Paharias waiting to extract promises on ST recognition

Convention in January gives hopes to decade-long struggle

Paharias, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, but not a recognised vulnerable group in Odisha, are keen on extracting promises from candidates coming to their villages for campaigning, on their inclusion in the scheduled tribes’ list.

During a decade-long struggle to get recognised as ST, Paharias have met leaders and put forth their demands, but an assurance eludes them.

“Keeping an eye on the coming elections, we called for a convention of Paharias scattered over Nuapada, Bargarh, and Bolangir districts in January this year. The convention resolved to get promises from all political parties on the issue.

In Nuapada district, there are around 60 villages and hamlets inhabited by our community,” said Indra Paharia, the first person to pass class 10 from the community.

Mr. Paharia said unless Paharias were linked to government welfare schemes, they would be no end to chronic hunger.

Forty-year-old Jaladhar Paharia from remote Nangalhat village under Sinapali block knows it better.

“Not long ago we used to collect bamboo from forest and eke out a living by weaving baskets. Now, bamboos could be found in dense forest. We spend two days for collecting bamboo pieces. Sometimes, we have to cross over to Chhatisgarh forest for the raw material,” Mr. Paharia said.

“It is irony that the government does not recognise us as tribals. When we marry off our girls in Chhattisgarh, they become ST. Similarly, when a girl of Chhattisgarh comes to our village after her marriage, she immediately loses her ST tag,” he said.

Many Paharias live in inaccessible villages on Sunabeda plateau. In the united Madhya Pradesh, Paharia community’s caste is called Kamar. In Odisha, people of Kamar caste are known as blacksmith and not ST. Despite recommendations sent by the State government to make Paharias ST, there has been no development.

Padmalochan Verma, a political science lecturer in Boden College, has moved the Supreme Court with a public interest litigation seeking tribal tag for the community. “Cultural and social characteristic of the community leave no doubt that they are a primitive tribal group. They are nomadic. They immediately withdraw deep into jungle if bamboo resource gets thinned on the buffer area of forest,” Mr. Verma said, adding that the level of backwardness could be gauged from the fact that many Paharias still tie drugs around their neck instead of gulping down.

Despite the presence of documentary and empirical evidence to support their genuine claim, Paharia community leaders and activists realise that the number that attracts political parties is not in their favour. Indra Paharia said that candidates would not prefer to trek high forestland to reach the scattered population for votes.