Village Chandangiri lies deep inside the lofty hills in West Keonjhar, a district in Orissa, India. More than half of the area of this district is reserved forest . This is home to the Juangs, a primitive tribal group of Orissa in Eastern India.
Raj Kishore Juang is a 29 year old volunteer for Meera Welfare Society (MWS), DanChurch Aid’s partner in the area.
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Mr. Sahu from MWS stands with Raj Kishore Juang and others from the hamlet |
“This area has many problems, no roads, scarce water source, but the biggest problem is that of elephants coming into our homes and destroying everything”, says Raj Kishore.
Elephants come from the north
A large number of homes in this small hamlet stand wrecked by the recent elephant attack that took place six months ago in December 2009. For this tribal group living in the forest, this is not a new phenomenon.
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| Another house destroyed by the elephant attacks Photo: Priyanka Mukherjee Mittal |
But a few of the community members admit that the frequency of attacks and viciousness causing destruction has increased drastically.
“The elephants come in herds from the mountains in the North, usually after harvest season. Then they attack our home. In the past many people of this village have been killed. Getting compensation from the forest department is a mammoth and long drawn task.” says Raj Kishore
Hiding in the caves
| Where we work |
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| The hills of West Keonjhar are home to 158 Juang tribal villages, one of the most backward and primitive tribes of India. |
An extremely egalitarian society with strong community identity, the Juangs come together in the evening to socialize and drink mahua (locally made liquor).
As dusk sets in, a few of them surround us in merriment. The anguish of their struggle for life is not lost in the revelry. The women and children point out at the broken homes and the distant caves in the hills where they hide to seek refuge from the elephant rampage.
“Sometimes we have to go without food for 3-4 days when the elephants come. They destroy everything- the grains, food (especially flour)”, says Raj Kishore.
Bears and snakes
In the shadow of the dusk, the hills look menacingly steep. The forests of this region are also home to the poisonous cobras (snakes) that can cause fatal deaths on attack. This is also the season for berries and this attracts the wild bears that often come in conflict with man.
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| Meera Welfare Society (MWS) is working with the Juangs of Chandangiri to help them access government schemes including access to compensation for death by animal attack from the Forest Department. MWS is actively following up proposals for shelter construction and safe drinking water to these distant tribal hamlets. |
For a tribal group that has co-existed in peace for thousands of years in the forests, the increase in animal attacks is a real threat.
By Priyanka Mukherjee Mittal
Regional Information and Documentation Officer, DanChurch Aid, India