Development of primitive Tribes has been one of the major goals of the government right from the Beginning of the first plan period. But this has failed time and again because of certain Technical and administrative lacunae and also because of the fact that the primitive tribes are intrinsically attached to their homeland in various Ways and are not in a position to risk that for uncertain development.
In 1950 the famous anthropologist, Verrier Elwin, had brought out an epoch-making book: The Bondo Highlander .The Bondo or the Bonda, as they are known in Orissa, are feared due to their proncness to Violence at the slightest provocation, whether among themselves or in relation to outsiders. Hence development efforts have been halting and fraught with violence in their Hills.
Taking the previous Natural or Cultural hindrances for their development into consideration, an attempt has been made in this Study to show as to how the so-called "fierce" and home-loving primitive Hill Bonda could be rehabilitated within their hill abode without being brought to the plains. The study is broadly divided into 4 sections with a total of 11 chapters. In the first section, a vivid Picture on the social and economic lifestyle of the Bonda has been presented as the background information. In the next section, the availability of natural and other resources has been sorted out scientifically with the Help of experts from several relevant disciplines. The subsequent two sections deal with resources management and feasibility of Adoption of Cash Crops and other avenues depending upon the local possibilities and how these could economically be exploited to the optimal Level for self-sufficiency. In the last, the aspirations of the people have been analyzed considering the extent of their expressed readiness to accept the avenues scientifically perceived. Moreover, how they would manage to acquire critical resources and sustained cooperation in future without the help of the outsiders has also been conceptualized. Thus, this work has a scientifically perceived Holistic thrust of in situ development of Hill tribes, particularly the Bonda Highlanders, as a social-technological experiment.
This book, no doubt, will be of great use for the action planners, administrators, researchers, academicians and all those who are interested in situ development of the Hill tribes and other Communities inhabiting hill regions. |
