Fact-finding
Report
on
Hunger, Destitution, Deprivation
and Malnutrition among Kutia Kondh Primitive Tribal Groups residing on Hilltop
of Niyamagiri in Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi district, Odisha
Date of Visit of the Team: 25.7.16
Members of Fact-Finding Team:
1.
Pradip Pradhan
State, Convener, Right to
Food Campaign, Odisha
2.
Prof. Jantrana Parikhit
President, Odisha Nagarik
Samaj, Bhubaneswar
M- 9937234088
3.
Sanjeev Satapathy
RTI Activist & Local
volunteer, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi
4.
Rabi Narayan Singh
RTI Activist and Local
Volunteer, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi
Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha
Address-
Plot No:- 393/2035, Padmabati Vihar, Post-Sailashree Vihar, Chandrasekhar Pur,
Bhubaneswar-751021
Fact-finding
Report on
Hunger, Destitution, Deprivation and
Malnutrition among Kutia Kondh Primitive Tribal Groups residing on Hilltop of
Niyamagiri in Lanjigarh Block of Kalahandi district, Odisha
Introduction
In view of
repeated coverage of the news in media about poverty and malnutrition among
various Primitive Tribal Groups in
different parts of the state due to
callous and indifferent attitude of
state administration and subsequent
steps taken by the State Govt. to
dilute the attention of public from
these issues, it was decided by Right to
Food Campaign, Odisha to keep alive
the issues affecting life and
livelihood of the tribals by brining to
limelight their problem in public domain through fact-finding visits. It is an effort
to establish facts about the problems
encountered by the tribals and their suffering, untimely death of
their children, mal-administration in
tribal areas, mal-implementation of
welfare programme coupled with corruption
and misappropriation of fund etc. and generate debate
among all concerned in order to
bring them to mainstream
of development. Accordingly, the Fact-finding Team of Right to Food
Campaign, Odisha had visited three areas i.e, Juang area of Nagada village
under Sukinda block, Kolha habitation of Biripur under Dharmashala block of
Jajpur district, Paudi Bhuyan area of Lahunipada Block of Sundargarh district. Then, the Team visited Kutia Kondh PTG area
of Lanjigarh block of Kalahandi district.
Visit of Fact-finding Team to Lanjigarh block
On 25.7.16, a
four-member Fact-finding Team consisting of
Pradip Pradhan, State, Convener, Right to Food Campaign, Odisha, Prof.
Jantrana Parikhit, President, Odisha Nagarik Samaj, Bhubaneswar, Sanjeev
Satapathy, RTI Activist & Local volunteer, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi and Rabi
Narayan Singh, RTI Activist had visited
to Lanjigarh block
of Kalahandi district to monitor the status of Juang tribes, their
livelihood, education, health, food habit
and accessibility to various
welfare programme including food
security programme. The Team visited Trilochan Pur Gram Panchayat , habitation
of Kutia Kondh Tribal Groups which is 10 kms from Lanjigarh block head quarter. This
Panchayat is located on Hilltop of Niyamagiri, a mountain with deposit of tons
of Bauxites worth thousands of crores
of rupees. It is needless to mention here that during interaction with Kutia
Kondh tribes, the Team realised their anger against proposed mining operation
by Vedant Company and their determination to protect Niyamagiri Hill.
The Team
visited a number of scattered villages dominated
by Kutia Kondh tribes like Trilochanpur, Khumndipadar, Phuldumber, Palberi,
Kunakadu, Tadijhula etc. Each village is consisting of 8 to 10 Kutia Kondh
families residing in Hill Top. The Team
reached at 11 am in the Panchayat and found none in the village except few older
women, lactating woman found in the house. The members were appraised that they
had gone to forest and would return back at 1 o’clock. There is pucca or
concrete road connected to the villages. A small mountainous track leads to the
villages visited by the team. After the tribals returned to the villages, the
team interacted with them about
their food menu, health condition and status of food security programme and came across
malnourished children and their wretched condition. Sri Chandru Majhi, a tribal boy active in Nimayagiri
movement guided us and helped communicating us with the Tribals. As Sarapanch is tribal woman, she feared to
talk to team and did not come out for interaction.
Findings of the Team
1.
Mismanagement of ICDS
programme
At first, the Team
visited Anganwadi Centre of Khemundipadar village of Trilochanpur Gram
Panchayat and found only 5 children eating rice and watery dal without any vegetables. The Anganwadi worker
was found absent and the Helper managing the centre. While inspecting the food,
the team found that less quantity of rice is provided to the children. Though there are 20 number of children
enrolled in the centre, only 5 children had come to take meal. No register and document was
found in the centre to understand about exact status of management of the
centre.
In other villages like Phuldumber, the Anganwadi centre
was found closed. Neither Anganwadi Worker nor the children had come to the
centre. The villagers said that the Anganwadi Worker never comes the centre. Telati Majhi
and Rupali Majhi holding 2 year baby
of Phuldumber village , Pregnant and Lactating woman said that
they were provided one
packet Chhatua and 5 eggs
per month against two pocket and
eight eggs. The tribal women are not
aware about Mamata yojana. Nobody has
received Rs. 5000/- under Mamata Yojana. Most of the children were found malnourished,
necked and suffering from disease. When
the Team met and asked Jayant Bathli, Anganwadi Worker, she could not give any
satisfactory answer about management of centre and did not show updated
register like attendance register, Chhatua distribution Register etc.
2.
Inedible food as staple food for tribals
As per guideline of Antodaya Ana Yojana and provision of
National Food Security Act, each Kutia Kondh Tribe is entitled to get 35 kg
rice per month. But the team came across many families have
been deprived of it and enlisted as priority Household with allocation of 5 kg
rice per head per month. During interaction with tribal women, Maja Majhi , Majameni Majhi said that they were allotted 15 kg rice each per month under NFSA. They
manage with this rice for 10 days only. On query about food consumed in other
days, they say that if they have money, they purchase rice at the rate of Rs.
25/- to Rs. 30/- per kg from local market. Otherwise they consume mango kernel
and trunk of Salap tree after making it flour and mixing it with hot water. The Team came across
women preparing mango kernel for food. As reported, it causes huge indigestion
and stomach problem of the children.
During investigation, rice was not found in any house except PDS rice.
PDS which has the mandate to ensure food security of the poor has failed to check
hunger in the area. Due to food crisis and unavailability of rice, vegetables
and other food items, they are forced to consume inedible food.
3.
No employment for Kutia Kondh
During interaction with the villagers, they have not
got any employment under NREGA for years together. Work under NREGA has not
been undertaken by the Gram Panchayat. The tribals are not aware about job
card.
4.
No implementation of RTE Act.
There is no
primary school in these villages. No
child goes to the school.
5.
Non-Implementation of IAY and Biju Pucca Gruha Yojana
The State
Govt. is implementing Rural Housing
schemes to provide financial support to the poor people for construction of
house. But while enquiring about any allotment to any house to any family, it
was found that only two houses in all three villages are covered under these
schemes. Most of the houses are in dilapidated condition.
6.
Failure of Kutia Kondh Development Agency (KKDA)
This is a
special agency functioning since 1986 with central assistance to carry out
welfare programme for Kutia Kondh tribes.
When the team visited KKDA office, the team found absence of Rama ch.
Behera, Project Officer and interacted with Durga Madhab Rath, senior clerk to
know about details of programme undertaken by KKDA for socio-economic
development of tribals. He said that only 16 villagers are covered under KKDA.
There are three types of programme with cent percent central assistance
undertaken for development of Kutia Kondh.
These are Conservation-cum-
Development Plan, Special Central Assistance and fund allocated under article
275 of Indian constitution. Activities
undertaken for tribals are health programme, promotion of agriculture and
Horticulture, irrigation, soil conservation, drinking water, road connectivity,
infrastructure development, Girls’ Education etc. The fund allocated under KKDA
in the last three years is as follows.
( Rs in lakhs)
|
Programme
|
Year-2013-14
|
Year-2014-15
|
Year-2016-16
|
|
Special
Central Assistance
|
11.55
|
8.40
|
10.60
|
|
Conservation-cum-
Development Plan
|
76.50
|
95.21
|
133.00
|
|
Fund
allocated under article 275
|
20.00
|
13.98
|
14.45
|
It was also observed
that though this Agency is functioning
since last 30 years, most of Kutia Kondh villages are not covered under KKDA. Total
number of Kutia Kondh dominated 21 villages of Trilochan Pur (17), Lanjigarh
(2) and Chhatra Pur (2) Panchayats are not covered under Kutia Kondh Development Agency. In 2004, Sri Saswat Mishra, then Collector of
Kalahandi had sent a letter No. 652/ITDA dated 7.8.2004 to State Govt. recommending for reorganisation of the area of
Kutia Kondha Development Agency, Lanjigarh and inclusion of 21 villages of
Kutia Kondh tribe to be covered under the programme. On 5.5.2005, the Commissioner-um-Secretary,
Department of SC and ST development had sent a letter to Director, SCSTRTI to
produce the feasibility report about the proposal. In 2010, Sri R.S. Gopalan, Collector, Kalahandi
had sent a letter to State Govt. for extension of geographical coverage of area
of Kutia Kondh to 21 villages. But till yet, the State Govt. has not taken any
steps to include Kutia Kondh villages under KKDA. Most of the villages have
been left out from development programme.
Analysis of problem and Recommendations
1.
Kutia Kondh is the most
vulnerable primitive tribal groups residing in Niyamagiri Hill in Kalahandi
district. They are very traditional and practising podu cultivation for
survival. They have their own culture, religious belief, tradition and food
habit. They have remained neglected by successive Govt. and isolated from
development process. Though a number of development projects have been
undertaken for them, it has no way helped in socio-economic development of
tribals due to corruption, misappropriation of fund meant for them, lack of
proper planning etc.
2.
It was observed that not a
single welfare or food security programme is successfully implemented in these
villages. Though they are entitled to get Antodaya Card ad 35 kg of rice per
month, many Kutia Kondh tribal families have been denied it. Even the rice allotted them are not
sufficient to satisfy their food requirements in a month. Lack of resources,
they neither go for cultivation nor purchase vegetable from market for
household consumption. They use to take rice and leaves only as household
consumption. Besides that they use to take mango kernel and trunk of Salap tree as food at the time of acute food
crisis.
3.
NREGA has completely failed to
provide employment to the tribals.
During visit, the team observed that nobody has got work under NREGA. No
labour intensive work is undertaken under NREGA in these villages for years
together.
4.
ICDS which is the most
important food security programme with
mandate to provide nutritious food to
the children has disastrously
failed to check malnutrition
among Kutia Kondh Tribals due to
huge corruption, irregularities in distribution of food, negligence of ICDS officials, lack of monitoring etc. The Team got astonished that Anganwadi centre
gets closed for months together. No child has been immunised.
5.
There are no medical facilities
available for the Kutia Kondh tribe. Primary Health centre is located 20 kms away
from Kutia Kondh villages.
6.
There is no agriculture and
horticulture development in the area. The tribals are following traditional
method of podu cultivation and growing some minor millet.
7.
Kutia Kondh Development
Authority has failed miserably to bring any changes in life ad livelihood of
the tribals. Though this agency is
functioning since last 30 years, it has not been able to cover all Kutia Kondh villages
due to callous attitude of state administration and lack of administrative
seriousness. Though District
administration has recommended inclusion of 21 Kutia Kondh dominated villages
under KKDA since 2004, the state administration is sitting on files till yet.
Recommendations
1.
All the Kutia Kondh families
should be allocated 35 kg rice under Antodaya Anna Yojana.
2.
The state Govt. should carry
out special survey to find out requirement of food-grains of each tribal family
and accordingly allocate rice and other items
to them in order to save them from hunger.
3.
ICDS project should be
streamlined with functional of Angawadi centre and providing all services under
the project. There must be close monitoring of these activities by independent
monitoring body at district level.
4.
Stern action must be taken
against the officials responsible for non-function of Anganwadi centre and
non-distribution of food-grains to the beneficiaries and misappropriation of
fund.
5.
Each pregnant and lactating
woman should be paid Rs. 5000.00 timely under Mamata Yojana. The women who have
not received Rs. 5000.00 for years together should be provided at the earliest.
6.
The State Govt. should provide
200 days of work under NREGA at the earliest. Action must be taken against
Sarapanch and Block officials for having failed to carry out NREGA work
in these villages
7.
As per proposal of district
administration Kalahandi, all the villages of Kutia Kondh should come under
KKDA and extensive welfare programme like agriculture and horticulture
development work should be undertaken on war-footing way.
8.
The Team came across a number
of children suffering from minor ailments which requires urgent treatment. Due
to absence of road connectivity,
they could not come to hospital. So there must be mobile health team to visit to these villages in every two to
three days to render medical services.
9.
As road connectivity is the
biggest problem, the district administration should take steps to ensure
construction of road as quick as possible.
10.
The District administration
must take special care to provide primary education to
their children on line of Right to Education Act.
