According to a recent report, young people from the Bonda tribal group have been forced to leave their pristine hamlets for low-paid jobs in distant towns of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and States even farther.
Who are Bondas?
- The Bondas are believed to be part of the first wave of migration out of Africa about 60,000 years ago.
- They were the first forest settlers in India.
- They are members of a group of Austroasiatic tribes.
- They had settled in an area of about 130 sq km in the wild Jeypore hills. Now they can be seen not only in other districts of Odisha, but also in neighbouring states such as Andhra Pradesh.
- They are one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) found in Odisha.
- Bondas have retained their identity and culture despite external interventions over the years.
(References: The Hindu and Down to Earth)
