Over six thousand tribals living on the Bondaparavat, a long-patch of mountainous terrains under Khariput block in the northeast of Machhakunda river in Orissa’s Malkangiri district, are all set to get relief from the acute water scarcity they have been battling all these years, if the state government’s plan to provide them pipe-water goes on well.
The state’s rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) department, along with Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA), a renowned social organisation, has launched a pipe-water project that is likely to provide safe drinking water to nearly 6,500 Bonda tribals.
In fact, a water tank has already been construction to tap the running water of thin stream that follows from Balipahad hill near Andrahal, a village located nearly 3,500 feet above the sea level.
The Bondas are a small primitive tribe group of Austro-Asiatic origin. They keep themselves ways from modern men and consider the hilltops as their own world.
Wild forest and steep and risky mountainous paths have stood in the way of providing basic amenities to the tribal group.
The Bondas generally meet their water requirement from streams having their origin in the hill ranges. However, as most of the streams dry up in the summer or their flow gets thinner, they face much hardship to meet their day-to-day requirement. Sometimes, Bonda women walk miles to collect a bouquet of water.
“The new initiative by the RWSS and BISWA will enable the Bonda people to have access to clean and safe water,” says Santosh Rath, the project leader of Bonda Development Authority.
Dr K.C. Malick, chairman of BISWA, is optimistic that once the Bonda villages are connected with pipe-water supply, many water-borne diseases could be checked and there would be spectacular improvement in the health indices of the local people.
“The basic motto behind the pipe-water supply is to provide clean and safe drinking water to Bonda people who waste precious hours in collecting water from drying up streams and fountains. We have already constructed a tank at Andrahal and very soon pipeline would be laid down connecting the villages in the Bona hills,” informs Dr Malick.
Malkangiri district collector Balwant Singh, who is keen for socio-economic development of the Bonda tribals, sees the pipe-water supply project as a noble mission that could bring a remarkable change in the life of the tribals.
“Pipe-water supply to the Bondas is a dream project of the state government. This long-contemplated project is now going to be a reality. With this, we want to ensure that members of this primitive tribal group who lag in many respects, maintain good health and thereby increase their productivity capability,” adds Mr Singh.
Mr Prafulla Kumar Dhal, director BISWA, observes: “While realisation of human index in tribal areas remains a challenge for the government for last many decades, BISWA has undertaken this daunting task as a part of its innovation exercise to reach out the tribal families in Bonda hills with sustainable, cost-effective and practical solutions for them.”
The Bondas have preserved themselves comparatively unaffected against modern civilisation. Known for their “anger” and “violent” character, the Bondas are regarded as entirely savage race.