Source: TH
Context: Andhra Pradesh Home Minister stated that the government would take measures to eliminate the issue of “doli deaths” in the Agency by enhancing road connectivity to the remote villages of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district.
About Doli Yatra Protest:
- Objective of the yatra: The tribal community organized the ‘doli yatra’ to demand proper road connectivity to hilltop villages, including Pedagaruvu, Pithrigedda, and Jajulabandha.
- Reason for protest: Due to the lack of roads, around 300 Kondh tribe members face difficulties accessing healthcare, often carrying sick or pregnant individuals in makeshift dolies over long distances.
- Community initiative: In 2020, the villagers built a road using pooled resources, but it was destroyed by rains, worsening their transportation challenges.
- Health risks: The lack of connectivity has resulted in numerous deaths as patients fail to reach hospitals in time.
About Kondh Tribe:
- Cultural division: Kondhs are divided into two main groups – hill-dwelling and plain-dwelling – and are further classified into various clans.
- Traditional lifestyle: Historically, the Kondh tribe were hunter-gatherers, relying on forest resources for their livelihood.
- Language: They primarily speak Kui, a Dravidian language, and use the Odia script for writing.
- Scheduled tribe status: The Kondh tribe has been recognized as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in eight Indian states: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.
- Social structure: Kondhs follow a clan-based system, with strong community ties and traditional village governance structures.
- Religion: They practice animism, with a deep connection to nature and forest deities, though many have also embraced Hindu rituals over time.
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