Adivasis show the way to beat the heat

Their huts are made of timber and bamboo which do not trap heat; they do not venture out in the afternoon as most of the heavy work is done either in the morning or evening

Traditional touch:An Adivasi Gond woman extracting castor seeds on a hot afternoon at Khadki in Narnoor mandal in Adilabad district. Photo: S. Harpal Singh

The Adivasis in Adilabad district have always found ways to survive even during the harshest of summers. They are able to tide over the period of torment by just following appropriate lifestyle.

The location of their habitations and their houses actually provide excellent protection from the oppressive heat of the season.

Almost all the villages of aboriginal tribes are nestled in valleys or surrounded by hillocks on three sides thereby blocking hot winds effectively and the huts are made of timber and bamboo which do not trap heat.

“There are no sunstroke deaths among us because we do not venture out during afternoons. All the heavy work is either done in the morning or evening,” stated Atram Pavuga, the Kolam Adivasi headman or Patel of Pataguda Kolamguda in Kerameri mandal as he talked of the lifestyle of the aboriginal tribals.

The women collect water for the day between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. everyday. Those of them who go to work in their fields or collect non-timber forest produce or beedi leaves do so between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The men till their fields between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and invariably return to the village by 10 a.m. The java of jawar gruel is the first thing that they consume by way of food after returning from work.

“Even while going to fields in the evenings, we start from home only after consuming the java,” revealed Pavuga. The gruel takes care of the ill effects of any excessive heat,” the Kolam Patel added.

While the men chat or laze leisurely in the afternoon, women indulge in extraction of seed and kernels of fruits. For example, extracting chironji and castor seeds is the major activity for women in the afternoon in every Adivasi village.

The effect of forest cover depletion nevertheless, has started to bother the aboriginal tribes. “There is definitely a rise in temperature because of the loss of trees,” admitted Pusam Anand Rao, sarpanch of Mallapur village in Indervelli mandal.

The rise in temperature generally in the district is by about 3 to 4 degree Celsius on an average. While, the average maximum temperature for March and April last year was 34.7 degree Celsius and 38 degree Celsius respectively, the same for the current year is 38.3 degree Celsius and 43 degree Celsius respectively.

In the hilly tribal areas in the district, the maximum temperature recorded used to be generally two 3 to 4 degree Celsius less than that in the plain areas. This difference seems to have been obliterated as a result of vanishing of the jungles.