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Tribals lament erosion of age-old systems

KORAPUT: “We are considered underdeveloped by the government and other agencies working in tribal districts like Koraput. But, we consider ourselves to have strayed from our original development line because of improper intervention of developmental agencies, including the government,” says Surendra Gantha, a tribal leader from Mahadeiput panchayat in Koraput block.

He was speaking at a workshop organised by Agragamee, a leading NGO from Kashipur in Rayagada district, here on Friday.

“While the effort to develop the tribal community is bringing in huge funds, it is the implementing agencies and officials who are benefiting the most than the common man at the grassroots level because people in rural areas have remained ignorant of most of the welfare schemes, he said.

“Considering the indigenous people ignorant and backward, many schemes have been launched incorporating modern practices and methods. In the process, the age-old systems of respective communities being passed on from one generation to the other have been dumped,” he lamented. “Such interventions have crippled the tribal society further, leaving the youth in the lurch,” Madan Kirsani, another tribal youth from Machra village said.

Palli sabha and gram sabha were a myth in major parts of the district in the absence of involvement of villagers in the process, he added.

“The village meetings conducted in the traditional system were well attended as the scope of involving everyone in decision making process is guaranteed,” K.C. Panigrahy, Director of Tribal Museum, said.

Emphasising the need for knowing the real needs and aspirations of the people for bringing development in the region, he said there was much to learn from the hill tribes than to teach.

A retired economics professor Jagabandhu Samal and a retired Oriya lecturer Kumarmani Sahu reviewed some of the books published by the Agragamee, which were displayed at the book exhibition organised at the venue. Coordinator of Agragamee Vidya Das presided over the meeting.

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