ISSN 0970-8669 Review

Kandhamal is one of the centrally located Districts in Block, Kandha, Kandha Gouda, of Odisha. It lies between 83030’ to 84035’ Saura, Gond in Phiringia Block, Kandha, Gond, longitude and between 19034’ to 20034’latitude. Kandha Gouda in G.Udayagiri Block, Kandha, It is surrounded by District in north, Kandha Gouda in Khajuripada Block, Kandha, in south, District in Gond in Kotagarh Block, Kandha, Gond, the east and in the west. It has Kandha Gouda in K.Nuagam Block, Kandha, an area of 8021 sq.kms out of which the forest Kandha Gouda, Korua, Kulis in Block, area is 5000 sq.kms. and has a population of Kandha, Gond, Saura in Block, Kandha, 6,48,000 out of which 3,23,000 are males and Kandha Gouda, Gond, Amanatya in 3,25,000 are females. The Scheduled Tribe Block, Kandha and Gond in Tumudibandha population of the district is 3, 36,809, it accounts Block. Kandha tribe is widely inhabiting in almost 51.96% of the total population of the district as all Blocks of . per 2001 census.

Developments and Changes Among the Kandhas of Kandhamal

Chitaranjan Mishra

Kandhamal is thickly populated by the Kandhas are believed to be of Dravidian Tribal peoples. The tribals add a new feather to origin, evidently taken as Proto-Astroloid race the culture of Kandhamal and always treated as admixture with Mongoloid elements. They are the an inseparable part of its civilization and culture. earliest settlers among the present inhabitants of Out of 62 tribes notified as Scheduled Tribes for the District. So, they are called Adivasis (Earliest the state of Odisha, as many as nine major tribes settlers), Vanavasis (Forest dwellers), Banajatis are found in Kandhamal District. They are (Castes of the forest), Girijans (inhabitants of the Kandha, Kandha Gouda, Gond, Amanatya, hills), Paharis (hill dwellers), Adimjatis Shabara, Saura, Lodha, Kuli and Korua. Tribal (Aborigines), Adiprajas (Earliest citizens) and people are scattered throughout the Kandhamal constitutionally they are known as Anusuchit District. We find Kandha, Gond and Amanatya Janajatis or Scheduled Tribes in . Scholars in Balliguda Block, Kandha, Kandha Gouda in broadly classified Kandhs in to three sub-tribes, Chakapad Block, Kanda, Gond, Shabara, Lodha they are Kutia Kandh, Dangaria Kandh and Desia

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Kandh. Dangaria Kandh and Kutia Kandh inhabit other sub groups practiced shifting cultivation. in Kandhamal District. Kutia Kandhs are found Most of them are marginal farmers or landless in Belghar hill regions of Tumudibandha Block and persons. So they are poor and come under the in some Gram Panchayats of Kotagarh Block. below poverty line. Attempts and adequate steps Desia Kandhs are more developed than that of have been taken for socio-economic development the Kutias and settled in the foot hills of the plains of the Tribes in post independence period. It of all over the district. envisages a shift in the principles from ‘isolationism’ to ‘assimilation’ in to the mainstream ORIGIN OF THE WORD KANDHA:- of the national culture. Attempts made for their There is a differential opinion among the development can be discussed under two heads scholars about the origin of the word Kandha. such as: (a)Development Intervention, According to Capt. Macpherson, word Kandha (b) Protective Legislation. is derived from the Telugu word Konda, which PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION AND means a hill or from Odia word Kanda, means a bow. But Sashibhusan Thiady did not agree with CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS: Capt. Macpherson, he argued that Kandha In our Constitution several provisions are people used a special dialect known as ‘Kui’. made to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled They never used Telugu as their language. He Tribes. A few of them are mentioned here. further stated that, Kandhas as a whole were a militant race and they always have a sword in their a. Article15: Prohibition of discrimination on hand. In Odia sword is called ‘Khanda’. From grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place the word Khanda the world Kandha is derived. of birth. The statement of Sashibhusan Thiady is also rejected by some scholars. I also not agree with b. Article16: Equality of opportunity in matters him, as I am working in Kandhamal District since of public employment. 1992 and observed that Kandhas of this District c. Article16(4): Reservation of appointment used ‘Bow and Arrow with an Axe” (in Odia these are known as Kanda, Sara and Tangi) as their or posts in favour of backward class citizens. racial weapon in all socio-cultural functions, like d. Article17: Abolition of untouchability. marriage ceremony, processions of different festivals etc. They also have a great respect for e. Article19(5): Protection of certain rights these weapons. So, I believe that the word regarding freedom of speech, etc. Kandha derived from the Odia word ‘Kanda’, meaning bow. f. Article 29: Cultural and educational rights- protection of interest of minorities. Kandha Tribe is in congruence with the list of backward tribes as they live in the relative g. Article 46: Directive Principles of State isolation of hills and the forests with a low level of Policy- promotion of education and techno-economic development and low literacy economic interest of Scheduled Castes and level. Desia Kandhas are settled agriculturists, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

JANUARY - 2019 33 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review h. Article 164: Appointment of a Minister in As per these constitutional provisions charge of Tribal Welfare in the states of Bihar, adopted the reservation Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. policy in posts and services for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes vide Resolution i. Article 275: Grants from the Union to No.417, dtd.29.04.53 of Home Department. And certain states for the purpose of promoting reservation facility has provided for promotional the welfare of the Scheduled Tribes and appointment in the year 1973 vide Resolution raising the level of administration of the No.22635 dtd.29.08.73 of T.&R.W. scheduled areas in the state. Department. Again Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (for SCs and j. Article 330: Reservation of seats for STs) Act 1975 (Orissa Act 38 of 1975) came in Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in to force from 03.02.1984 in process of changes the house of the people. (Amendments) in three distinct stages for proper implementation. As a result the vacancies reserved k. Article 332: Reservation of seats for for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in shall not be filled up by candidates not belonging the Legislative Assemblies of the States. to the SC and ST category. Reservation facilities l. Article 335: Claims of Scheduled Castes in promotional appointment for the SC and ST and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts. candidates are categorized under Section, 10, 11 and 12 of the Reservation Act. m. Article 338: Appointment of special officer for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT etc. Appointment of a National Commission PROGRAMME IN FIVE YEAR PLANS: for the Scheduled Tribes by the President of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the main India. architect of the five year plans had given emphasis on Tribal Development Policies. The tribes should n. Article 339: Control of the Union over the enjoy the advantages of modern medicine, administration of scheduled areas and education, agriculture and economic growth. He welfare of Scheduled Tribes. laid the foundation of such development o. Article 366 (25): Definition of Scheduled programmes in the First Five Year Plan (1951- Tribes. 56). The community development programme in Tribal areas was supplemented initially in 1954 p. Article 244 (1): Administration of by some 43 special multipurpose tribal Scheduled areas and Tribal areas. Fifth development projects and by introducing the Schedule of the Constitution. Governor of concept of Tribal Development (TD) Blocks in each state having scheduled area is required the Second Five Year Plan (1956-61). In the to submit a report to the President annually Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74) aimed at regarding administration of such areas in the supplementing the diet of Tribal infants to save state. them from malnutrition through the Crash Special

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Nutrition Programmes and Crash Employment discrimination and to put to an end to their poverty. Programmes. In the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974- In response, the UN has taken some decisive 79) the areas having a tribal population of 50% steps for redressal of crises in the areas of human or more are underlined as the Tribal Sub-Plan rights, environment, development, education, and Areas (TSP) for special care. Formation of the health under the ‘declaration of the international Large Agricultural Multipurpose Societies decade of the world’s indigenous people’. World (LAMPS), Tribal Development Corporations Health Organization has taken some decisive steps (TDC), Tribal Cooperative Marketing to reduce the higher rates of infant mortality, lower Development Federation of India Limited life expectancy and more cases of chronic illness (TRIFED) in 1987 were done. During Seventh among the tribal people than that of the non-tribal Five Year Plan, the administration of Tribal people. Development was streamlined with the emergence of the Integrated Tribal Development There are certain Tribal Communities, Projects (ITDPs), as the units of administration who have very stagnant population; pre agricultural in the Tribal Sub Plan areas. In Odisha Integrated level of technology and a very low level of literacy Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) are (below 5%) are placed under a special category working, headed by a Project Administrator. In known as Primitive Tribal Groups. Seventy five the Sixth Five Year Plan the excluded Tribal such Tribes are indentified in the entire country. Pockets from ITDPs were placed under Modified Out of which 13 such Tribal Groups are found in Area Development Approach (MADA), with the Odisha. They are Bonda, Chuktia Bhunjia, following goals (a) Raising the productivity levels Didayi, Dongoria Kondh, Hill Kharia, Mankidia, in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, Birhor, Juanga, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saura, forestry, cottage industry etc., (b) Developing Lodha, Paudi Bhuyan and Soura. Kutia Kanda human resources and upgrading education, is the only PTG found in Kandhamal District. (c) Development of adequate infrastructure, There are 17 Micro projects set up in Odisha for (d) Elimination of exploitation of Tribals in the field effective implementation and all round of the alienation of lands, money lending, debt, development of these 13 PTGs. Kutia Kandha bondage, trade, excise, forests etc. to create an Development Agency (KKDA), a Micro Project economic impact on the Tribes which will enable was set up in Belghar of Tumudibandha Block of a targeted numbers of families in the TSP area to Kandhamal District in the year 1978-80. A long cross the poverty line. (working group Records, term “Conservation-cum-Development (CCD) 1980-85:15). The Ninth Five Year Plan (1997- Plan” for each PTG will be prepared by the State 2002) focused on the issues of social and Governments as prescribed by the Ministry of economic empowerment as well as social justice. Tribal Affairs for a period of five years and will be submitted to the said Ministry. There are about 300 million indigenous people living in over 70 countries. International The investment towards Tribal Tribal community has been trying to draw the Development Programmes flow from four attention of the international community to come sources, (a) State Plan, (b) Central Ministry, together and save them from injustice, social (c) Special Central Assistance (SCA) and

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(d) Institutional Finance. As per the fifth Schedule works executed by the contractors or elected of the Constitution each state having Scheduled bodies unexpectedly increased. This is the result areas has to establish a Tribal Advisory Council, of the participatory mobilization and awareness headed by the Chief Minister of the State generated by some NGOs. NGOs tried their level concerned to advise and through suggestions for best to involve themselves in the socio-economic welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes. development programmes/plans/schemes of the Legislations and regulations have been passed by government as well as their independent the states to ensure that the tribal land does not programmes of plans for the upliftment of the Tribal pass to the non-tribal, illegally and fraudulently. people.

Many Tribal Development Plans, Tribal Development means an extra or programmes and Schemes have been special care being taken while development plan/ implemented by the Voluntary Organizations scheme/programmes undertaken by the state/ (VOs) and Non-Government Organizations national/ international agents. It has been examined (NGOs) in tribal areas. More than 48 NGOs have that the establishment of big industries or large- been working in Kandhamal District for upliftment scale industries and construction of big dams in of Tribal people in the areas of ITDA , the past did not benefit the local tribes significantly. ITDA, Phulbani and in a Micro Project KKDA, Instead, the small scale welfare schemes which Belghar, Tumudibandha. NGOs have been are “non-industrial but pro-local” such as: playing a vital role in participatory mobilization pertaining to family welfare, capacity building, and awareness generation among the tribes to income generation, health, education and social overcome the difficulties in organizing and justice have made a significant contribution in motivating the poor towards small family norms, improving the overall condition of the tribe. proper child care, sanitation, functional literacy IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT etc. They are providing opportunities for non PROGRAMMES ON TRIBES: formal education through night schools and high schools. NGOs are providing safe drinking water Life with new technology, huge money and training to local artisans, how to make better and matter, large buildings, big cities and towns, traditional handicraft products from available local vast knowledge on science and technology is raw materials and also making necessary regarded as the most developed civilization by arrangements for proper marketing of these the western people. These things distinguish one products. Locally available forest products and society from other who is not like it. Our agricultural products are collected by the NGOs organization are involved in developing our diverse from the tribal people in real market price and traditional and rural societies in the model of save them from exploitation from Mahajans. western civilization. This led ultimately to the Technical training is also given to suitable tribal irreconcilable division of mankind in to the subject youths for self employment. Tribal women are and the object (traditional rural societies). organized under various income generating Industrial economy based on open system of activities. In the passage of time demand for market (Globalization) and the participatory minimum wages and social audit of community political democracy constituted the mainstream

36 JANUARY - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 of modern India. Tribal society also influenced and coaching will be given for by it and changes are noticed in their socio, taking all India Examinations like IIT, JEE and economic, political, religious and cultural spheres. Pre-Medical test. In Kandhamal District we found As a result Kondhs of Kandhamal District are 1573 number of Primary Schools, 489 Middle now staying with the non-tribal peoples in villages English Schools, 17 General Colleges, 78 High and towns in pucca RCC buildings by giving up Schools, 1 Sanskrit Colleges, 3 Training Schools, their habit of isolation. Modern means of 2 Vocational Colleges, 1 Nursing School, 1 communication reached at their foot step. Radios, Forest Training School, 2 Engineering Colleges, television, tape recorder, CD, DVD, Motorcycle 1 Central School, 1 Ekalavya Model School, 1 etc. are widely used by the Kondhs. Educated Kendriya Navodaya Vidyalaya etc. with a Kondhas have been employed in good jobs by number of hostel facilities in different residential the reservation facility provided to them. They like schools imparting education to tribal and non- to wear modern dresses and ornaments by tribal students. Odisha Government finalized the abandoning their traditional dress and ornaments. Orissa Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Tattooing is totally given up by the tribes of Education Rule, 2010 on 27.09.2010, and has Kandhamal. Overall the living standard and style decided to introduce Tribal Dialects in schools to of Kondhs is improving day by day. check dropout rates. A decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on The Kandh boys and girls are regularly 20.10.2010 that the State Government will going to schools and colleges. Tribal parents introduce vocational education in 100 Residential became more conscious to provide proper Tribal Schools across the state to increase education to their children. Currently Odisha state employment opportunities for tribal students. has 11 Ekalabya Model Residential Schools, 8 Literacy rate of Scheduled Tribes is 27.49% Higher Secondary Schools, 155 High Schools against 37.03% of total population of the district (co-education), 143 Girls High Schools, 109 as per 1991 census. In 2001 census it is increased Ashram Schools, 142 Residential Sevashram up to 44.47% against 52.68% of total population Schools and 1026 Sevashram Schools meant of the District. exclusively for tribal students. There are 1548 Primary Schools and 646 Hostels in KBK In the sphere of agriculture, Kondhs of Districts, besides another 1003 Girls Hostel for Kandhamal District began to use chemical Tribals located in rural areas. It is also decided fertilizer, pesticides, scientifically developed high by the present Government that tribal students yielding seeds, modern equipments by giving up from the remotest tribal villages will be put in their traditional system of cultivation. Most of the hostels located in cities like Bhubaneswar, farmers became settled agriculturists. Now-a- , , , and days practice of shifting cultivation (podu) is . They will be enrolled in English reduced. Agricultural modern equipments are Medium Schools and Central Schools and provided by the Government with a very low price supported by the State Government right from or marginal price (subsidized price). Government Class-I to X, 100 meritorious students from also provided rice at the rate of Rs.1/- per K.G. among these will be put in good hostels in to the below poverty line (BPL) families. As a

JANUARY - 2019 37 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review result, shortage of food and the mortality rate due serpentine queue at pooling booths to cast their to scarcity of food is reduced. votes during different elections. In Kandhamal District all three Assembly constitutional seats The tribals are animists and polytheists named Phulbani, Baliguda and G.Udayagiri are and have a strong faith on supernatural powers. reserved for Tribal candidates in response to their They worshipped earth goddess “Dharani Penu”, demands. The most important point is that the mountain God “Saru Penu”, river “Siru Devta” district has been named after the Kandha tribe as or “Jal Devta” and other natural elements etc. “Kandhamal” in 1994 by the then Chief Minister Tribal gods and goddesses were worshipped by Biju Patnaik. a priest of their own known as “Jhankar”, “Dehuri” or “Jani”. In most of their rituals they The Tribal culture has also undergone a used to sacrifice animals and local wine prepared large change with the changing phenomena of from Mahula. Now-a-days they gave up some Kandhamal District. Their dress, ornament, food bad practices like human sacrifice and other blind habit, dance, song (folklore), language etc. are beliefs/superstitions etc. Some Kondhas have greatly influenced by the Non-tribes residing with been converted to Christianity and abandoned them. It is a great threat to their original tribal their own tribal beliefs. Being influenced by the culture. Hindu rituals most of the Kondha families used to worship Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and NEW CHALLENGES FACED BY THE Hindu priests are engaged for different tribal AGENCIES: ceremonies like marriage ceremony, name giving a. Planning process in India has failed to ceremony etc. According to the 2001 census narrow the disparity between the Tribal and different religious communities population of Non-tribal population. Kandhamal District is as follows: 5,27,757 Hindus, 2,253 Muslims, 1,17,950 Christians, 23 b. Some of them tried to hide the gap between , 14 Buddhists, 20 Jains etc. It is seen that appearance and reality. the Tribes of Kandhamal actively participated in Hindu fairs and festivals. c. Instead of teaching the art of fishing, some agencies feed them fish for today only so Introduction of Panchayatiraj system has that a nature of greater dependency given a golden opportunity to tribal people to developed among some tribal people. participate in modern political system of the state at the grassroot level. Above 50% seats of d. Tribal development programme needs a Panchayats have been reserved for the Scheduled balance between felt needs and real needs. Tribes at all levels through an Act passed by the e. A two way learning process is highly Parliament of India. In Odisha Legislative essential in which tribes should be educated Assembly 32 numbers of seats have been reserved by the development agencies and the for Scheduled Tribe candidates. It is found that a agencies should have the knowledge of tribal large number of tribal voters waiting in a language and culture.

38 JANUARY - 2019 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 f. Attempts should be taken to minimize the 4. Tiady, Sashibhusan- “Girijhankar”, gap between the policy of the Government Kandhamal-2004, P-85. and its implementation. 5. Rath, Raghunath, “The Kandhas and Kandhamal”, Studies in History and Culture, g. Symptoms of proper attitude and approach Bhubaneswar-2010, P-31. for implementation of development policies 6. Dr. Tara Dutt, “Tribal Development in India among the implementing agencies are (Orissa)”-2001, New Delhi, PP-25-29. lacking. 7. Nayak, R.C.- Reservation Act, An Introspection, Bhubaneswar, PP-30-34. h. Interior pockets of tribal districts are 8. Nayak, R.C.- Reservation Act, An remaining far away from these development Introspection, Bhubaneswar, PP-35. programmes due to lack of physical 9. Rath, G.C.- “Tribal Development in India”- communication (roadways). 2006, New Delhi, PP-16-17. 10. Rath, G.C.- “Tribal Development in India”- Though the development is very slow but 2006, New Delhi, P-14. the tribes achieved a lot by all these plans, schemes 11. Ota, A.B.- “Adivasi”- Vol-47, No.1 & 2, June and programmes. In other side of this to December, ST/SC Training and Research development, scholars found that a number of Institute, Bhubaneswar. original tribal customs, traditions, faiths, beliefs 12. Dr. Tara Dutt, “Tribal Development in India are disappeared from the Tribal society. Even if (Orissa)”, Bhubaneswar, PP-111-116. their language Kui is about to die. Most of the 13. Ibid. urban Kandhas do not know Kui, their own 14. Rath, G.C.- “Tribal Development in India”- language. It is rightly said by the scholars that 2006, New Delhi, PP-16-17. development schemes undertaken for tribal 15. Adhikari, A.K.- “The Tribal Situation in India”- welfare are a threat to their age-old culture. 2009, New Delhi, PP-2-3. Though the Kondhas are in difficulties to adjust 16. District Statistical Hand Book, Kandhamal- themselves in the changing environments yet with 2007. this process of change and globalization they are 17. The Telegraph, Dt.15.09.2010, P-15. empowered and getting awakened. 18. The Telegraph, Dt.15.09.2010, P-14. References: 19. The Samaj, Dt.21.04.2006, P-6. 20. Rath, Raghunath, “The Kandhas and 1. District Statistical Hand Book, Kandhamal- Kandhamal”, Studies in History and Culture - 2007. Bhubaneswar 2010, P-38. 2. Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes of Orissa, Data Hand Book-2006, ST/SC Training and Research Institute, Bhubaneswar. 3. Rath, Raghunath. “The Kandhas and Kandhamal”, Studies in History and Culture, Chitaranjan Mishra, Lecturer in History, Panchayat Bhubaneswar-2010, PP-31-38. College, Phiringia, Dist: Kandhamal.

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