Naresh Biswas and Rohan Mukerjee
On the 6th of December a conference for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh focusing on the Birhor, Pando and Pahari Korwa tribes was held at Kendha village which is located at the foothills of Chui Pahar in Dharamjaigarh Block of Raigarh District, Chhattisgarh. Through this conference the Pahari Korwas of Chui Pahar put forth there demands for Habitat Rights for Chui Pahar as per the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Pahari Korwa, Pando and Birhor villagers from across Dharamjaigarh Block attended this conference in large numbers. The Pahari Korwas of Chui Pahar and other villages like Amanara, Barghat, Kawadahi, Jokpani and Ganeshpur organised an elaborate display of their traditional crops and rich diversity of wild and uncultivated foods. The principal objective behind organising this program was to provide an opportunity for the Pahari Korwas from the villages of Chui Pahar to put forward their demands for habitat rights over Chui Pahar.
A variety of nutritious traditional varieties of millets, maize, pulses beans and vegetables were on display and these included Bajura, Sokda, Sarale, Liwit, Madia, Kodo, Rahar, Jhunga, Hirwa, Makka, Lakra, Amari, Chench, Semi, Lauki and Jadgi. The exhibition also included a variety of wild and uncultivated tubers like Pitharu kanda, Byang kanda, Chatku kanda, Genth kanda; leafy vegetables fruits, flowers and seeds like Saru bhaji, Saroti bhaji, Soel bhaji, Chunchuni bhaji, Otra Masala, Burla bhaji, Gelha chatni, Murhi Bhaji, Kenouth Bhaji, Girhul phul, Tendu phal, Makartendu phal, Kosa Phal, Apjawar phal, and Bhelwa phal. The items on display are an integral part of the Pahari Korwas diet and a vital natural source of nutrition. The Birhors of Korba District of Chhatisgarh also display traditional seeds and uncultivated foods from their area. They were represented by UD fellows Ramakant Jaiswal, Tiharu Birhor and farmers from different villages.
The Chief Guest of the conference was Richa Prakash Choudhary IAS, CEO Panchayat Raigarh District, Government of Chhattisgarh. She stressed that there is an urgent need to focus on education among the Pahari Korwas. She said that education can help them move ahead and succeed in life.
Naresh Biswas from Nirman (UD partner) who works for the habitat rights of PVTG communities in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh spoke in detail about provision 3(1) (e) of the Forest Rights Act which deals with habitat rights for PVTG communities. On this occasion the Pahari Korwas submitted a written petition addressed to the Chief Minister asking for Habitat Rights over the entire Chui Pahar area.
On this occasion of the PVTG conference a number of activists, community leaders and elected representatives shared their views on the challenges facing the Pandos, Birhors and Pahari Korwas. The speakers included renowned activist Jogeshwar Yadav, Premsai Murihar (District President of the Pahari Korwa Manch, Raigarh), Mansai Murihar (Sarguja), Bhawru Ram Hansda (Amanara), Satyadev Gupta (Vidhayak Pradinidhi), Kanyakumari Rathiya (Janpad Panchayat Adhyaksh). This program was organised by Nirman with the support of the District Administration. The exhibition on traditional foods of the Pahari Korwas was supported by the UD project.
