Kutia Kondhs Granted Habitat Rights in Kandhamal: A Landmark Decision | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: The Kutia Kondh, one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) living in Kandhamal district, will soon receive habitat rights over their lands under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
“This will be a significant development to recognise their long-pending rights and empower them further,” Kandhamal district collector Amrit Ruturaj said.
The habitat rights are scheduled to be distributed to the community during the celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on Nov 15 to mark the birthday of Birsa Munda.
The district level committee has approved habitat rights for Kutia Kondh in Tumudibandh tehsil. “Forest officials are working out the number of villages to receive habitat rights,” said Debjani Bhuyan, project administrator, integrated tribal development agency (ITDA), who is the nodal officer.
With this, the community will also be responsible for the protection and preservation of the forest areas within the habitat area, said a forest officer. The habitat rights under FRA include the rights comprising livelihood, social and cultural practices in the landscape by the PVTG community.
The habitat for the PVTGs is an area where these communities have both spiritual and material connections. The area includes their burial grounds, birthplaces and sacred places like temples and sites for festivals, sources said.
“The Kutia Kondhs have been the custodians of ancestral land, practising sustainable living and maintaining a unique cultural heritage for a long time. With the acquisition of habitat rights, they will not face any obstacles in performing their traditional and cultural activities in the landscape,” said Y Giri Rao, executive director, Vasundhara, an organisation working on FRA in the state.
This recognition will play a crucial role in preserving the rich culture and heritage of the tribal communities, he said.
“This will be a significant development to recognise their long-pending rights and empower them further,” Kandhamal district collector Amrit Ruturaj said.
The habitat rights are scheduled to be distributed to the community during the celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on Nov 15 to mark the birthday of Birsa Munda.
The district level committee has approved habitat rights for Kutia Kondh in Tumudibandh tehsil. “Forest officials are working out the number of villages to receive habitat rights,” said Debjani Bhuyan, project administrator, integrated tribal development agency (ITDA), who is the nodal officer.
With this, the community will also be responsible for the protection and preservation of the forest areas within the habitat area, said a forest officer. The habitat rights under FRA include the rights comprising livelihood, social and cultural practices in the landscape by the PVTG community.
The habitat for the PVTGs is an area where these communities have both spiritual and material connections. The area includes their burial grounds, birthplaces and sacred places like temples and sites for festivals, sources said.
“The Kutia Kondhs have been the custodians of ancestral land, practising sustainable living and maintaining a unique cultural heritage for a long time. With the acquisition of habitat rights, they will not face any obstacles in performing their traditional and cultural activities in the landscape,” said Y Giri Rao, executive director, Vasundhara, an organisation working on FRA in the state.
This recognition will play a crucial role in preserving the rich culture and heritage of the tribal communities, he said.
