Tribal group to intensify protest

News from Statesman
PHULBANI, Oct. 29: The Kui Samaj Samanya Samiti, a tribal group of Kandhamal district has decided to intensify its agitation against moves made by the non-tribal population to avail of benefits meant for the tribal population.A meeting was held at G Udayagiri recently, where about 150 tribal leaders participated. The meeting also resolved to strengthen the organisation for the ‘struggle ahead.’

Elections would be held and a 11-member committee would move around Phulbani, Balliguda and G Udayagiri, according to Mr Sudarshan Konhar, a tribal leader.The Samiti expressed its concern over some specific cases like the issuance of fake cast certificates which is going on in the district in connivance with some revenue officials. A huge rally would be held at Balliguda and Nuapadar.

The Samiti has chalked out a comprehensive strategy to hold a massive rally at Nuapadar village during the celebration of Kali Puja to prevent the entry of the local minister Mr Padmanab Behera to his native village, according to Mr Konhar.It may be noted that in the wake of SC and ST unrest in the district, the administration had clarified that the Kui speaking non-tribals would not be treated as ST. The ST/SC community list would also not be changed, according to the administration in an effort to restore peace in the area and avert an ethnic strife. But the tribals continue to adopt an aggressive stand as they are highly suspicious of the activities of Mr Behera and MP Mr R K Nayak.
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Poor students get cycles

Statesman News Service

PHULBANI, Oct. 25: World vision, an international humanitarian organisation has recently distributed 660 bicycles, worth Rs 13 lakh to poor ST and SC students through its Area Development Project (ADP), Daringbadi.
The economically backward students, belonging to 11 gram panchayats in the Daringbadi block, have been greatly benefited by the education promotion scheme of the ADP, Mr Mikhael Pradhan, Manager, ADP, world Vision said.
The bicycles were distributed thorough six centres in the block in which Mr BK Mohapatra, sub collector, Balliguda, Mr Junus Pradhan, chairman, Daringbadi block and tahsildar, Daringbadi, were present as guests.
On receiving the cycles, the guardians have expressed their gratitude to the authorities of World vision. It has distributed about 1,400 cycles in the past three years. n sns

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Flood: State seeks more

Friday October 26 2007 03:12 IST
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has demanded Rs 1,039.53 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) for relief and immediate restoration measures necessitated due to the series of floods during the year.

A nine-member Central team headed by joint secretary in the Union Home Ministry Naveen Burma reached here on Thursday to assess the damage. The State experienced floods in four phases because of a record number of 10 depressions and low pressures.

As many as 20 districts have been hit, some of which experienced floods in different spells. While Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj were flooded in all the spells, Balasore was hit thrice. Ganjam, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Khurda and Sambalpur experienced floods in two phases.

During August and September, Kharif crop on 1,97,632 hectares was fully damaged and further crops could not be raised. Besides, 76,902 houses were damaged.

The memorandum observed that as the provisions under the Calamity Relief Fund do not take care of this category of affected population, a mechanism would have to be evolved for restoration of livelihood of families depending on farming.

The State Government has underscored the need for construction of pucca houses which can withstand frequent flooding.

It has sought an assistance of Rs 109.29 crore for crop damage of more than 50 percent. Besides, an assistance of Rs 13.5 crore has been sought for crop loss of more than 50 percent. For repair and restoration of damaged houses, Rs 23.09 crore has been sought.

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Tension continues at Chakapada

BERHAMPUR: Tension between dalits and other castes continues at Chakapada in Kandhamal district since the day of immersion of Durga idols.

Two platoons of armed police are deployed at Chakapada. Kandhamal District Collector Bhavagrahi Mohapatra and Superintendent of Police (SP), Narasimha Bhol reached Chakapada on Wednesday to form a peace committee. After six hours of discussion, a 15-member peace committee was formed. It was alleged illicit liquor trade was the root cause of this recent clash. The SP promised to take action in the matter.

Two groups had entered into altercation on October 21 during the immersion. On Oct 22 during the display of lathi and sword wielding skills by youths at the temple, a dalit youth got injured due to his own mistake.

Subsequently, a group of dalit youths allegedly attacked some houses. This led to clash and tension in the area.

Original Trackback URL: http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/26/stories/2007102657930300.htm

`Kandula Jatara' begins in Kandhamal district

Article from The Hindu
Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: With the onset of `Chaitra' unique `Kandula Jatra' celebrations have started in rural tribal pockets as well as urban areas of Kandhamal district.

Traditional rituals


Usually traditional rituals to welcome Hindu New Year include ritual offerings made from recently harvested cereals.

But in tribal dominated Kandhamal district, the month-long celebration of tribal origin involves offerings made from pulses `Kandula', grown in tribal areas of the State.

According to Bansidhar Panda of Baliguda, people from outside the district, who have settled in the district, have also started to celebrate this unique festival to usher New Year.

The celebrations start with villagers reaching the house of tribal priest `Dehuri' with the beats of drums and cymbals.

The Dehuri then leads the troupe to the home of village chief or the family head of representative of the erstwhile king.

The whole village then turns up at the temple of `Baral Devi' at the village with their traditional arms and offerings made from 'Kandula' in their hands.

People greet each other with colours after the puja and a community feast is held.

Mr Panda said as per traditional beliefs no one in Kandhamal district cooks newly harvested pulses before the `Kandula Jatra' celebrations at the village.

According to him even Muslim families at Baliguda take part in `Kandula Jatra' as since generations they are attached to tribal heritage of the area.

Original Trackback URL : http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/21/stories/2007032115360500.htm

Leopard skin seized

Article from Hindu.
BERHAMPUR: Forest officials seized a leopard skin from a person travelling on a bike near Sorada in Ganjam district. But the man managed to escape from the spot when he found that the forest officials had discovered the leopard skin. It is suspected that he was transporting this animal skin from Daringbadi area in Kandhamal district. The seized leopard skin was more than 3.5 feet in length.

Original Trackback URL : http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102252840300.htm

Leaf cup-and-plate industry to be promoted in a big way

Friday October 19 2007 10:33
IST Express News Service
CUTTACK: A small initiative by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) promises to change hundreds of lives in the remote tribal areas of the State, ensuring good earnings for them by generating substantial employment. And that too by utilising resources that are available in abundance in the region.
The MSME Development Institute here has begun promoting the traditional leaf cup and plate making as a rewarding self-employment option which has great potential for reaping handsome returns.
According to experts, there is a vast market for leaf cups and plates not only in the State but also outside. And if properly made and packaged, the products can also find a market internationally. Being organic and bio-degradable, they can find instant acceptance among the environment- conscious people and their number is constantly growing, they observe.
The leaf products can be as durable and sturdy as their paper and plastic counterparts and be available at cheap prices. Latest advances in technology have made leaf cup and plate making automatic through machines and thus ensuring quality.
Director of the MSME Development Institute Panchanan Dash stated that the KBK region could develop this enterprise into a local industry as the raw materials, primarily leaves of sal and siali, were available in abundance there. What was needed was developing entrepreneurship among the youth of the region.
One entrepreneur can give direct employment to several persons but also open up for scores of others as suppliers of the leaves and twigs. An automated leaf cup and plate making unit would cost between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh.
The MSMEDI in association with the District Rural Development Agencies in the KBK region, NGOs and banks is set to promote the sector in a big way. A six-week entrepreneurship- cum-skill development organisation on the sector was organised by the Institute at Dayanita, ITC, G Udaygiri in Kandhamal district recently. As many as 25 youths, including 15 women, took part in the programme.
Dash said that the trainees, who are interested in setting up their units, would be assisted in project-making for availing of bank loans - the SBI and NGO Samanmwita have already come forward to extend financial assistance under group activity - and also finding markets in the State and country.

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Spice it up with right haldi- Organic turmeric finds space in markets across the world

Article From Telegraph Calcutta.
The haldi plantation in Khandhamal Bhubaneswar,

PRIYA ABRAHAM

July 17: A visitor to the Orissa capital this month spent two hours frantically searching for “organic turmeric”.
Directed to the sales outlet of Orissa Marketing Federation (Omfed), he was disappointed when informed that the outlet had run out of stocks. But finally the precious haldi was traced to a small shop at the back of Ekamra Haat, Bhubaneswar’s equivalent of Dilli Haat, showcasing handicrafts and products made by tribals.

The golden yellow Kandhamal haldi, named after the district where it is produced, is creating ripples in the world of spices. The spice has made its way to shelves across the United States, several countries in Europe, including Germany and Netherlands, besides Japan because of its organic value. It smells just right, lasts longer and only a pinch adds the colour and the flavour to the food. And it is of course devoid of toxic elements and chemicals.
Turmeric is not the only spice grown in Kandhamal and adjoining areas. And all of them retain the special quality. It happened virtually by default because the poor tribals could not afford to buy inorganic, chemical fertilisers , which enhanced the yield but affected the quality. Their farming has been sustained with hard work and local ideas — folklore speak of how tribes would kill a male child and offer its blood to the field so that the crop’s (turmeric) colour matches that of the blood.
In the district, about 12,000 hectare is diverted for turmeric cultivation and dry haldi weighing 10,000 metric tonne is produced every year. Kandhamal haldi is famous for its colour, texture, aroma, flavour and long shelf life.
The curcumic content in it is claimed to be the highest in the country, to be recognised soon by the Union Control of Holland, a certifying agency engaged to certify its purity.
The spices are being marketed by Omfed, Aryan International, New Delhi; Samiter India, Mumbai; ABC International, Bangalore and Aricha Trading, Calcutta. But as the experience in Bhubaneswar shows, most of it gets exported. Till 2003, however, traders from Berhampur continued to purchase dry turmeric from tribals for paltry sums.
However, the idea of organised turmeric farming on Kandhamal terrain stuck Omfed. It started a government-sponsored project called Kandhamal Women’s Organic Turmeric project (KWOTP) in 2003.
Recalling the days, P.G. Dora, the general manager of the centrally-sponsored scheme, said: “Initially, we thought of poultry and fishery. But soon, we realised the potential for turmeric plantation. Each family in the district had at least a field where they grew turmeric. We knew that if we could channelise the whole thing, there would be no stopping. Soon, societies were formed, training imparted, improved varieties of seed were supplied and marketing of the product under the brand Kandhamal haldi started.”
Currently Omfed directly supervises 305 all-women societies that work for the project and the production has leaped form 250 quintal to 2,937 quintals in a span of four years. This apart the product is being processed and packaged to be sold though Omfed’s existing distribution channel (marketing outlets and booths) across the state.
This apart, two other units named Samanwita and Kasam, who have their processing plant where the Omfed turmeric is packed and independently marketed.
“Exporting is no child’s play. We need to be very particular in terms of hygiene, design and packaging. There was an instance when a whole consignment was returned after one packet had a hair inside it,” said Pramod Pattnaik, secretary of Kasam that has 61 societies working under it.
Despite all this, the domestic market seems ignorant about the quality of the product. “Many here do not understand the concept of organic spices. It’s very difficult to explain the difference between the Rs 45 per kg Kandhamal haldi and the Rs 10 per kg haldi available in the market,” said Pattnaik.

Kui tribals up in arms in Kandhamal district

Article from The Hindu
Staff Reporter
BERHAMPUR: Despite promises from the Chief Minister and officials, Kui tribals of Kandhamal district are continuing their agitation, seeking action against persons who instigated dalits of the district to categorise them as tribals.
On Sunday, the district Kui Samaj Coordination Committee organised a tribals’ meeting on the issue at Sarangada of Nuapada block. On Saturday, a similar meeting was organised at Linepada of the Chakapada block. The meetings were part of a series being organised since last month to mobilise tribals throughout the district.
The tribals met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday in Bhubaneswar with a list of four demands. The Chief Minister promised them to look into the demands and urged them to maintain peace. He also added that no non-tribal would be identified as tribal in the district. But the tribal leaders demanded the resignation of State Minister Padmanabh Behera, action against an NGO of Bhubaneswar, and action against MP R.K. Nayak.
Recently, there was tension following a petition filed by an NGO of Bhubaneswar Phulbani Kui Jankalyan Sangh in the Orissa High Court with a plea to identify Pana dalits of Kandhanmal district as Kui tribals in the official records as they speak Kui and perform some tribal rituals.
The Kandhamal district Kui Samaj Coordination Committee alleged that Mr. Behera and Mr. Nayak were behind the attempt.
Lambodar Kanhar, secretary of the committee, said that the attempt of vested interests would have led to violent clashes between the two communities in Kandhamal district like what happened in 1994. “So, we want strict action against these persons,” he said.
Recently, State Revenue Secretary G.V. Sharma and State Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Commissioner Tara Dutt visited the district to bring the situation under control.
They said that the there was no effort by any agency to declare Pana dalits of the district as tribals.

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RTI in KUI Language and Mahasabha in tribal areas (must be in Kandhamal, Phulbani)

Following is a article form OrissaSambad.com
Click on the image to read the article.

Scenery - Kandhamal

Kalinga (Kandhamal) Ghat - Monkey
Raikala Scenery 1 (G Udayagiri, Kandhamal)
Raikala Scenery 2 (G Udayagiri, Kandhamal [ Phulbani ] , Orissa)
Raikala Scenery 3 (G Udayagiri, Kandhamal Phulbani , Orissa) Raikala Scenery 4 (G Udayagiri, Kandhamal Phulbani , Orissa)

Tribal protest continues

Statesman News service
PHULBANI, Oct. 14: Ignoring the appeal of the district administration, the Kui Samaj Samannya Samiti continued to agitate against the alleged move of extending certain tribal facilities to the non-tribals.
Led by Mr Lambodar Kanhar, thousands of tribals organised a rally and a protest meeting at Linepada under the Khajuripada police station yesterday without taking prior permission from the police, official sources said.
At least 3,000 tribals raised slogans against the government and particularly against the local BJD minister Mr Padmanab Behera and the Congress MP Mr Radhakanta Nayak.
Castigating the government in their speeches, the tribal leaders said that a section of the people like Mr Behera and Mr Nayak has started an Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Bhubaneswar and are trying to extend facilities meant for the tribals extended to a section of the non-tribals .
They also demanded that Mr Behera should be removed and stern action should be taken against the Bhubaneswar based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which had raised such a demand.
Police force were deployed in and around Linepada and the superintendent of police Mr N Bhol and the sub collector, Baliguda, Mr BK Mohapatra are closely monitoring the situation.
It may be noted that Linepada and the nearby areas had witnessed an unprecedented violence in the nineties, when the then Biju Patnaik government had failed to tackle a prolonged ethnic clash between the tribals and the non-tribals.
Over the years, the tribals have harboured a feeling that they are being exploited by the non-tribal Scheduled Caste sections.
Recently, the tribals have started regrouping themselves against yet another move by the non-tribals who are claiming certain benefits.
Sensing trouble, the district administration has appealed to the tribals for restraining themselves. However, the rally, indicated that the tribals are in no mood to listen to the administration.