations. Above all, in spite of certain socio- cultural changes taking place in their age old way of life under the present pressing circumstances of planned change and intervention, most of them have still kept their distinct ethnic identity intact.
Frankly speaking, tribal-ness or tribalism in itself has become a powerful factor in these days and to utilize its full potential; tribal groups at different techno-economic levels and representing different cultural ethos and patterns are to be allied at different levels, may it be political, social, cultural or ethnical. It can help to minimize the inter-tribal friction and enmity, strengthening the realm of age old tribal life style and structure. On the other hand, the inadequacy of in depth anthropological research and documentation on the colourful cultural life of the tribals has to be taken into due consideration. No doubt it is creditable that the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) of Odisha named as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) as the premier and oldest TRI of the Country has, over the decades, studied various aspects of the PTGs of the State and published very informative research articles in its sixty year old research journal ‘ADIVASI’ since the nineteen fifties. Besides the papers contributed by its own research personnel on the PTGs, the articles of other Research Scholars and eminent Anthropologists have also found place in this journal.
Now this institute has done a great job of compilation and republication of the important articles on PTGs of the State placed in its Adivasi journal and other publications over six decades in three volumes focusing on their ethnography, health and development. It is a superb collection of ethnographic facts in detail and also an upcoming reference anthropological literature full of relevant and useful information on various aspects of the life, culture, health and development of the thirteen PTGs
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-cum-article contributors who are no longer with us. In fact in recognition of the strength of TRI Odisha, Union Government has approved and funded the creation of a National Tribal Research Center here and this institute is expected to take up similar work for other States also.
These volumes focus on the ethnographic records of the PTGs, their health perspectives and development accounts in a very striking manner. In each of the volumes, the articles have been organized in two major sections: General and PTG Specific. Nearly one hundred fifty articles of renowned Anthropologists, Sociologists and researchers of Odisha, both from within and outside the institute, (already published in the ADIVASI journal from 1955 to 2014) have been carefully chosen, compiled and adorned in these volumes.
These volumes on the Odishan PTGs are unique in their perspective and presentation since a modest attempt has been made here to accumulate and outline the diversified yet published and unpublished data regarding the general and specific overview of PTGs and their ethnography, health and development. Mutation and permutation in the culture scope of PTGs has been very carefully focused here through weighty discourses and quality expositions of anthropological data. The objective appraisal of the old and the new, the past and the present of the PTGs underlining their unseen future prospects is found to be very edifying here. It will be a fine repository of ethnographic knowledge. An excellent exposition of pristine culture with its specificity and variety has been very deftly demarcated and discussed in this work.
I am duty bound to acknowledge the painstaking as well as praiseworthy efforts of Prof A.B. Ota, Director and Shri S.C. Mohanty, OSD (R) of SCSTRTI who have very meticulously conceived, collected, compiled, edited, organized and presented such a large number of articles in three volumes by burning their midnight oil. In the mean time, they have already published colourful Photo Hand Books on the 13 PTGs of
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abroad. Undoubtedly, both are pioneering works. Academically, the present volumes on the PTGs will certainly add feathers to the cap of the Institute. Both the editors deserve my heartiest thanks and compliments.
I hope the present book would be of massive help as a ready reference for the tribal lovers and the tribal researchers alike. I wish all who are involved in this effort a very promising future ahead.
(Dr. Hrusikesh Panda, IAS) 24th January, 2015
New Delhi Secretary
Ministry of Tribal Affairs Government of India
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Soon after independence and the adoption of Indian Constitution incorporating special provisions for welfare and development of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) of Odisha took its birth in Bhubaneswar, the new capital city of the State of Odisha way back in 1952 christened as Tribal Research Bureau (TRB), in pursuance of the constitutional goals and objectives. Now rechristened as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), this institute not only has the distinction of being the premier and oldest Tribal Research Institute (TRI) of the Country, but it is also credited with the publication of a nationally reputed as well as the oldest Anthropological Research Journal of Odisha titled
“Adivasi” incorporating the original articles of reputed anthropologists, sociologists, development practitioners and researchers who have worked and gained knowledge and experience in the field of tribal and non-tribal societies and cultures. Being published since 1955, almost uninterruptedly, this veteran research journal of Odisha which is nearly 60 years old, has come up with its 54th volume in this year.
Over these years it has endeavored to publish valuable research articles on various aspects of the society, culture and problems of Odishan tribes and castes and marching with the time it has gloriously entered into its 60th year of publication. Within the treasure of its published articles there are many precious articles including many old ones of the fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties as well as the recent ones of the 21st Century depicting various aspects of the life and culture of the colourful Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs)
,
previously called as Primitive Tribal Groups of Odisha - a distinct and fascinating ethnic category among the tribes many of whom are known the world over for their pristine culture. Considering the rapidly changing scenario of the present times in which many ethnic groups are undergoing transformation towards modernity it was felt necessary to compile the selected articles onVIII
and present in to limelight in order to show their “then” and “now”.
The novice to the concept of PTG may ask the question, what is PTG ? In simple terms the explanation is, among the hundreds of tribal communities living across the length and breadth of the country, there are some groups who are relatively more isolated, archaic, vulnerable, deprived and backward. These tribal groups are the most disadvantaged among the tribals. They live in small, scattered habitats in remote, inaccessible areas.
Their livelihoods are especially vulnerable because over the years, the more dominant tribal and non-tribal groups have encroached upon the resources which they originally controlled and accessed for their survival. Despite numerous government schemes to mainstream these groups the results have fallen short of expectations.
Since the 5th Five Year Plan when the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) approach was adopted in the Country, they have been initially identified on the basis of certain criteria prescribed and designated as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) and recently re-designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) by Government of India for the purpose of receiving special attention for their all-round development. A PTG may be a tribal community; a sub-tribe or a part of a tribe. In the present context the group of aboriginals who constitute simple and small scale societies, are culturally homogenous, have lifestyle exhibiting uniqueness and distinctiveness, live mostly in relatively isolated and inaccessible tracts of hills and forests and continue to pursue an archaic way of life and absorb the changes slowly are ordinarily distinguished as PTGs.
The State of Odisha like its oldest TRI and its oldest research journal, Adivasi, is also credited with another distinction in respect of having the largest number of PTGs among all the States and Union Territories of the Country. To be specific, in India there are as many as 75 PTGs who are distributed in 14 undivided States and 1 (one) Union Territory of Andaman and Nicober Islands. Of them 13 PTGs are found
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Information in this regard are given in certain articles placed in the General Section of this book.
Each of such group constitutes culturally homogeneous segment of the tribal population in the State. They live in their remote mountainous habitats in a state of relative isolation - that has helped them to preserve their cultural identities manifested in their diverse languages, unique style of personal adornments, subsistence activities, magico-religious beliefs and practices, social organization and colourful folk traditions of arts, crafts, songs, dances and music. But their pace of development has been slower than the rest of their brethren belonging to other tribal communities.
With the implementation of Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) approach since the 5th Five Year Plan, 13 PTGs have been identified in different interior pockets in the State of Odisha and 17 Micro Projects are functioning in these areas to bring about their sustainable all round development. Since, the 11th Plan period emphasis has been given to effect planned change while conserving the best elements of their pristine culture through an innovative Plan called Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) Plan that was continued in the 12th Plan period. Hence, since then the PTGs have become the thrust area of tribal development for which the State came up with the CCD Plan, the 47th volume of Adivasi journal of 2007 containing 15 articles on the culture and development of PTGs was brought out as a Special Issue dedicated to PTGs of Odisha titled
“Primitive Tribal Groups of Orissa and their Development”. This issue was so popular that within few years all the copies were sold out and there ware demands to reprint the volume.
During this period, this institute also published 13 colourful Photo Hand Books on the 13 PTGs which has received the same popularity from the Indian and foreign readers. Consequently, some of these have to be reprinted as they became out of stock. Considering the popular demand for the publications relating to PTGs, it was decided to
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nineteen fifties to the present and publish it in three volumes instead of just making a reprint of its 47th volume of 2007. In these three volumes about one hundred and fifty articles will find place classified as related to (1) Ethnography (vol. 1), (2) Change & Development (vol. 2) and (3) Bio-Cultural Anthropology & Health Care (vol. 3).
It was not an easy task. Most of the articles and especially those of the past century were prepared and printed when computer was either not in our dreams or in distant dreams. Hence, those have to be computer typed again, corrected, edited, if so required, and formatted to make it ready for reprinting. To accomplish the task, we did not have the luxury of time. This has to be done in a short span of time within a busy and hectic schedule of many other pressing engagements. At last we could put together the 1st Volume – which is the largest of all containing 82 articles covering about 900 plus pages. We are now working hard to bring out the 2nd and 3rd Volumes in the near future.
The present volume is a lovely compilation of articles presenting the general overview and ethnography of the PTGs of Odisha. It has been divided into 2 sections. The Section–I titled “General” contains 08 articles disseminating introductory information, general overview and ethnography of the PTGs. The Section-II titled “PTG Specific” presents 74 PTG wise ethnographic articles on 13 individual PTGs. Wherever introductory articles are not found among the published articles of the Adivasi journal, such articles have been brought forward from our other published and unpublished sources and placed in with the intention that one gets a holistic picture of the tribe and understands its distinctiveness.
The picture of the past life style of the tribes portrayed that the illustrious anthropologists of past century have presented in their articles may not be found in these days except in the memory of the old guards and to the present generation of the PTGs it may appear strange and outdated. But as a matter of fact, change is inevitable. Due to the powerful
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the PTGs have become obsolete and lost in antiquity while some others are on the verge of decline. But one has to march with time but with reference to his past that gives him his cultural identity. Moreover, everything that one need to know about the PTGs of Odisha may not be found in this book but it can certainly help open a window to the tribal world and more particularly to the picturesque PTG world of Odisha and guide the readers to deepen their understanding of these distinguished and colourful ethnic groups who exhibit our diverse tribal cultural panorama.
Commitment of errors and omissions have become part our lives.
This work is no exception. In spite of our sincere efforts, these lapses may be there. We apologize for that and request our kind and learned readers to bring those to our notice along with their constructive suggestions for improvement in order to enable us not only to correct our mistakes but also to learn from our mistakes.
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to all the eminent scholars whose articles have found place in this volume. Many of them belonged to us and few still belong to this Institute. Many of them who were active in the past century have taken great pains and faced immense hardships to go to the remote and Dark Continent of the PTGs, collect empirical data and prepare these articles. The phenomenon of time coupled with fate and destiny has taken its toll and many of these great souls are no more with us. But they will live with us through their works. Publication of this volume is a tribute to them.
I will be failing in my duty if I do not acknowledge the help and cooperation of all who have typed, read, compared and corrected the typed articles as well as the printer without whom this book would not have seen the light of the day. Of all, my special thanks are due to my co-editor, Shri S.C. Mohanty, the retired Joint Director of SCSTRTI and now re- employed as Officer on Special Duty (Research) for his singular relentless effort, dedication and engrossing involvement to conceptualize the project,
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other tasks to produce the book in spite of his multifarious pressing engagements. This work would have remained in our dreams without him.
This book is unique of its kind as in it a humble attempt has been made to amass and streamline the fragmented data about the PTGs of Odisha of the past and present times. I hope this book would be of enormous help as a ready reference for the tribal lovers and researchers alike and all those who are interested in the subject matter of PTGs.
20thJanuary, 2015
Bhubaneswar (A.B. Ota)
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Foreword Preface I. General
1. A.B. Ota & S.C.
Mohanty Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of
Odisha and their Development 1
2. A.B. Ota Primitive Tribal Groups of Orissa : An
Overview 17
3. N.K. Behura &
K.K. Mohanti Vulnerable Ethno-Cultural Groups (VEGs) 26 4. K. K. Mohanti PTGs and Biodiversity Conservation 56
5. K. Mohapatra The Concept of Primitive 74
6. Muralidhar Majhi Customs of Tribal Marriage: A Focus on
Rights of Tribal Women 78
7. P. Samantray, S.S. Mohanty, P. Patel &
M.K. Jena
Indigenous Knowledge of Shifting Cultivation:
Observations on three Primitive Tribal Communities in Odisha
87
8. K.J.N. Gowtham
Shankar Tribal Indigenous Knowledge :Its Relevance for Endogenous Development (with reference to Primitive Tribal Groups)
102
II. PTG Specific (a & b) Birhor & Mankirdia 9. A. B. Ota &
S. C. Mohanty Mankirdia 125
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11. D.P. Sinha The Birhor and their World View 161 (c) Bonda
12. A. B. Ota &
S. C. Mohanty Bonda 169
13. B. B. Mohanty Marriage & Family : A Study on the Bondo of
Orissa 174
14. B. B. Mohanty Political Organisation and Administration of
Justice among the Bonda 189
(d) Chuktia Bhunjia
15. S. C. Mohanty Chuktia Bhunjia 201
16. Siba Prasad Rout Social Organisation of the Chuktia Bhunjias of
Kalahandi 203
17. P.K. Mohapatra Cultural Conservatism among the Bhunjia 213 (e) Didayi
18. P. K. Mohapatra The Didayi : A Hill Tribe of Orissa 220 19. S. C. Mohanty Didayi : A Picturesque Tribe of Orissa 225 20. Gopinath Pradhan Status of Didayi Women of Malkangiri District of
Odisha 241
(f) Dongria Kandha
21. A.C. Sahoo Life & Culture of the Dongria Kondhs 249 22. S. Panda Demography of a Dongria Kondh Village 265 23. Bharati Devi How and What the Kuvi Kondhs Adorn 274 24. A.C. Sahoo The Traditions and Customs of the Dongria
Kandha of Orissa 281
25. S. Routray Status of Women among the Dongria Kondh 290
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among the Dongria Kondh
27. A. K. Gomango Ethnic Healers among the Dongria Kondh of
Orissa 314
28. P.S. Das Patnaik Bejunis ; their Initiation into Shamanhood 329 29. A. K. Gomango
& S. C. Mohanty Festivals, Rituals and Shamans among the
Dongria Kandha 338
30. P.S. Das Patnaik Liquor among the Dongria Kondh of Orissa 362 31. P.S. Das Patnaik Duna : Its Implications in the Dongria Kandha
Culture 369
32. P.S. Das Patnaik Concept of Debt among the Dongria Kondhs 375 33. Arati Mall &
T. Sahoo A Comparative Study of Indebtedness among the
Dongria Kondh and the Juang 383
(g)Hill Kharia
34. S.C. Mohanty Hill Kharia : Socio-Cultural Life 417 35. Nityananda Das The Hill Kharia of Simlipal Hills : A Study of an
isolated food gathering Community 427 36. S.C. Mohanty Property and Inheritance among the Hill Kharias
of Similipal, Odisha: A Study of Customs and Traditions
434
(h) Juang
37. S.C. Mohanty Juang 450
38. Ajit Ray Life-Way of the Juangs in Keonjhar 459 39. Siba Prasad Rout Dormitory Organization of the Juang of
Keonjhar 465
40. Siba Prasad Rout Functions of Juang Dormitory in Keonjhar
District 475
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B.B. Mohanty Anthropological Outline
42. Jagannath Dash Role of Kinship in the Social life of Juangs of
Keonjhar District, Odisha 499
43. Jagannath Dash Juang Kinship Terms : An Analysis 510 44. T.H.R.T.I. The Juang Non-Kinship Organisation 522 45. Siba Prasad Rout Economic aspects of Juang Marriage 532 46. B.B. Mohanty Shifting Cultivation in Orissa with a Case Study
among the Juang 541
47. Siba Prasad Rout Socio-Economic Implications of Pus Puni : A Ritual of the Hill Juang of Keonjhar
556 48. Siba Prasad Rout Folk Songs of the Juang 563 49. P.K. Mohapatra Myths of Juang: An Anthropological Analysis 570 50. K.C. Mishra Aspects of Juang Folklore 576 (i) Kutia Kandha
51. S.C. Mohanty Kutia Kandha: A Socio-Cultural Profile 625 52. D. K Joshi,
Sasmita Mund &
M.P. Mishra
Habit, Habitat & Geographical Aspect of Kutia
Kandha 643
53. M.K. Jena, Klaus Seeland &
K.K. Patnaik
Ethnic Aspects of Indian Sago Palm (Caryota Urens- L) : An Ethno-Botanical Study among Kutia Kandha
650
54. S.C. Mohanty Social Position and Property Rights of Kutia
Kondh Women 657
55. K. Mohapatra Kedu: A Big Festival of the Kutia Kondh 666 (j) Lodha
56. S.C. Mohanty Lodha 670
57. P. K. Bhowmick The Lodha : Their Life and Problem 678
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58. S.C. Mohanty Pauri Bhuyan 699
59. Siba Prasad Rout Pauri Bhuinya Marriage 701 60. Siba Prasad Rout Hunting among the Pauri Bhuinyas of Kuira,
Sundergarh District 714
61. B. Choudhury Economic Activities of Pauri Bhuiya 722 62. B. Choudhury Swidden Cultivation: the Pauri Bhuyan way 731 (l & m) Saora & Lanjia Saora
63. S.C. Mohanty Lanjia Saora : A Socio-Cultural Profile 746 64. U. N. Patnaik Saoras of Ganjam Scheduled Areas 758 65. U. N. Patnaik The Saora of Ganjam Hills 764
66. P.C. Swain Personality of a Tribal 772
67. B.B. Mohanty A Glimpse of Social Life of the Lanjia Saora 777 68. N.C. Dash &
P.K. Patnaik
Comparative Demographic Analysis between the Traditional and the Hinduised Saora 787 69. B K Tripathy &
Abhilash Nayak
The Invariants in Saora: A Critical Discussion 794 70. Nityananda Das The Birinda of the Lanjia Saoras 808 71. B. Choudhury Doripur- A Magico-Religious Ceremony for
curing fever among the Hill Saoras 814
72. U. N. Patnaik A Saora House 820
73. B.B. Mohanty Material Culture and Technology of the Lanjia
Saoras 823
74. P. C. Mohanty Food Habit of a Tribal Community 831 75. R.V. Sarma Hunting and Trapping in Saora Economy 838 76. P.S. Das Patnaik Pattern of Indebtedness in a Saora Village 848 77. Nityananda Das Saora and Panos of Ganjam Agency (A
Study into Social Inter-Relationship) 858
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multiplex Network Analysis 79. T. Patnaik &
Sarat Das Saora Women: A Study on their Socio-Economic
Status 878
80. H. Mahapatra Saora Riddles 886
81. S.C. Mohanty Social Control and Traditional Socio-Political
System of the Lanjia Saora of Koraput 892 82. Harihar Das &
Devi Prasad Das
Mutation and Permutation in the Culture Scape
of PTGs 903
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PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS (PTGs) OF ODISHA
A.B. Ota 1 S.C. Mohanty 2 Among the hundreds of tribal communities living across the length and breadth of the country, there are some groups who are relatively more isolated, archaic, vulnerable, deprived and backward. They have been initially identified and designated since the 5th Five Year Plan as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) and recently redesignated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs) by Government of India for the purpose of receiving special attention for their all- round development.
The Concept of Primitive
In common parlance the term ‘primitive’ means simpleness and antiquity. The commonly agreed cultural traits of primitive people are (1) homogeneity, (2) small population, (3) relative physical isolation, (4) social institutions are cast in a simple mould, (5) absence of a written language (6) relatively simple technology and (7) a slower rate of change. In the present context the group of aboriginals who continue to pursue an archaic way of life and absorb the changes slowly are distinguished as PTGs.
General Characteristics of PTGs
“In general terms, it is essential to note some basic characteristic features of primitive tribal groups. They constitute simple and small scale societies. A primitive tribal group may be a tribal community (Birhor, Bondo, Didayi, Juang, Kharia, Lodha, Mankirdia and Saora); a sub-tribe or a segment or a part of tribal communities (Chuktia Bhunjia, Dongria Kandha, Kutia Kandha, Lanjia Saora and Paudi Bhuyan). They are culturally homogenous and have simple social organisation. Each group in its lifestyle exhibits uniqueness and distinctiveness.
Their economy is simple and generally subsistence-oriented. Through simple
1 Director, SCSTRTI
2 O.S.D., SCSTRTI, Bhubaneswar
2
economic pursuits, they struggle hard for basic survival. They live mostly in relatively isolated and inaccessible tracts which are eco-inhospitable. They usually inhabit in the areas full of mountains, hills, forests, terrains and undulating plateaus. In terms of their economic status, they are regarded as the weakest of the weaker section of communities. But they maintain a high profile in so far as their rich heritage, tradition and culture are concerned. They have their own ethos, ideologies, world view, value orientations etc. which guide them for sustenance amidst challenging situations and various oddities.” (Mohanti, 2007)
Problems of PTGs
These ‘Primitive’ (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal) people are diverse in character and live in different environments of more interior and less accessible pockets and their traditional sources of sustenance are declining. As such, they languish in very fragile conditions of backwardness and deprivation. This has made them more vulnerable to food insecurity, malnutrition and ill-health. Their socio-economic and educational conditions are much worse than other tribal groups. Besides, their remote habitat lacks the required minimum administrative set up and infrastructure back up. Their needs and problems are different from other scheduled tribes and hence deserve special attention. With the adoption of the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) approach since the 5th Five Year Plan, Government of India has been taking steps to identify the PTGs in different parts of the country and implement special projects and programmes for their development.
The Criteria for Classification and Identification of PTGs
Now Government of India has adopted the term Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group by replacing its earlier nomenclature Primitive Tribal Groups while keeping the abbreviation the same i.e., PTG for the purpose of classification and identification of a tribe or a section of it on the basis of the main criteria, like:- (i) Stagnant or diminishing population, (ii) Very low level of literacy, (iii) Low level of techno-economy i.e., subsistence level of economy associated with pre agricultural stage of hunting, foods gathering and shifting cultivation (iv) relative physical isolation,
PTGs in India
In India there are as many as 75 PTGs who are distributed in 14 undivided States and 1 (one) Union Territory of Andaman and Nicober Islands as given below. As per the estimate of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment they number about 1.36 million, which account for 2% of the total S.T. population of India in 1991.
3
State No. of PTGs
Andhra Pradesh 12
Bihar 9
Gujarat 5
Karnatak 2
Kerala 5
Madhya Pradesh 7
Maharashtra 3
Manipur 1
Odisha 13
Rajasthan 1
Tamil Nadu 6
Tripura 1
Uttar Pradesh 2
West Bengal 3
Union Territory
Andaman & Nicobar Islands 5
Total 75 (Source: Annual report (2001-2002), Govt. of India, Ministry of Tribal Affairs) All India State and Union Territory wise list of PTGs has been given in Annexure - I
PTGs in Odisha
Odisha has the distinction of having the largest number of PTGs among all the States and Union Territories as evident from the above Statement. In Odisha there are 13 PTGs namely, Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dongria Kondh, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora. 17 Micro Projects are functioning in different parts of the State to take care of their problems of development.
DISTINGUISHING SOCIO-CULTURAL FEATURES
BONDA # autochthons of Bondo hills in Malkangiri district # speak Remo, a Munda language # distinguished appearance of women with shaven heads # wear a short hand-woven bark cloth, ringa and bead necklaces and ornaments covering neck and throat # men keep long hair and armed with axe and bow and arrow # known for their aggressiveness # expert hunters, gatherers, shifting
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cultivators and streambed rice growers # have scattered housing pattern # have dual social organization, otherwise known as moiety system # do have girls' dormitory, Selani dingo and boys' dormitory, Ingersing dingo # each village has a community centre, Sindibor # observe Patkhanda Jatra every year.
BIRHOR/ MANKIRDIA # distributed in and around Similipal hills # speak a form of Munda language # semi-nomadic hunters and food-gatherers # catch monkeys and eat their meat # make Siali/ jute ropes # wander inside forest in small bands, Tanda # live in temporary dome shaped leaf huts, Kumbha # have girls' dormitory, Kudi-ada # shuttle between market and forest # observe Hera or Chaitaparab.
CHUKTIA BHUNJIA # inhabitants of Sonabera plateau in Nuapara district
# speak Gondi, a Dravidian language # have linear housing pattern # Sunadei is their supreme deity # build kitchen separately a little away from the main dwelling, for they consider it to be the most sacred seat of their ancestors # socially divided into two exogamous moities # settled cultivators and dependent on forest produce # have village councils and inter village councils which are functional # their main festival is Chaitra jatra.
DIDAYI # small hill tribe of Malkangiri district # speak Gata, a Munda language # primarily shifting cultivators but depend on forest produce # have scattered house pattern # have gulisung, a central place in the village for communal activities # grouped into five exogamous totemic clans # traditional village council, lepar continues to be functional # the two main festivals are Lendi pande and bhairo puja.
DONGRIA KANDHA # autochthons of the Niamgiri hill ranges in Rayagada district # speak Kui, a Dravidian dialect # shifting cultivators and expert horticulturists # grow pineapples, banana, oranges, turmeric and a variety of cereals and pulses in their swiddens # have linear housing pattern in the Dravidian style # organized into strong territorial clan groups # follow clan exogamy and practise polygyny # girls' dormitory, dashbeta is functional # observe meria or kedu festival sacrificing buffaloes # worship earth goddess, Dharnipenu and Kateiwalli # their community house is called Sadar # one of the feuding tribes of India .
HILL KHARIA # a primitive section of the Kharia tribe # inhabitants of the Similipal hills # speak Kharia, a Munda language # live in small forest settlements with scattered housing pattern # subsist on hunting and gathering # expert in collection of honey, arrowroot and resin.
5
JUANG # autochthons of the Gonasika hills in Keonjhar district # speak Juang, a Munda language # primarily shifting cultivators but depend on forest collections # live in uniclan village settlements # traditionally organized into strong corporate groups - Barabhai, at the village level, pirha, at the regional level
# practise village exogamy # youth dormitory-cum-community centre is called Manda ghar / Majang.
KUTIA KANDHA # inhabitants of Belghar-Lanjigarh highland of Phulbani and Kalahandi districts # speak Kui, a Dravidian dialect # have linear housing pattern in the Dravidian style # boys' and girls' dormitories are found functional
# primarily shifting cultivators but depend upon forest produce # mainly grow turmeric and a variety of cereals and pulses in their swiddens # organize themselves into strong clan groups # Sopangada is regarded by them as their place of origin and therefore the main sacred center # observe kedu festival by sacrificing buffaloes.
LODHA # known as an ex-criminal tribe # inhabitants of Suliapada and Moroda Blocks in Mayurbhanj district # speak Lodha, a form of Munda language # earn livelihood from rice cultivation, raising silk cocoons, selling firewood and making ropes of Sabai grass.
PAUDI BHUYAN # a hill dwelling section of the Bhuyan tribe # inhabit the Bhuyan Pirhas of Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Dhenkanal districts # speak Oriya as their mother tongue # shifting cultivators but depend on forest produce # have youth dormitory and community center, Darbar, in the village # the corporate body of traditional village council still effective # known for their special Changu dance.
SAORA / LANJIA SAORA # inhabitants of the highlands of Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam districts # speak Sora, a Munda language # have scattered housing pattern # the village guardian deities are represented by wooden posts installed at the entrance of the village # pursue shifting cultivation and prepare terrace fields for rice cultivation # have their typical labour cooperatives, ansir # presence of lineage organization called Birinda # famous for their attractive wall paintings, Initial # observe Guar, the secondary burial ritual to commemorate the dead by sacrificing buffaloes.
In Odisha, there are 13 identified PTGs. However, Birhor and Mankirdia as well as Saora and Lanjia Saora are culturally the same.
6 LOCATION OF PTGS
The Map of Odisha showing the location of PTGs is given in Annexure-II
DISTRIBUTION
In different Geo-physical Zones of Odisha
Odisha has four distinct geo-physical zones viz, (i) Northern Plateau or low lands (covering 25% of the State’s area), (ii) Central Table Land (23%), (iii) Eastern Ghats or uplands (34%) and (iv) Coastal Tract (18%). The Northern Plateau and Eastern Ghat Regions occupying 59% of the total area of the state are highly concentrated with tribal population including the 13 PTGs.
Northern Plateau (6 PTGs) - Juang, Paudi Bhuyan, Lodha, Mankirdia, Birhor, Hill-Kharia.
Eastern Ghats Region (7 PTGs) - Saora, Kutia Kondh, Dongria Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Bonda, Didayi, Chuktia Bhunjia.
All the 17 Micro Projects working for their development are situated in the remote PTG concentration pockets at an elevation of 100 ft to 5000ft above the mean sea level.
In different Geographical Regions of Odisha
h In Western Odisha (5 districts) - Kalahandi, Nuapada, Angul, Sundargarh and Deogarh h In Northern Odisha (2 districts) - Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar h In Southern Odisha (5 districts)- Malkangiri, Rayagada, Phulbani,
Gajapati and Ganjam Total- 12 districts
In TSP & Non-TSP Areas (Ref; Annexure-III)
h The largest number of PTGs, i.e., ten (Bonda, Birhor, Didayi, Hill Kharia, Mankirdia, Dongria Kondh, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, and) out of total 13 are concentrated in the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) areas, h Two (Paudi Bhuyan and Saora) are found both in the TSP areas as well
as outside the TSP areas.
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h Only one PTG (Chuktia Bhunjia) lives outside the TSP area.
h Accordingly, out of 17 Micro Projects for development of the PTGs in Odisha, 13 lie within the TSP area and rest 4, outside the TSP area.
In Hamlets/ Villages, GPs, Blocks & Districts (Ref; Annexure-IV)
As per the Socio-Economic Survey conducted by SCSTRTI in the 17 Micro Project areas during 2001-02, the PTGs inhabit in 547 Hamlets / Villages distributed in 69 Gram Panchayats (GPs) under 20 Blocks in 12 districts as mentioned above
DEMOGRAPHY (Ref; Annexure-I)
Household, Population, Household Size & Sex Ratio Number of
Households Population Sex Ratio
(Number of females per 1000 males)
Household Size
Male Female Total
19 842 40 151 43 500 83 651 1083 4.2
Literacy
Male Female Total 41.81% 24.78% 33.38%
ETHNO-LINGUISTIC IDENTITY
The PTGs of Odisha are distributed ethno linguistically into three linguistic groups like Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic /Munda.
Linguistic Groups Ethnic Speakers y Austro-Asiatic /
Munda Birhor, Bondo, Didayi, Juang, Saora, Lanjia Saora, Mankirdia, Hill Kharia, Lodha.
y Dravidian Chuktia Bhunjia, Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh,
y Indo – Aryan Paudi Bhuyan.
8 Techno-Economic Stages
The PTGs belong to four techno-economic stages of development.
1. Hunter-Gatherer Birhor, Mankirdia, Hill-Kharia,
2. Shifting Cultivators Bonda, Didayi, Juang, Dongaria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Paudi Bhuyan.
3. Terrace Cultivators Saora, Lanjia Saora 4. Settled Cultivators Lodha, Chuktia Bhunjia.
Economic Existence
The PTGs basically thrive on a land and forest based economy. Except the Birhor/ Mankirdia and Hill-Kharia who are exclusively dependent on forests for their subsistence, the rest are primarily farmers of one kind or other. The Birhor / Mankirdia are semi -nomadic monkey catchers and siali rope makers. Similarly, the Hill-Kharia live by their skills in collection of honey, resin, arrowroot and other minor forest produce. The Bonda, Didayi, Juang, Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora are traditionally Shifting Cultivators. They have also taken up Settled Cultivation in these days. Among them the Saora and Lanjia Saora are Terrace Cultivators and the Dongria Kondh are horticulturists.
All of them supplement their livelihood by forest collections.
.
Traditional Skills, Art and Crafts
Sl. No PTGs Skills, Art and Crafts
1 BIRHOR/
MANKIRDIA • Basket, rope and sling making out of siali fiber, sabai grass and jute
• Monkey catching
• Khali stitching and pressing 2 BONDA • Weaving of handloom clothes
• Bead necklaces making
• Carpet weaving
• Broomstick making
• Vegetable cultivation
• Archery
3 DIDAYI • Bamboo basketry
• Weaving of handloom clothes
• Archery
• Broomstick making
9
4 DONGRIA
KONDH • Embroidery
• Wood carving and decorating,
• Wall painting
• Comb making
• Pineapple cultivation and fruit processing 5 HILL KHARIA • Collection and processing of honey, resin,
arrowroot
• Broom making
• Mat making
• Khali stitching and pressing
6 JUANG • Wood carving
• Comb making 7 KUTIA KONDH • Broom making
8 PAUDI
BHUIYAN • Broom making
• Mat making
• Basketry
• Litchi cultivation
• Tussar rearing
9 LANJIA
SAORA • Icon (wall painting)
• Wood carving
• Stone Terracing & Water management
• Cashew plantation & processing 10 SAORA • Icon (wall painting)
• Wood carving Carpet weaving
• Mulberry cultivation LODHA • Sabai rope making
The selected indigenous skills are being upgraded and promoted for income generation activities and improvement of their quality of life.
10 Economic Profile
h Total Cultivable Land - 24744.57 Acres h Land Holding per Household (average) - 0.65 Acres
h Landless Households - 5126
h Annual Income per Household (average) - Rs. 45,877/- h Monthly Income per Household (average) - Rs. 3,823/- h Annual Expenditure per Household (average) - Rs.36,307/- h BPL Households - 80.95%
PTGs BPL Households Landless
Households
Bonda 89.82% 24.15%
Chuktia Bhunjia 51.21% 36.48%
Didayi 97.74% 56.25%
Dongria Kondh 96.33% 67.23%
Hill Kharia & Mankirdia 100% 37.25%
Juang 100% 5.88%
Kutia Kondh 45.92% 16.00%
Lanjia Saora 47.03% 7.88%
Lodha 89.55% -
Paudi Bhuyan 91.36% 31.79%
Saora 75.40% 10.85%
Total : 80.95% 26.43%
(Source-Socio-Economic Survey by SCSTRTI 2010-11) Quality of life
The quality of life of PTGs remains around the subsistence level. People have a little assurance on their daily consumption pattern. Being backward, disadvantaged and with little resources at their command they struggle to make both the ends meet. They spend more than 65% of their income on food.
During lean periods their living conditions become worse. In absence of adequate and affordable health care facilities, their declining health conditions add salt to the injury. However, some improvements are visible in their quality of life after the development intervention made through the official and non- official agencies and particularly the Micro Projects.
Identification of PTGs and Grounding of Micro Projects for their development in Odisha during different Plan Periods – Annexure-V
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Annexure-I Name of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGS) (Earlier Called as
Primitive Tribal Groups) State / UT Wise.
Name of the State /UT Name of PTGs 1. Andhra Pradesh (12) 1. Bodo Gadaba
2. Bondo Poroja 3. Chenchu 4. Dongria Khond 5. Gutob Gadaba 6. Khond Poroja 7. Kolam 8. Kondareddis 9. Konda Savara 10. Kutia Khond 11. Parengi Poroja 12. Thoti
2. Bihar (9)
(including Jharkhand)
13. Asurs 14. Birhor 15. Birjia 16. Hill Kharia 17. Korwa 18. Mal Paharia 19. Parhaiyas 20. Sauria Paharia 21. Savar
3. Gujarat (5) 22. Kathodi 23. Kotwalia 24. Padhar 25. Siddi 26. Kolgha 4. Karnataka (2) 27. Jenu Kuruba
28. Koraga 5. Kerala (5) 29. Cholanaikayan
(a section of Kattunaickans) 30. Kadar
31. Kattunayakan 32. Kurumba 33. Koraga 6.Madhya Pradesh (7)
(including Chhattisgarh)
34. Abujh Maria 35. Baiga
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36. Bharia 37. Hill Korba 38. Kamar 39. Saharia 40. Birhor
7. Maharashtra (3) 41. Katkaria (Kathodia) 42. Kolam
43. Maria Gond 8. Manipur (1) 44. Marram Nagas 9. Odisha (13) 45. Birhor
46. Bondo 47. Didayi
48. Dongria Khond 49. Juang
50. Kharia 51. Kutia Kondh 52. Lanjia Saora 53. Lodha 54. Mankirdia 55. Paudi Bhuyan 56. Soura
57. Chuktia Bhunjia 10. Rajasthan (1) 58. Seharias
11.Tamil Nadu (6) 59. Kattu Nayakan 60. Kota
61. Kurumba 62. Irula 63. Paniyan 64. Toda 12.Tripura (1) 65. Reang 13. Uttar Pradesh (2) 66. Buxa
67. Raji 14. West Bengal (3) 68. Birhor
69. Lodha 70. Toto 15.Andaman & Nicobar
Islands (5)
71. Great Andamanese 72. Jarawa
73. Onge 74. Sentinelese 75. Shom Pen
(Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India)
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14
15
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PRIMITIVE TRIBAL GROUPS (PTGS) OF ORISSA:
AN OVERVIEW
1A.B. Ota 2
Introduction
There are certain tribal communities who have declining or stagnant population, a pre-agricultural level of technology, are economically backward and have low literacy level. Seventy-five such groups/communities have been identified and designated as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) in the entire country. This PTG concept for the first time got introduced during the fifth five year plan period. Most of these groups are small in number, have attained different levels of social and economic progress and generally, live in remote habitats, with poor administrative and infrastructure back up. In fact, the Primitive Tribal Communities are considered as a special category in view of their distinctly different social, cultural and occupational practices and traits.
Primitive Tribes are distinguished from other tribal communities with regard to their pre-agricultural economy, extremely low level of literacy, isolated habitation etc. During the fifth five year plan, it was decided by Government of India to plan and implement specific development programmes focused on the all-round development of the primitive tribes. The focused programmes mainly addressed to deliver packages of services consistent with their cultural, social, educational and occupational background with a view to facilitate and gradually align them with the mainstream of society and enhance their social and economic status.
With the vision of comprehensive development of the PTGs, the concept of micro level planning was introduced in the country in the year 1975-76. This envisages integrated and comprehensive development of the Micro Project areas in which various programmes irrespective of the sources of funding can be
1 Published in ADIVASI, Vol. XXXXVII, No.1&2, 2007, pp.41-47
2 Director, SCSTRTI, Bhubaneswar
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implemented in unison to achieve the common goal of bringing the area at par with other areas and to improve the quality of life of the primitive tribes.
PTGs of Orissa and the Micro Projects (Distribution)
Orissa has the distinction of having 13 Primitive Tribal Communities (which is the highest number in the entire country) namely the Bonda, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dongria Kondh, Hill Kharia, Mankirdia, Birhor, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Paudi Bhuyan and the Saora. While, Bonda was declared as a PTG during the fifth plan period (1974-78), during 1978-80 as many as 7 tribal communities were declared PTG and they are Juang, Lanjia Saora, Kutia Kondh, Dongria Kondh, Saora, Paudi Bhuyan and Birhor. Similarly 4 tribal communities (namely the Didayi, Hill Kharia, Mankirdia & Lodha) during the seventh five year plan period (1985-90) and Chuktia Bhunjia during the 8th five year plan (1992-97) were identified and declared by Government of India as Primitive Tribal Groups. The PTGs of Orissa are localised groups, which are found in specific compact areas spread over 12 districts of the state namely Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam.
Ever since the fifth five-year plan during which the concept of PTG was introduced by Government of India, a number of special development interventions are being extended for this vulnerable section of the tribes through the specially set up Micro Projects. There are 17 Micro Projects set up in Orissa for effective implementation and all-round development of the 13 PTGs. While 13 of these special projects are located in Scheduled Areas, the remaining 4 are located in the non scheduled areas.
As regards their distribution, while 6 PTGs such as Birhor, Mankirdia, Hill-Kharia, Juang, Lodha and Paudi Bhuyan are located in the Northern Plateau, the remaining 7 PTGs such as Bonda, Chuktia Bhunjia, Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Didayi, Lanjia Saora and Saora reside in the Eastern Ghat region of the state. The PTGs live in their remote mountainous habitats in a state of relative isolation - that has helped them to preserve their cultural identities manifested in their diverse languages, unique style of personal adornments, subsistence activities, magico-religious beliefs and practices, social organization and colourful folk traditions of art, crafts, songs, dance and music. On the other side, their pace of change has remained slower and their level of development, lower than the rest of their brethren belonging to other tribal communities. This situation calls for special attention in respect of their development.
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When the geographical distribution of the PTGs are further analyzed on the basis of different geographical regions, it is observed that the PTGs are distributed in 5 districts of Western Orissa (Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sundargarh, Deogarh and Angul); 2 districts of Northern Orissa such as Mayurbhanj and five districts of Southern Orissa such as Malkangiri, Raygada, Phulbani, Gajapati and Ganjam. The analysis of the PTGs on the basis of their distribution in TSP and Non TSP areas further reveals that while only one PTG namely Chuktia Bhunjia reside in Non TSP area and two PTGs namely Paudi Bhuyan and Saora inhabit in both TSP and Non TSP areas, the remaining 10 PTGs are found to be distributed in TSP areas. When the state is taken as a whole, the PTGs are observed to be distributed in 547 villages covering 69 villages, 20 Blocks, 10 ITDAs and 12 districts.
Demography
Demographic profile of the Primitive Tribal Communities of Orissa inhabiting in the 17 Micro Project areas shows many interesting features.
According to a Household survey conducted by SCSTRTI, the PTGs in the 17 project areas are 78,519 in number. One of the most interesting aspects of these people is that the sex ratio favours the female population and in fact, the sex ratio indicates that there are 1069.9 females against 1000 males. Similarly, the total literacy rate among this vulnerable section of tribal population is 26.32 percent, which is very low compared to the average literacy rate for the state or for the country. The female literacy rate, which is so very important an indicator for judging human development, is abysmally low among the PTGs and this stands at a staggeringly low rate that is 15.92%. When the literacy rate is further analysed among different PTG communities, it is observed that in case of two communities such as Didayi and Bonda, it is even less than 5% and in case of Chuktia Bhunjia and Dongria Kondh, it is less than 10 percent. However, there are some PTGs among whom the female literacy rate is significantly higher than the rest and the statistical figure reveals that among Lanjia Saoras and Saoras, the female literacy rate is more than 25 percent. Since family among the Primitive Tribal Groups, like the other ST Communities gets fragmented after the marriage of the son resulting in small sized households, the average size of the household of the PTGs is around 4.25.
Economic Profile and Existence
This vulnerable section of the community, which are 13 in number in terms of variety, can be classified and grouped in to 4 techno economic stages and they are: Hunter-Gatherers, Shifting Cultivators, Terrace Cultivators and
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Settled Cultivators. While 3 PTGs such as Birhor, Mankirdia and Hill Kharia are included under Hunter-Gatherers group; eight PTGs such as Bonda, Didayi, Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Juang, Lanjia Saora, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora belong to the Shifting Cultivator category. Similarly, while two PTGs such as Saora and Lanjia Saora belong to Terrace cultivator along with Shifting Cultivator category, Lodha and Chuktia Bhunjia PTGs belong to the Settled Cultivator category. PTGs basically thrive on a land and forest based economy.
A good section of them depend on this for their survival.
As discussed earlier and as seen at the ground level, the Birhor and the Mankirdia are semi-nomadic monkey catchers and siali rope makers and the Hill Kharia are collectors of honey, resin, arrowroot and other minor forest produce for their survival. On the other hand, the rest of the PTGs are primarily farmers of one kind or the other and depend on this to eke out their living. The Bonda, Didayi, Juang, Dongria, Lanjia Saora, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora as explained above are traditionally shifting Cultivators, but they have also taken up settled farming these days. Among them, the Saora and Lanjia Saora are Terrace Cultivators and the Dongria Kondh is a horticulturist. All of them supplement their livelihood by forest collections. Another interesting aspect of the PTGs as revealed from the empirical survey is that as high as 79.08 percent of the households belong to the BPL category and 37.02 percent households are landless.
Art and Crafts
Although languishing amidst poverty, the traditional arts and crafts of most of the Primitive Tribal Groups in Orissa are extremely beautiful, rich, and artistic and have great potential for sale. But the pity is that no special effort has been made for a long time in respect of promotion of these products, for marketing and also to ensure income generation for the PTG people from these products. Some of the typical traditional skills possessed, arts and crafts practiced by the Primitive Tribal Groups are indicated below:
Sl.
No. Name of the
PTG Traditional Skills, Arts and Crafts
1 Birhor/Mankirdia y Basket &Rope making out of siali fiber, sabai grass & jute y Khali stitching and pressing
y Monkey catching.
2 Bondo y Weaving of Clothes & Carpet y Bead Necklaces making y Broomstick making
y Stream bed Paddy Cultivation, Vegetable cultivation, y Archery
21 3 Chuktia Bhunjia y Settled cultivation
y Bamboo basketry y Bead Necklaces making 4 Didayi y Bamboo basketry
y Weaving
y Broomstick making y Archery
5 Dongria Kondh y Embroidery
y Wood carving & decorating y Wall painting
y Comb making
y Pineapple cultivation & fruit processing
6 Hill Kharia y Collection and processing of honey, resin, arrowroot
7 Juang y Wood carving
y Comb making y Shifting cultivation y Changu Dance 8 Kutia Kondh y Broomstick making
y Khali stitching & pressing y Shifting cultivation
y Cultivation of turmeric, mustard, etc.
9 Lanjia Saora and Saora
y Icon (wall painting) y Wood carving,
y Stone Terracing & Water Management y Cashew plantation & processing 10 Lodha y Sabai (grass) Rope Making
y Bamboo craft 11 Paudi Bhuyan y Broomstick making
y Mat making y Basketry
y Litchi cultivation y Tussar rearing y Changu Dance
In recent times, special effort has been made by government through SHGs to promote such vanishing and little known arts and crafts of the PTGs in a manner which can earn them a descent earning and also conserve the cultural arts and artefacts from getting vanished.
22 Assistance for the PTGs
Government of India as well as the state government has taken a number of initiatives for overall development of the PTGs. Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), Government of India (GoI) is providing assistance under Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding as Grant-in-Aid meant for the over all development of PTGs. The funds provided by MOTA under the scheme are exclusively utilized for various developmental activities of the PTG such as for Health & Sanitation, Education, Drinking water supply, supply of non- conventional energy like solar home light, street light, supply of mosquito nets, and construction of WHS/Check Dams etc. One of the important schemes that have been extended for the PTGs is Janashree Bima Yojana (JBY) of L.I.C of India Ltd which was introduced from the financial year 2004-05 under Central Sector Scheme for Development of PTGs with 100% Grant-in-Aid by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India for insurance coverage of PTG families of the state. Besides many other efforts, through SCs & STs Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), skill up-gradation training is provided to artisans belonging to PTGs so that they can make their arts and crafts market oriented.
Critical Areas of Concern
Although several schemes and programmes have been extended for the PTGs through the micro-projects from the fifth plan period onwards, empirical studies have shown that the pace of development has been exceedingly slow and the achievement level is far low than the set objectives. Government of India and Planning Commission has fully realized the situation and accordingly have changed the strategy during the 11th Plan Period for the development of the Primitive Tribal Groups through an innovative mode captioned Conservation- cum- Development Plan (CCD Plan).
However, it needs to be spelt out very clearly the various critical issues that plague the people belonging to the Primitive Tribal Groups and which need to be addressed for ensuring sustainable development of these vulnerable groups are indicated below:
Poverty and consequent malnutrition
Nutritional Deficiencies and Diseases, especially among women and children leading to high IMR and MMR
Inadequacy of safe drinking water
Poor sanitation and poor hygiene
Inadequate and inaccessible health care services
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Vulnerability to specific and endemic diseases like G-6 PD deficiency, Yaws, Malaria etc.
Deforestation and loss of traditional rights on forests
Socio-Economic exploitation
Land alienation, indebtedness and debt bondage
Rehabilitation of Displaced tribals
Decline of Pristine Culture
Low literacy and alarmingly high drop out rates.
Special Approach of State Government for Development of PTGs during the XIth Plan
In fact after assessment of the progress of development of PTGs and the strategy adopted by the previous plan periods, it was felt that there needs to have a relook at the strategy in vogue and on the basis of this, Government of India has taken steps for developing a five year prospective development plan for the PTGs with focus on conservation of culture. As such both conservation of culture and development have been carefully balanced in the development approach during the 11th plan period for the PTGs. On the basis of this, Government of India in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has instructed to formulate a CCD Plan for each PTG. In line with the directives of the Government of India, Government of Orissa also has come up with a CCD Plan.
The CCD Plan during the 11th plan period (2007-2012) is a modest attempt for the holistic development of the PTGs. It aims at addressing the critical felt needs of the PTGs by improving infrastructure and provide basic facilities within their easy reach with a view to eliminate poverty, increase literacy level, ensure improved health status, overcome problem of food insecurity and above all bring improvement in the quality of life and conserve their traditional culture. However, the basic approaches of the CCD Plan are:
Total development through an integrated approach by pulling resources from Central Government and State Government
Bring about GO, Gram Panchayats and NGO partnership to address the development needs of the PTG.
Encouraging people’s participation in development process through the involvement of traditional institutions, like labour cooperatives, youth dormitory, SHGs etc.
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Provision of basic infrastructure and amenities like health, education, drinking water and also all weather roads to all the PTG villages
Restoration of Hill slopes ravaged by shifting cultivation by way of raising horticultural plantations thereby protecting natural environment and providing employment and income to the PTGs
Assistance for conservation and promotion of PTG traditions, like labour cooperatives, traditional skills, Art and Craft, Dance and Songs.
Ensuring social security through the provision of fireproof houses, grain banks and coverage of all families under Janashree Vima Yojana.
The five year prospective plan (2007-2012) for the PTGs termed as CCD Plan for Orissa has been done for a total estimated cost of Rs.84.25 Crores out of which Rs.64.46 Crore has been posed to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GoI for financial assistance over a period of five years. The remaining 19.80 Crore rupees will be placed by various other line departments.
Government of India has already released 10 Crore rupees towards the CCD Plan for the 1st year. However, the following are some of the brief approaches envisaged in the CCD Plan for the PTGs:
Education
The PTGs are very backward, educationally. Their total literacy till today is estimated at less than 20 percent. Their female literacy is very low, which is less than 10 percent. Their children of school going age prefer to do, indoor and outdoor, works rather then going to schools because they are expected to help their family in subsistence activities. Therefore, development of education for the PTGs is imperative to bring them at par with non-tribals. It can be achieved by improving educational infrastructure and persistent awareness campaigning to reduce dropouts in primary and upper primary level. Opening of educational complex for ST girl students is the key to achieve this goal besides giving stress on pre-primary education by strengthening the existing Gyanmandirs.
Infrastructure
By and large, the interior pockets inhabited by the PTGs are relatively inaccessible, isolated and for that matter, under-developed for want of minimum and basic infrastructures. Therefore this action plan has incorporated adequate provisions to create and up-grade essential infrastructures like roads, drinking water, electricity, educational complex, community centre etc. for giving a face lift to the villages inhabited by the PTGs. This will be extremely helpful in improving the quality of living of the people belonging to the PTGs.
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Connectivity
In the CCD Plan, construction of village link roads along with small bridges and culverts has been kept which are expected to provide communication facilities to most of the PTG villages. Similarly, supply of light vehicles and mini trucks to SHGs also have been kept in the Plan, which will provide employment to tribal youths and will facilitate easy transportation of people and goods.
Agriculture and Horticulture
PTGs are primarily agriculturists. There is scope for introduction of gainful modern agricultural and horticultural practices for optimum utilization of the available farmland. To meet the challenge, a comprehensive prorgamme for development of agriculture in the core sector of income generation has been put in the CCD Plan. Available lands suitable for terrace cultivation will be developed by scientific methods of soil and water management. It has been proposed in the Plan for land development by way of stone wall terracing of sloppy lands along with development of valley lands and to enhance agricultural production and income, modern methods and practices will be introduced through crop demonstration with the provision of required input /assistance in the shape of improved high yield variety of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
The geo-climatic conditions provide excellent scope for promotion of horticulture as an alternative to shifting cultivation. Some patches are still available for raising mixed orchards. A number of such programmes for mixed orchard and vegetable cultivation and backyard/kitchen garden plantation have been suggested through SHGs. One of the major highlights of this CCD Plan is that a number of activities to promote and conserve culture of the PTGs have been incorporated and a balance has been maintained in the plan by introducing a development cum preservation approach in such a manner that the development interventions will not infringe the culture of the PTGs, rather they will complement and protect their culture.
It is hoped that the Conservation cum Development Plan will be extremely productive and it will be result oriented and pave the way for sustainable development of the Primitive Tribal Groups in the state of Orissa during the 11th plan period, which is 2007-2012.
