Research report on tribal heritage released

Koraput: A report on the intangible tribal heritage of the state focussing on Kondh and Gadaba tribes was released today at the Seminar Hall of the Tribal Museum, Koraput. The Odisha chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has been conducting research on the tribal heritage of the state since 2018. 

The report titled Tribes in Transition: The Changing Identity of the Kandhas and Gadabas of Odisha is an outcome of experts comprising Sanjib Hota, Prafulla Chandra Mahapatra, Jagabandhu Samal and Anil Dhir who made a number of field studies to study the changing world of the Gadabas and the Kondha. 

Anil Dhir, who compiled the study of the Dongria and the Kutia Kondha said, “Even after seven decades of independence, tribal communities have been striving for basic rights and entitlements. The book contains the story of displacement, dispossession and theft of what belongs to the tribal people.”

“Industrialisation and mining operations have led to the uprooting of tribal villages, forcing them to live like industrial nomads. They have lost their traditional occupations, agricultural land and houses. Despite several development programmes, pro-poor laws and acts, the tribal communities are still among the poorest communities,” he added.

Biswajit Mohanty who attended the event stressed on abolishing programmes being carried in the name of  tribal development. “These programmes ruin the tribal lives and many tribes are on the verge of extinction. More research needs to be done on the livelihoods of tribal so that they can live in happiness without any disturbance,” he added.