Kutia Kondhs shun backwardness, conform to avail authorities advantages
2 min read By Express News Service
BHAWANIPATNA: Segregated from the mainstream society for years collectively, the tribals of Dialbaheli village in Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district have lastly agreed to shun their lifetime of backwardness and avail the advantages of presidency’s welfare measures.
The efforts of district administration to combine the tribes, residing in hilly mountainous terrains of the district, into the mainstream have paid off because the indigenous inhabitants of those three blocks not too long ago expressed their willingness to shift to the foothills with their presiding deity Dharni Mata (Mother Earth).
In the previous, a number of makes an attempt have been made to persuade the tribals to go away the mountains and settle on the foothills nevertheless it couldn’t materialise because of their reservations over abandoning their presiding deity. As many as 16 households of the Kutia Kondh, a very weak tribal group (PVTG), reside on the hilltop hamlet of Barguda in Dialbaheli underneath Kankutru panchayat.
The tribals depend upon forest sources and shifting cultivation for livelihood. The hamlet is positioned above 400 ft on the hill and is surrounded by forests. Due to lack of roads, the households are disadvantaged of secure consuming water, healthcare, electrical energy, schooling and different authorities advantages.
Block growth officer (BDO) of Lanjigarh Jitendra Mishra mentioned the administration held a number of rounds of discussions following which the tribals agreed to quiet down on the foothills after putting in their Dharni deity on the new place. Now 16 PMAY homes of `1.30 lakh every are on the verge of completion. Besides, 95 mandays employment with `380 as wages underneath MGNREGS for every home has been offered.
This aside, two tube-wells and 16 neighborhood latrines have been constructed whereas electrical energy provide will probably be offered to the homes quickly. The administration has additionally constructed a 300 metre street from the brand new location to the principle route close to Dialbaheli. Two verify dams on the close by nullah have been readied for villagers and their livestock, the BDO knowledgeable.
In 2016-17, as many as 16 homes have been sanctioned underneath PMAY for residents of Barguda however all efforts to relocate them failed as they refused to go away their deity. Terming the relocation as a optimistic signal, Mishra mentioned this may encourage different hill dwellers to hitch the mainstream.
Twenty six-year-old Basa Majhi of Barguda, who can be a ward member, mentioned villagers have realised that they have been lacking out on completely different advantages and providers. “Now it will be easy for our children to attend school while healthcare services can be availed at our doorsteps,” he added.
