Kaliapani: The state government has launched several welfare projects to bring in development to hilltop Nagada villages under Sukinda block of Jajpur district, a report said. However, the Juang tribals at Ashokjhar on the foothills of Nagada have refused to join in the development process and have again taken up shifting cultivation which poses serious threats to the forest cover in the region.
Nagada is a cluster of villages comprising Lower Nagada, Middle Nagada and Upper Nagada in the remote and inaccessible regions of Sukinda block. Reports said that with the funds available from the district mineral foundation (DMF), over Rs 13 crore was spent to construct a road to Nagada villages. Now Rs 12 crore has been sanctioned for blacktopping of the road.
This apart, construction of houses under central and state housing schemes, drinking water facilities and various agricultural schemes are being implemented in the area to bring in qualitative changes in the lives of tribals.
Development of tribals has been the main goal of the state government. But the former have failed to realise it and have taken up shifting cultivation—without care for the conservation and awareness about forest protection. This has resulted in a serious face-off between the forest officials and the Juangs.
The area is under Ransol forest range and the newly appointed forester often remains absent in his office after the transfer of his predecessor. Taking advantage of his absence, the Juang tribals have taken up shifting cultivation by clearing the green cover on acres of forest land.
The tribals have cultivated paddy by chopping of trees on the rocky hills. As there was no road to Nagada villages, the tribals managed their livelihood by consuming wild tubers, greens and bamboo shoots. A new road was constructed to the hilltop village after the malnutrition death in 2016 hit the national and international headlines. Earlier, the forest department officials had asked them to not cut down the trees in the area and twice stopped them from carrying out shifting cultivation.
This correspondent tried to meet the tribals and sought to know the reason behind taking up shifting cultivation when the government is implementing various developmental and welfare projects in the area. They said every ration card holder in the area receives 35-kg rice every month which falls short of their requirement as they consume rice thrice a day. Every family in Nagada villages needs at least 150-kg rice per month.
Katkia Padhan, Ainthu Padhan, Desh Padhan and Baraju Padhan wanted to know from where they will get rice if they do not take up shifting cultivation by clearing the forests. Efforts to get the response of Ransol forester Naresh Tudu on phone failed as the calls went unanswered.
PNN