Rayagada: Mission Kapada Ganda, originally initiated and operationalised in Chatikona under Dongria Kondh Development Agency (DKDA) in Rayagada district, is one of the successful government projects for development of tribals in this district.
According to Rayagada District Collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Dongria Kondh women, who are known for their unique dress sense and embroidered shawls, reside in Niyamgiri hills adjacent to pockets of K Singhpur, Bissamcuttack and Muniguda blocks of Rayagada district.
The district administration has taken adequate measures to get geographical indication (GI) tag for ‘Dongria shawl’ to provide sustainable livelihood for the tribes as well as to promote handloom industries, said the Collector.
As part of Skill Development Programmes, the administration has instituted Dongria shawl knitting training for Dongria women at Tribal Interpretation Centre at Chatikona. As many as 76 Dongria women were trained in knitting skills here in 2017-18 fiscal.
Similarly, the Regional Industries Centre, Rayagada, started a six-month training in embroidery and 30 Dongria women at Khajuri village of Kurli gram panchayat under Bissamcuttack block received the skills in 2018-19.
The administration also plans to impart training to 500 tribal youth in basic weaving and embroidery knitting under Rayagada special development council, Guha Tapas Kumar pointed out.
The government has successfully undertaken these programmes for sustainable livelihood development of Dongria Kondhs (PVTGs) who have been residing in Rayagada district, she added.
PNN