Adivasi - v9_No.4

Abstract

Shri P. Shia Ao, Chairman of the Study Team on Tribal Development, Planning Commission, paid a visit to the State in two phases. In the first sojourn he saw tribal life and studied the problems in Phulbani, Ganjam and other coastal districts. In the second trip he visit Koraput, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Sundargarh districts. His intelligent appraisal of tribal problems will find place in his report which may be compiled by him in due course. However, in course of itineraries, he met officials, non-official social workers and others who have studied the tribal problems. He visualised the multiple array of tribal life in the state. Orissa provides a varitable store house of tribals in different statges of social, cultural and eco-a e development. Shri Shilu Ao met the Hill Bonda women who still continue to be virtually naked, cherishing the legendary curse of Sita ordaining them to remain as such, because they jeerd at her nudity while taking bath. He met the Dangaria Kandhas, who are proud of their traditions and well-built in stature. They are now coming with their produce to the Government Purchase-Sale Centre at Chatikana discarding middleman and petty traders. Shri Shilu Aa also learnt about the Goti or boun-ded labour system in Laxmipur area of Koraput, which continues as a slur in the modern society. Shri Shilu Ao was cautious in expressing much before he submits his report to Government of India. Nevertheless lie as a tribal leader himself, and wholly devoted to his task, got enough material to brood over the prospects for development of the tribes in right lines. Some of the tribal problems continue to bewilder our leaders for the last two decades after independence. Shri Shilu Ao comes from Nagaland where there are 80,000 school-going children in a population of 4 lakhs. He is a tribal who had all the benefits of modern education before 35 years. He appreciated the residential schools for tribals run by the State Government. He could not find the programme in Tribal Development Bloc suited to the felt needs of the tribals. Shri Shilu Ao appreciated the Purchase-Sale Scheme lunched among backward tribals to remedy the evils of chronic indebtedness and exploitation by middlemen. Shri Shilu Ao visited Tribal Research Bureau and had a discussion with the research staff. He was given an idea of the research projects which have been completed and have brought to light most of the intricate tribal problems of the State. Shri Shilu Ao appreciated the role of Tribal Research Bureau in assisting the administration for planning appropriate measures on scientific lines for the solution of outstanding tribal problems. Shri Shilu Ao sought the help of Tribal Research Bureau to place before him the knotty tribal problems and this gesture of goodwill was duly reciprocated by the Officers of the Bureau. It is hoped that the recommendations of Shilu Ao Committee on Tribal Development will be acted upon to develop the tribals in the country as a whole and our State in particular. The `Adibasi' while fully realizing the formidable task before the Committee anticipate a good speed to the Committee so that the difficulties in tribal areas, and the hardship of the tribals could be redressed within the next decade.