India: tribe revives wild harvests after victory against mining company
The Dongria Kondhs of Odisha, a vulnerable tribal group, have been living in the foothills of Niyamgiri for centuries. The Niyamgiri hill range spans across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, and is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Eastern Ghats of India.
The region has witnessed a history of struggle by Dongria community to protect Niyamgiri after Vedanta Resources, a London-based mining company, was awarded a contract to mine bauxite from the region. From the very beginning, the Dongrias resisted the proposal. Thanks to the support and solidarity from community-based organisations, the civil society and international agencies, the Supreme Court of India ruled in favour of the Dongrias, scrapping Vedanta’s mining project.
While the Dongrias’ resistance to mining received wide public attention, other problems they face have gone unnoticed. Traditional crops such as millets, pulses and tubers, besides uncultivated foods from forests, that ensured their food and nutritional security are on the verge of extinction. The influx of outsiders has resulted in the introduction of hybrid crops and chemical inputs.
Sandeep Achetan