Ramakant Jaiswal and Tiharu Ram Birhor
On 26th and 27th October 2021 a two day meeting cum consultation of the Birhor community was held at Malda Birhor Mohalla in Korba District of Chhattisgarh. The program was attended by Birhor leaders and villagers from 20 villages across the district and involved 170 participants which comprised 80 women and 90 men. The Chief Guest was the Pali MLA Mohit Ram Kerketta and other guests included the Block CEO, Tribal Welfare Department representatives, District Administration officials, Sarpanches and other officials and peoples’ representatives. The Birhor leaders welcomed all the guests and commenced the program. Traditional Birhor songs and dances were performed at the inauguration of the event.
The focus of the event was to give the Birhor community a platform to highlight the different problems and challenges being faced by them. In this regard applications regarding various problems faced by Birhor people from all the villages were submitted and guarantees were given by those present to find and implement solutions to these problems.
On the second day a Community meeting was organized where community members discussed and debated a variety of issues that are of vital importance to the community and these included caste and class based discrimination, health and cleanliness, education, minimum marriageable age etc. A healthy discussion took place on all issues and certain decisions were taken.
