The Dongria Kondhs of Orissa, a small(8,000only) Adivasi community, has been living in the foothills of the Niyamgirirange for generations. NiyamDongar, is regarded by the DongriaKondhs as the abode of their God, Niyam Raja (The King of Law). They have a harmonious, sacred and symbiotic relationship with Nature. Their religion is based on respect for Nature. They observe traditional rules of restraint known as ‘niyam’, regarding everything that is acquired from Nature.

The Niyamgiri rangeis one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Eastern Ghats of India. It sits on large deposits of bauxiteneeded to make aluminium. The Government of Orissa awarded a contract to Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), a London-based company, to mine the bauxite. The Dongriasrealized that it would destroy the Niyamgiri range of hills, the source of their livelihood, and their way of life. With the support of Indian and international voluntary agencies they resisted the move. Besides breaking many laws pertaining to forest land, environment and Adivasi rights, the government machinery and VAL tried to undo the resistance through oppression, violence, accusation of Maoism, etc. After 12 years of sustained struggle, the Supreme Court of India passed a historic verdict in favour of the Dongrias, disallowing Vedanta’s mining project.

The Dongrias’ once self-sufficient agricultural system has also been affected by the introduction of commercially high-yielding paddy. There has been an influx of hybrid crops and chemical inputs to these areas. Traditional crops which ensured nutritional security and diversity such as millets, pulses, tubers and uncultivated foods are on the verge of extinction. A sustained attempt is nowbeing made to revive the traditional crops most suited for their lands.Eight years after starting their conservation efforts, Dongrias have revived many indigenous crops.

Throughout Niyamgiri, uncultivated plants provide a vital source of nutrition and livelihood for Dongrias. “Uncultivated plants have multi-functional roles which add diversity to the local food system, reinforce local culture and contribute towards diversity to farming systems,” saysSusanta Dalai.

The Mahua leaves provide fodder, the flowers are used to make jaggery, liquor or porridge; its fruits are cooked and consumed; seeds are crushedto make cooking oil, and the oil-cake is valuable cattle-food and manure.  Tubers play a critical role, especially in lean seasons when availability of food is insufficient. A variety of tubers, consumed in many ways, provide food for survival, and prevent starvation.Dongrias are aware of a variety of edible leaves whichare cooked and eaten along with boiled rice.

Uncultivated food provides vital safety against the widespread and increasing damage caused by climate change, erratic rainfall, and ecological degradation, including groundwaterdepletion, degraded soil and decimated biodiversity.

Rappai Poothokaren, SJ

The author is a former Director of Gurjarvani centre for communication and currently an environmental activist at Sevasi, Vadodara.