Awaiting dawn at Niyamgiri

The Hindu Business Line, Oct 8, 2010


It was a rainy afternoon. The young Dongria woman looked worried as she sat waiting with her 18-month-old baby and a bottle of kerosene at Arshakani village in Niymagiri Hills of Orissa. It was raining heavily and she still had to walk some distance to reach her village inside the forest.
Once a week the tribals of Niyamgiri get kerosene at Rs 15 a litre from the local distributor, who comes from Bissamcuttak of Rayagada district. Kerosene lights up tribals' life after dark.
The Niyamgiri Hills are spread over the two districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada, which present a contrast in terms of development.
Seven out of 27 villages in Rayagada district have been electrified and a few government development schemes have reached here.
A 10-km-long metalled road was constructed nearly two decades ago from Chattikona to Kurli, which connects at least a dozen villages. But till date, only a few multi-utility vehicles serve as transport for these people.
On the other hand, the Dongrias of Kalahandi district live a primitive life. The metalled road newly-constructed by Vedanta Aluminium for its refinery and staff quarters abruptly ends a few hundred metres from the virgin forest. From there, the Dongrias have to walk to reach their villages.
Electricity, schools and healthcare facilities remain a distant dream for the Dongria, Jharnia and Kuthiya Kondhs living here, and the youth migrate to other States for odd jobs. Every year, diarrhoea, malaria and other diseases take their toll on the Kondhas' population.
Births happen in thatched houses, and a large number of the women and children are malnourished.
Commenting on the Central Government's move to halt mining by Vedanta at Niyamgiri Hills, the Chairman of the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samity, Siddhartha Nayek ,says that the Dongrias have lived here for ages. “They are happy with the forest produce, but obviously need support from the Government. The State Government is not active enough to make them self-sufficient.
“Employment generation by creating industries in tribal regions has always been a myth.”
He says concern extends beyond people to the region's ecology. “The monsoon clouds burst here and feed two rivers, which help agriculture in two districts. Millions of valuable trees help maintain the biodiversity in and around the hills,” he adds.