More often
we blame indigenous communities and forest dwellers for destroying the nature. Are they struggling to survive or enjoying the life? Are they agent or victim of environmental
God has blessed Koraput-Rayagada belt of Odisha with natural
beauty –mesmerizing view of springs, waterfalls,
forest, colorful birds, clouds coming down to touch the earth –a heaven for urban people, like me.
The area
is inhabited by ‘Kondh’, an indigenous community in India, known as Acumen in Agriculture. They are subsistent farmers with full of
local wisdom and Indigenous Traditional Agriculture Knowledge (ITAK). They are now
more involved in cutting and selling wood than farming.
I followed
them to understand their livelihoods. They are also my potential clients as
my rural development company ‘SAI-Sustainable Agro (http://sustainableagroinc.com/) is
working in this region with its innovative one
acre model through which one family get assured of earning US$1000 annually
from 1 acre barren land.
As the
local train reached Rauli- a small station, indigenous people thronged with
bundles of firewood. They all were going
to Tikri, nearest township to sell the wood. It was haat day– weekly market
there. As the journey was for another
hour, I started talking to them. What I learned from women like Takiri and
Baidi that their agriculture is ruined. Lack of rain at the beginning of
cropping season and heavy rain afterwards washed away their crop.
Many of the males have migrated and women are bearing the brunt – they
have to feed the remaining family members, old aged and young children. As cutting of standing trees is
banned, they axed the trees few days before and wait. Then, they go to forest
very early in morning, cut the dried tree, catch the train and come to weekly
market. It’s a full day exercise, for which they hardly get Rs.80-100 (US$1.5)
for a bundle.
They do
not have any asset left at home, whatever little left, they are selling. I
could see people carrying poultry and utensils. They know that cutting forest
trees is harmful, but they do not have any choice.
They are trapped in downward poverty spiral - exploiting the nature
to survive, the exploitation of nature further impoverishes them, making survival
more difficult.
They do not see any way out.
Jitendra Sinha
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