Habitat Rights Promise To Secure Ecology, Tribal Heritage In Odisha

In September 2024, the tribe was granted habitat rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.

The Mankidia tribe were officially granted habitat rights certificate in September 2024.

However, the news of this landmark decision is yet to reach many members of the community. Souven Mankidia, in his 50s, was initially dismissive when questioned about habitat rights. “We had several meetings, but nothing has come of it,” he said, seemingly unaware of the recent development. His expression softened on being told of the recent development.

“Forest is everything to us,” he said. “Our parents and forefathers relied on it for survival. It was our home until the government relocated us to this village after Similipal was declared a national park in 1980], forcing us to look for other means of survival. Even now, venturing into the forest carries the constant threat of harassment from forest officials. Habitat rights are our only hope of reclaiming our ancestral heritage.”

Like several people in his community, Soven Mankidia is unaware about his community securing habitat rights.

Habitat rights legally sanction tribal communities living in a particular geographical area, securing their ancestral lands, cultural practices and livelihoods. The Act states that “habitat includes the area comprising the customary habitat and such other habitats in reserved forests and protected forests, of primitive tribal groups and pre-agricultural communities and other forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes”.

Historically, indigenous communities have been subjected to decades of deprivation. A seminal study by Madhav Gadgil and Ramchandra Guha, published in December 2012, highlights how colonial practices led to British control over forests. The Indian Forest Act of 1865, the Indian Forest Act of 1878, and the Indian Forest Act 1927 prioritised commercial interests and restricted local communities’ access to forest resources.

The Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act of 1996 and the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 aimed to empower local communities by granting them self-governance and resource management rights. These laws also recognised the rights of local and indigenous communities over biological resources and traditional knowledge. However, both these Acts faced implementation challenges.

The Mankidias are among 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups in Odisha, and a sub-group of the Birhor tribe.

After the Forest Rights Act 2006, the Baigas from the Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh became the first PVTG to be accorded habitat rights in 2016. Besides, Chhattisgarh (Kamar and Baiga tribes) and Maharashtra (Maria Gond) have also accorded habitat rights. In Odisha, the Paudi Bhuyan of Deogarh district was the first PVTG to be officially accorded habitat rights in March 2024, while the Juangs, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saora and Dongria Kondhs have been granted approval subsequently. The four approved habitat rights are expected to be officially handed over to the communities this month.

Habitat rights in Odisha

In Odisha, after several rounds of discussions among stakeholders, the ST & SC Department in 2022 directed the collectors to expedite determining and recognising habitat rights under the Forest Rights Act of 2006.

“The District Level Committee (DLC), headed by the Collector, initiates the process by identifying traditional community leaders and documenting their historical rights,” Y. Giri Rao, Director of non-profit Vasundhara based in Odisha, explains. “After mapping these rights and sharing them with the Gram Sabha for consent, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC) prepares a report and submits it to DLC for final approval.”

The habitat rights map of Durdura village. Photo courtesy: Vasundhara

Vasundhara, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) played a crucial role in researching the uniqueness of Odisha’s 13 PVTGs. They also conducted extensive interactive sessions with district collectors to enhance their understanding of habitat rights.

IndiaSpend has reached out to Odisha’s ST & SC Development department for comment on the implementation of habitat rights to PVTGs, and the challenges in the process. We will update this story when we receive a response.

Development over the years

For generations, the Mankidias have relied on the forest for their livelihood, crafting ropes from Siali leaves and weaving baskets. They would also engage in traditional hunting practices, such as trapping monkeys (which was disallowed later). This Austro-Asiatic community was once semi-nomadic and roamed the forests, collecting produce and selling their handicrafts in nearby villages. They lived in temporary, dome-shaped leaf huts known as ‘Kumbhas’. However, the traditional practices were curtailed, forcing the younger generation to seek alternative livelihoods.

“My children have no idea about our traditional way of life. They can’t imagine living in ‘Kumbhas’ or roaming the forests. Our cultural heritage and traditional knowledge are fading away. We are losing the very essence of our tribe,” says Souven.

The Mankidias are a semi-nomadic tribe, living in makeshift temporary leaf huts called ‘Kumbha’.

The habitat rights will not only ensure the indigenous and local communities have legal access to forests and resources that they have historically relied on, but also help preserve the cultural practices, knowledge systems and traditions that are intricately linked with their natural surroundings.

Several studies in the past have highlighted the crucial role of local communities in forest conservation, both globally and in India. Experts believe that habitat rights can further strengthen this connection.

“Indigenous communities have a long history of living in harmony with nature, and their traditional knowledge systems are tailored to the local ecosystems,” says Giri Rao. “Habitat rights enable these communities to continue practising conservation methods that are often more sustainable and ecologically sensitive than modern interventions.

“The indigenous territories often overlap with some of the world’s most bio-diverse ecosystems. Many rare and endangered species thrive in areas managed by them, as their traditional land-use systems often create diverse micro-habitats. This can help in the survival of the species which may otherwise become extinct by modern land-use practices.”

Challenges ahead

While granting habitat rights is a crucial first step, researchers believe that the battle for the preservation of PVTG communities is far from over. The younger generations, unlike their forefathers, have a diminished connection to the forest and are less interested in traditional knowledge and livelihood skills such as honey collection, rope-making and basket weaving. This decline in interest is primarily due to the low income generated from these traditional practices.

In Durdura village, for instance, younger generations are increasingly turning to daily wage labour, particularly in construction activities. Some even migrate to places like Chennai and Gujarat in search of higher-paying daily labour work.

Demand for the traditional ropes from Siali leaves, weaved by the Mankidias of Mayubhanj, is now diminished due to plastic alternatives.

“We were born and raised in this village and also received our education,” says Paltun Mankidia, a young resident of the village. “Naturally, we aspire to secure a stable future for ourselves and our families. While our traditional skills, like rope-making, were once valued, the increasing availability of plastic alternatives has diminished their demand. As our tribe has never relied on agriculture, we have turned to daily wage labour. We also migrate seasonally to other cities in search of work.”

Biswanath Tung, a researcher who was involved in habitat rights discussions with the community leaders during the claim filing process, echoes the concern. “During the claim filing process, we observed that almost 80% of the people were elderly,” he said. “There was a huge gap between the elderly and the young generation. The younger generation lacked knowledge about their own traditional institutions. The present economic model is eroding the cultural aspect of these communities.”

“It has taken a lot of time to secure these rights,” says Sushila Murmu, a project officer with a non-profit in Mayurbhanj district. “Now, the focus should be on educating PVTGs about their rights and empowering them to utilise them effectively. The rights should not be limited to paperwork. All stakeholders involved should come together to ensure effective implementation.”

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