The flourishing aquaculture along the coastline and the riverbeds of Krishna and the thriving trade in Vannamei provide employment to a significant number of tribal people belonging to one of the poorest districts, Rayagada, in Odisha district.
The forest dwellers, Savara and Kondh tribes of the district, are seen engaging themselves in feeding and farming the Vannamei in Krishna and Guntur districts. “Many people from our district have migrated to cities — Bengaluru and others. We have found work in the aqua industry in the two districts. We work here for three months continuously and leave for our village and come back after a few days of break,” said Balaji Nimmala belonging to the Savara tribe and hailing from Padmapur village in Rayagada district.
Suresh Kondh is one of the dozen colleagues of Mr. Balaji at an aqua pond in the Repalle area in Guntur district.
“We are being paid ₹6,000 per month excluding accommodation and food. We earn a fair package of ₹18,000 in three months,” Mr. Suresh Kondh told The Hindu . He hails from Gudari town in Rayagada district.
The tribals said they normally work in the paddy fields and brick kilns in their native place but prefer to migrate to the neighbouring States for better income. Many Savara and Kondh tribals were trained by the locals in the Vannamei cultivation and they migrate here along with their family members.
Young boys from the district also prefer to work as porters of feed, loading the yield and packaging. “Andhra Pradesh is close to our area and thus it became our destination. Vannamei cultivation is a round-the-year affair. We are assured of work whenever we come in any season,” said several Savara tribal youth.
