and Ms. Sudeshna Devi (all at HDF School of Management, Bhubaneswar)
(Published by UNDP, New Delhi, August 2008)
Executive Summary
The Paharias of Orissa are one of the most backward primitive communities in India. They live in the South-western part of Orissa, more specifically, in the Nuapada district and six adjoining districts, viz 
Kalahandi, Bolangir, Koraput, Rayagada, Bargarh, and Nabrangpur. They are also known as Kamārs. The trajectory of their life is unique and ironical. Like the Kamars of Chhatishgarh, they were officially recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) during the British rule. The Kamars of Chhatishgah continued to be ST, but the Paharias of Orissa lost this ST status with the formation of the state of Orissa in 1936 and are officially classified as an OBC. As a result of denial of the ST status they have been deprived of the benefits of the various government policies and programmes. meant for the development of STs in the country.
No wonder, the Paharias today are extremely poor and marginalised and lag far behind the STs in Orissa. They are highly illiterate, their literacy rate being just 18% which is half the literacy rate of STs in Orissa. All Paharia families are found to be below poverty line. Their primary occupation is bamboo crafts and primitive agriculture is their subsidiary occupation. Most Paharia cultivators are considered “encroachers” of the government land. Politically, they are voiceless. Provisions of basic services such as education and health are mostly absent or extremely poor in the Paharia villages. The Paharia people have a distinct culture which has high degree of commonalities with other tribal groups, like the Gonds and Chuktia Bhunjia, in the region, but is quite different (despite some commonalities) from the Hindus.
Given the extreme and multiple nature of backwardness of the Paharias, the need for adopting an integrated approach is suggested for promoting their all-round development. In terms of concrete measures, it is essential that the government, first and foremost, restores their lost ST status, preferably PTG status, so that they start getting all the benefits meant for this category. A set of some other important measures include: i) addressing their livelihoods vulnerabilities- immediate grant of patta (record of ownership right) of the “encroached” land, adequate supply of bamboos through intensive and extensive afforestarion programme, marketing linkages for sale of their products at remunerative prices, training for upgradation of their existing skills, creating opportunities for new income generating activities; ii) provision for their representation at the formal institutional level, including the PRIs; iii) Adequate provisions of basic services like clean drinking water, health and education; iv) Building physical infrastructure to facilitate their development; v) Till the time Paharias are not able to regain their lost ST status, the state government may issue an executive order /instruction to pay special attention to their development in government programmes. Finally, it may be affirmed that although a systematic and concerted effort by the government is essential, it needs to involve NGOs and the Paharia people themselves for promoting sustainable and participatory development of the Paharias.
