Tag Archive for: Visakhapatnam

Fundraising success in Perth – Indian Banquet & Bazaar

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This month we hosted our Indian Banquet & Bazaar in Perth.

The day included an array of gourmet food and drinks at Chakra Restaurant.

We sold beautiful hand-crafted Indian goods and a selection of donated antique jewellery.

We had a raffle and auction. Prizes included a $1000 voucher for Hamelin Bay Seaclusion and Park Lane jewellery set.

I’d like to say thank you to our event attendees, our hosts Chakra Restaurant, and the generous donators. You helped us raise $3300 for New Hope!

This money will be used to purchase Love Bundles and help with other important projects.

We look forward to seeing you all at our next event – the Love Boat Cruise Feb 2024.

Learn more about our 2023 Love Boat Cruise

[avatar user=”kpchatt” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” /] Kimberley, New Hope Australia.

New Hope India Newsletter Aug 2023

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NEW HOPE INDIA SUPPORTER UPDATE
Greetings from many people who know that so many in Australia are connected to them and their community – New Hope India.

We are halfway through the year and it’s hard to believe how much has happened at New Hope. First, we are truly thankful to all who have given to different projects and to children through sponsorship.

New Hope has always worked ‘horizontally’ – covering needs and situations as they arise not just a single vertical project. This means we see staff doing such a cross section of work that it takes time to absorb it all. From small but meaningful acts by Ramu giving Mother’s Day gifts to street women in the city, to discovering a whole new leprosy colony previously unknown to us!

Thank you for taking the time to read this update.

Eliazar T Rose
Director, New Hope India
DISCOVERING A NEW LEPROSY COLONY IN 2023

I know something of Australia, the South West and I ask you to imagine this! You have lived there for 25 years and someone says; “Do you know there is an incredible waterfall just an hour from where you live?” You are amazed and say, “no”. Well, after 20-plus years in Muniguda and having been to some of the remotest areas (including a place called Raghubari where people were scared when they saw a tall white-skinned woman – Maggie Sister – walking uphill to a plateau!) this is kind of what recently happened to us.

For years we have had a severely deformed young leprosy-affected person coming and going but never really telling us where he came from or went to. After a serious food and care situation he told us that he and a group of leprosy-affected people have been living reasonably near to us, down a road that we never travel on because it takes too long to go anywhere. A new leprosy colony in 2023! It bewildered the staff. They decided to stay ‘isolated’ because of social family connection reasons.

All of the people were from nearby villages and they were near to their villages, but in a forest area that is mostly thorn bushes so dense that even a goat won’t go down. A totally established mini village made from scraps of everything. We now care for this ‘new’ leprosy colony and twice a week give a ‘deluxe’ – as they call it – meal. There are children born in the colony and for me and one of our trustees, it reminded us of our lives 60 years ago.
MUNIGUDA

There is no newsletter without Namaste House. The government says it is called the ‘Care Home for Persons with Disabilities’. It’s the only such care home in western Odisha and although we are recognised, no support is offered or available. It’s a sad situation at one level but on the other level we are their guardians – their only family.
Three of our Namaste residents went to a State-level Challenged Young People’s Sports Competition. Our challenged children move around as much as their disability allows and they are also supported to move around for exercise. It’s no wonder that our Namaste group got prizes!
Now in the last six months we see Namaste young people just going along and enjoying their routine. Made happy that Covid is over, they can wander over and talk to the senior Tribal women who are back for eye checkups and cataract eye surgery.
CATARACT EYE SURGERY

On eye surgery, one of our seniors is now qualified as a Technician and has employment with a new national chain of hospitals that specialises in cataract eye surgery. Another two Nurses have qualified and are working or doing practical time, two have started a Nursing course, and in a few months one or two senior girls will be applying for admissions (a long, difficult application process).
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

The State Government change of education policy has totally disrupted many lives and young people’s educational system and situation. However, our seniors always get back at every chance to Kothavalasa for a few days or weeks and summer holidays. I call it ‘the return of the circus’ as they are here and there! Their time here is social but at the same time they are engaged, especially the boys in doing work all through the community.
MICRO INDUSTRIES

Do you know what ‘paper marbling’ is? It’s fairly easy to do and the results get examined by each of those in the small groups that get together. It’s been a long-time hobby and social activity at New Hope but is now rarely done by anyone. Our students paste the envelope-sized pieces on their school notebook. Now they are asked by other students for prints – it’s become an ‘in thing’!

Jeevan Jyothi and Kusuma (below) making extra pocket money decorating plain bangles which nearby village women buy as quickly as they make. We are sure that they would sell at stalls in Australia but the reality today is that postage makes 75 per cent of all products that people would like to buy simply not economical or viable.
VASU AND THE COWS

We have just spent funds replanting four acres of grass seedlings for cow feed. Our previous Napier grass simply died of age! We now have a plant that needs less water and has quicker re-growth. We planted ‘extra grass’ because Pete Towns and a friend we call ‘The Walker’ keep supporting our ‘buy a cow appeal’. We now sell the surplus as income.The cows are ‘managed’ by a cross section of seniors. Gopi, who like others has helped, is still going to high school. In this photo is K. Vasu, now 6′ tall and smart (except that I have to continually remind him to ‘trim or shave!!!!’ – it’s my ‘thing’).

Vasu has a small speech impediment and finds it hard to pronounce some ‘dumb’ English words like ‘know’, ‘knot’ and then knowing the difference between ‘there’ and ‘their’. He calls Anil and spells the word and Anil patiently spends five minutes explaining and helping him to pronounce a word. Vasu laughs, Anil laughs, then Vasu explains it to others … who already know anyway. He is a character.

He has just successfully passed fifth-year high school as an Intermediate at an Agriculture College. From this he has now been given a ‘free’ two months hands-on and theory cow management course at a centre called Visaka Dairy. This course is recognised as an Indira Gandhi Open University course with accommodation and meals included. So he has been told to shave every day!!
MOTHERING SUNDAY

There was a newspaper piece about Mother’s Day, which became a discussion and then Ramu asked, “why don’t we give street women a Mother’s Day gift?” When Ramu asks, all I do is nod as I know he’s going to do it anyway! We took the front pieces of Christmas cards from friends in the UK (Soroptimist, Manchester) and made a card which went with a sari and of course a banana. We are now committed to giving one woman, who is not far from where Ramu has his micro-size pigeonhole office, a meal every day. She has been in the same place for three years because of Covid. We offered her a place at New Hope, but with her mental situation she believes she can’t shift as her daughter will come back and pick her up (unfortunately not realising that her daughter left her there).
KONDH DONGRIA TRIBAL COMMUNITY

We remain committed to working with and supporting the Tribal Communities that surround our area. By New Hope India selling the handmade traditional shawls it gives many women work while they sit in huts on stilts, watching that the birds don’t eat their crop close to harvest time. After many arguments and red tape these shawls have been given a ‘G’ mark which means they can only be made now by this Tribal group of women.

We also continue to give out Safe Delivery kits to the whole tribal community.
HIV CLINIC UPDATE

We have been designated as one of only four Non-Government Organisations in the State to be able to distribute anti retro viral drugs for HIV+ persons. This saves many women and young people hours of bus travel, often having to change buses and stand in a long line when they got to the central Government pharmacy. This is changing the quality of life of many, especially widows on a micro pension, who were spending part of that on bus fares to get their medications – an irony.
FINAL WORDS

I wish to share a simple reality with so many who have supported our work. We increased the number of cows we have, with one man and his family making it happen, and a long-time friend ‘The Walker” adding to it.

The goat house was repaired, again made a reality by one man. Every child who is receiving education, from our youngest who is now getting taller and stronger (U. Sai to Sumanth who is about to have a university seat allocated to him for studies towards a doctor MBBS).
Sponsorship is a ‘magic key’. It is impossible to explain that a majority of senior girls now going in and out and staying in safe hostels are from poor backgrounds (I think you say in Australia, ‘the other side of the railway tracks’). You can find out how to become a child sponsor here.

That expression was a truth for me – the Bethany Colony since my early days is still a hutment slum leprosy colony, literally on the other side of the railway line.

We still support women working in Bethany so they do not have to go begging. They make the bags many have seen and purchased.

For project information please email newhopeindia@live.com.

New Hope Newsletter Feb 2023

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Read the latest update in our New Hope Newsletter 2023.

A LETTER FROM NEW HOPE INDIA – Eliazar, Director

Greetings and apologies that it is so long since we were able to write to you with this update New Hope India, people in leprosy colonies who we support and Tribal Kondh Dongria communities and all at New Hope have been affected by this pan endemic that has caused the world to ‘sigh in disbelief’ In India I have never felt such fear and sadness. For our culture not be be able to attend ‘last rites’ is – ‘shame’! It has challenged us with lockdowns and yet we had daring staff that for months got food supplies to Leprosy colonies. The irony that many leprosy patients go out to beg to survive and the lockdown kept them in their colonies. 5 major colonies literally survived by our ‘food support’ made possible by support was donors in the UK. It continues even today, We have an obligation still to support many and also aged Kondh Dongria women. We are but one piece of a jumbled up not fitting together jig saw puzzle of this time!

Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony

Over the years many people we help have smiled and laughed when we have visited them to give a Love Bundle. This time it was different – they cried with joy that their actual survival was with us. The pressure on our staff and finances were stretched BUT faith overcomes such challenges – It’s like a ‘Bollywood movie’ that 6 times we used a boat to cross a river in Sambalpur to get food supplies to a leprosy colony during lockdown. At that time – no vaccinations – just masks and sanitizing. Not with nice scented lotions but old fashioned surgical spirit!

The situation of the Kondh Dongria 37 villages was simply horrendous. They are ‘animist (not Hindu) and believed that the Covid was an ‘evil spirit’ aroused by long gone anger ancestors. They simply isolated themselves because they heard that Kondh Dongria families who had shifted from tribal villages to live in town were infected – for this they saw evil. this isolation meant they would not come to weekly markets and sell forest products, their basic survival hand to mouth income. We drained our Emergency fund and had very complicated village by village come and sit socially spaced and collect essential food materials including for them one essential ‘salt’. The fact that we also gave them soap caused both joy and humour.

THE COVID AND IMMUNIZATION BATTLE

The second movies would be a story of frustration and at times angry discussions and heated debates as we went through the red tape of insisting on the Kondh Dongria people having a right to vaccination. Many ties we have said lightly “its a left over rule red tape from the British.” That’s true to some extent. BUT we Indians have painted it even more red or not ‘freed’ ourselves of it. Excuses have been fantastic “But they (the Tribal Community) dont have proper door numbers. I will leave it at that.

Director Eliazar

Sadly, the division of communities between groups who also live in the Tribal area has not helped. This has caused us to have to work around having different places than our own Community Centre for the Tribal’s and not associated with other communities. We came to a ‘working’ arrangement with the local health department which although hard and almost impractical e had to go along with to achieve the real goal. That staff spent days tracking up and down to different location with all that is needed to ensure safe immunization was not easy. We spent days planning how to start the Immunization that fitted in with the Government rules, the social disparity between communities and the sheer difficulty of getting aged in the hills at the far end of the Tribal hill forest area. So thankful to the Village Women Traditional midwives and our staff.

I say humbly that without New Hope and my own long association with the community and proudly I say with the support of a remarkable Tribal woman who started with New Hope and is now an elected woman District Councilor the immunization would not have happened. The fruit of many years of input

Working with Govt staff

with the Traditional Birth Attendants also paid off with their determination to ensure all people co-ordinated with the tight schedule needed to cover the maximum number of people. These are women who moved away from using unsterile knives to ‘cut the umbilical cord and a process that for generations was the root cause of Infant and Maternal Morbidity. The same women who helped us implement Iodized salt as opposed to traditional rock salt. It changed the high thyroid rate among women in particular.

The time required for this programme meant that visits often took place during peak times of the Monsoon season with work undertaken during incessant heavy rain. Workers exchanged stories at the end of each long day about tracking down patients who had gone hunting for food and spending time to reassure others who had last minute fears of ‘an injection’ or who had listened to vaccine horror stories!

As we near the end we have had what we call 7 rounds of villages. We have now covered age range 18 and upwards. A few oldies just shrugged in a ‘no’ that we accept. They represent 6% approximately. The population is those above 16 or mature girls (say 14 years range). More females than males and that is good as its women who go to markets more than men. Population target 2860 of this population in the 2,755 have 1st vaccination and 2,127 second vaccination. In the first round 489 had vaccine injections and they were mainly women who came down to the Immunization Centre we had set up in an adjoining village to our Tribal Community Centre. This ensured we had no ‘cross mixing. Then in round 2 and 3 – 799 across all villages 820 persons. In the 3rd round we also started 422 for 2nd Vaccination. This was not easy but helped that more women came down to the Centre and although they didn’t like being ‘touched’ by non Tribals as our mainly Tribal staff were there – it was accepted.

I can say that my own and the presence of long time ‘worker’ Sakuntala was a PR for those who came. We always see ‘people, but in percentage 96% covered 1 vaccination and 2nd vaccination 66% and ongoing. November 15th. This picture show how we worked in co-operation with the District Medical Government staff to ensure the Immunization was ‘fair’ to all communities and candidly the standards was as we have always insisted on.

EYE CARE PROJECT

Delivering eye care

This is one of the oldest original Cataract Eye Project – and it still goes on and due to expand to a new tribal area – wholly supported by donations of £20 an operation. It will take another 4 years to eradicate in this new adjoin area. Time is is time and we must keep doing this needed support – to mainly aged who suffer socially when ‘blind’ and unable to be part of the whole family work pattern in villages We have also been able to re start our Eye Care Project.

Pre Covid 19 times, New Hope would provide cataract surgery to over 470 patients a year, and we are indebted to our UK supporters for making this possible. During the pandemic our project halted as neither patients nor surgeons could move from their locked down areas, but with gradual easing of restrictions we are already planning our first safe socially distanced ‘cataract camp’. Thanks to the vaccination programme, many younger women came to ask about eye check-ups at the same time as they attended for their immunization.

NAMASTE HOUSE – CHALLENGED YOUNG PEOPLES HOME

Namaste games

Cannot have a newsletter without them. Last winter prior to Covid, the Namaste House group all

received ‘beabie’ caps. This was a gift plus for them at the start of Covid. They had long talks with myself and seniors whose words they ‘trust’. They stuck to masks and distancing whenever ‘others’ came near. They missed their walks to see ‘grans who came for their eyes to be fixed.’

Namaste House masks March 2020

ROELLIS GARDEN

Bee keeping

Childrens Community Centre – Kothavalasa – Chickens, Goats and Cows with Bees too; it changes to suit the ‘green situation’. Part Beehives, Hens goats live in the area.. Cows next door but get Roellis Garden grass. It has Passion fruit (lost in last storm like all the vegetable garden. Wind blew down vine trellis and vine growing frames, washed away drip irrigation – still recovering. The bee keeping and expansion has started to give a good yield and priority use is for the children and then to sell the rest.

BEE HIVE PROJECT

Bee honey extraction Pintu

We did not expect a high yield in the monsoon season, but we were surprised how good it was. However there is a still a sad cloud over the Bee project. The two main persons who have maintained it – Sreenu and Ramu. We made many jokes about and to Srinu having so many ‘girls friends’ – He started by jokingly saying one day ‘I’m king of the bees’. It rebounded of course. He ‘crafted’ the project and taught a younger senior oo manage ‘ordinary work’ on Hives. Its not as easy as one thinks.

Ramu travels twice a week to support the checking that needs to be done. Both were trained in Beekeeping. Srinu passed away. No signs of Covid but he had travelled that was a little upsetting. On return he was ‘well’ Then within five days passed away. Its similar to many senior born HIV+ to pass like this. Conscious talking in coherently to within an hour of passing. A sad and great loss as he was also our intrepid garden planner.

The hives are about to expand in number with change of season and we aim for 34 hives! In all though its one of the most well used land areas. The major borewell collapsed and through a generous donor in U.K, was ‘re-drilled’ and working again. It was a drama! New Hope Schools Situation Our schools situation has been a great concern for Ruth and I; due to the Covid lockdown, households were not allowed out of their area. Families who could afford to pay for education unable to send their children, resulting in a huge financial loss for our school.

As the pandemic wore on, those same families were themselves heavily impacted with many losing their jobs and livelihoods. We have sadly had to take the decision to suspend our school programme for a year in order for the economy to pick up again and for a return of children from families able to pay. It is the fees paid by these families which help to fund the education of our orphaned children.

New Hope looks forward to 2023 when we are able to open our school. Ruth and I have arranged for children from those families who would have lost out to be able to attend a government school so that they do not lose out on their education. It is with relief that we can let you know that our Rainbow School, for vulnerable children with highly compromised immune systems due to HIV, is continuing to run. Orphan children even though Ruth and I are their Guardians were told to return to their last address! This was one of those red tape rules that put children at risk.

So for example a ‘uncle’ came and left the child with us because both parents had died. Mother came as husband deserted and she begged to survive went back to the very situation that was the reason for them to be with us! No child from a economically sustainable situation comes to New Hope. It meant we supported aged Grandmothers to care for a child who they may in real life hardly seen the child. It was a stressful situation . These are children who were in a safe environment put out in areas where Covid was rampant. The children had clear instructions on safety. Most ‘persons who took a child’ also understood the risk that that they would somehow be held ‘responsible if the child became infected by their neglect. Six months and slowly we simply ‘manipulated the system! Its hard to express stress at this time.

Nurses supervised training 2021

One of the most in need girls has been returned to us In the midst of all that we have struggled to ensure senior girls were cared for in skill training The senior girl in the photo has a Grant to cover a major part of her Auxiliary Midwife Nursing course – Thank you Soroptimist – Manchester.

This is not appeal letter – but to share with you – after a long silence that we have all experienced in many different ways during the last 2 years of Covid. We are thankful to those who give through www.newhopeuk.org – Virtual gifts – More hens, a Beehive as a birthday gift, sandals for protective footwear for leprosy affected and Love Bundles. All appreciated – all needed.

May 2022 be a ‘safe’ and healthy year for all of us as individuals, families, communities and nations Eliazar T. Rose, Director New Hope India newhope@live.com.

Thanks to the New Hope UK Trustees who all give time, effort and more as real volunteers.

Valentines in Perth 2023 – Love Boat Fundraiser

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Valentines in Perth 2023

Are you looking for a unique Valentine’s Day experience this year?

Join us on Perth’s Paddle Steamer Decoy for a cruise down the Swan River.

The Decoy is an iconic WA steam-powered paddle ship. It has toured the Swan River for over 30 years! Treat your Valentines (or ‘Galentines’!) to an afternoon they’ll always remember.

Love Boat Fundraiser

Enjoy a complimentary drink and nibbles on arrival as we set off on our tour of the Swan River. Experience Perth’s beautiful sunset with loved ones and friends.

On board there’s live music and a fully licensed bar to enjoy. We also have a raffle with some amazing prizes.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to New Hope India. Your ticket sales help fund education, medical care, housing and more.

Event details

  • Date: Sunday 12 February 2023
  • Time: Boarding at 3:30pm for a 4pm departure. Return by 7pm.
  • Location: The boat leaves and returns to Mends Street Jetty, South Perth.
  • Cost: $50 per person

You can purchase tickets by contacting Sonia on 0413 737 470 or soniachitra18@gmail.com 

We look forward to seeing you on the Love Boat Cruise next month!

Unable to attend this event? Why not donate a New Hope Love Bundle for just $20 via our website.

Donate a love bundle this Valentines

India Bike Ride Itinerary

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Firstly the bike ride trip is EASY because we will supply you with an ultra modern geared HERO bicycle. You don’t have to bring your own which is an airline hassle and costly. Your first stay will be in New Hope Children’s Community Village and do 3 days volunteer work if you wish. Gardening, teaching english, carpentry, cooking. Go by train 58 tunnels and 84 bridges to see one of the worlds oldest known caves in the hills on the way back from Araku and see Tribal villages as you ride through the countryside. Limited to 14 people each tour..

India Bike Ride

India Bike Ride

New Hope is now responsible for the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation First Aid Centre in a small town called Chilakalapalli. And you are riding there from the starting point which is in Visakhapatnam New Hope Kothavalasa Community Centre.
Train to Bobbili and ride Bikes through rural country side to the Gandhi Memorial Centre for Leprosy patients. New Hope now has the management of this Centre that includes a 12 bed Ward. Ride through villages to highway and up to a stop at small Indian town. Travel to Muniguda and see the Community Centre with the Hospital where so many people have given to have poverty line women and aged leprosy patients receive cataract eye surgery. Meet Tribal women at the Centre and visit a rural market. Leave in afternoon for town of Bargarh nearest to Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony. Ride to Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony.
This will be a contrast to other centres of New Hope and shows a different village lifestyle. Train in the evening return to Kothavalasa. Children Community Centre.

Volunteer in Leprosy Colony

Volunteer in Leprosy Colony

We are limiting it to 14 persons. Its both Ride and Train. Those who just wish to enjoy the tour and not ride or not ride the full 20 kilometres a day can travel in the accompanying New Hope vehicle.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A NEW HOPE BIKE RIDE

See approximate itinerary below for your 14 day adventure. May change slightly from year to year. Itinerary will be confirmed closer to adventure dates.

Bike Ride India

Bike Ride India

Arrive in Visakhapatnam : Pick up from Airport and travel to New Hope Community Centre. Afternoon introduction with children.

  • DAY 1 : KOTHAVALASA – Orientation morning after breakfast. Discussion with Director on New Hope as an organization how it has evolved. Walk around New Hope Community Centre in groups with senior students or staff to explain how a day happens at the Centre. (Select an activity that you would like to spend time at.
  • DAY 2 : Monday – Cycle Alamanda. Specified day as it is a rural market day in this small rural town. You will see seasonal vegetables, cows, buffalo, oxen and goats
  • DAY 3 : Activity Day in Community. There are multitudes of activities – Painting a room, gardening including pruning, teaching an English class, Cooking pancakes and making a jam with senior girls – endless and the odd game of cricket/volley ball will creep in.
  • DAY 4 : Bicycle ride orientation, and in-depth discussion with Guide. Continue with Activity of choice.
  • DAY 5 : Train to Araku Valley ‘hill station’. Ride bicycles through rural area. Stay overnight.
  • DAY 6 : Travel downhill by bus through coffee plantations, incredible scenic valley views. Stop at Borra Caves – oldest in world. Return and stay at Community Centre, Kothavalasa.
  • DAY 7 : Train to Bobbili and ride Bikes through rural country side to the Gandhi Memorial Centre for Leprosy patients. New Hope now has the management of this Centre. Evening train to Muniguda.
  • DAY 8 : Muniguda Community Centre includes Eye Hospital supported by Friends of New Hope for free cataract eye ops to Leprosy patients and rural poverty line women Tribal women.
  • DAY 9 : The Community is also home to a group of Challenged Children in their Namaste House and Social Needs School. The aged in need of custodial care leprosy cured people also their home there. An integrated Community.
  • DAY 10 : You are free to spend time with everyone there and hopefully during your visit you will see people admitted for eye surgery; an interesting part of the work of New Hope. Visit a local Tribal Market and in the afternoon catch a train to Bargarh.
  • DAY 11 : Bargarh is the nearest town to Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony. One of a number of such colonies that benefit from Love Bundle gifts, protective food wear and Care. Ride to Jhan Jhur Leprosy Colony – This will be a contrast to other centers of New Hope and shows a different village lifestyle Programmes. Night travel back to Kothavalasa Community Centre.
  • DAY 12 : Activities Day with children. Volunteer time in school or garden
  • DAY 13 : School holiday for children to play games. Present one of their cultural days. Volunteer time together doing arts and crafts.
  • DAY 14: Visit to Visakhapatnam city, sea and old Buddhist historical site, up coast to see where Dutch had settlement for export a special blue dyed cloth, or just go shopping.

Add On 3 Days

For those interested in birds at the ornithology level this bike ride and train journey to secluded places and forest area will be of great interest. For an Ornithologist it includes an addition 3 days side trip to Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary $150 AUD

Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary

Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary

Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary

Kondakarla Bird Sanctuary

India Bike Ride Itinerary

Tribes in India

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Odisha (previously simply called Orissa) is uniquely proud for the tinted spread of ethnic mosaic brought over by the 62 culturally vibrant tribes including 13 primitive tribe groups, who are found sprinkled all over the state. Tribes India.

Tribes India

Tribes India

Kondh Tribes  “One sub-group of Kondhas is the Dongria Kondhas. They inhabit the plateaus of Niyamgiri hill ranges which cover parts of Rayagada and Koraput and Kalahandi districts.

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Their major concentration is found in the blocks of Kalyansinghpur, Bissamcuttack and Muniguda. They are called Dongria or dweller of donger (“hill” in Oriya) and love to settle in higher altitudes due to their economic demands”.

Tribes India

Tribes India

The Kondhs, or the Kui as they call themselves are one of the well known tribes and the largest tribal community of Orissa. With a population of around 1 million, who were famous in history for their Merial Sacrifice (human sacrifice); practiced no more. The Kondhas are believed to be from the Proto-Australoid ethnic group. Their native language is Kui, a Dravidian language written with the Oriya script.

Tribes India

Tribes India

The Kondha are adept land dwellers exhibiting greater adaptability to the forest environment. Dense sal forests were their playground: they hunt with the ease of all primitive races with bows and axes. The Niyamgiri Hills where the Dongria Kondh dwell are covered by superb natural forests and home to many rare species like the Golden Gecko and the Giant Squirrel. The Dongria Kondh call themselves Jharnia meaning those who live by the Jharana (streams). Hundreds of perennial streams flow from Niyamgiri hill, and there are hundreds of Dongria villages by the streams. The Dongria are the protectors of these streams, hills and jungles and are revered by people in the nearby plains.

Tribes India

Tribes India

The majority of the Dongria Kondha live in 55 villages that are all assisted in different ways through various projects initiated by New Hope India. We are now the long time serving Non Government Organisations working without real interruption with this small community.

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They still carry out some strange to us ceremonies. Many are now kept in secret simply because they don’t like outside publicity. New Hope India makes no attempt to change the cultural ways. What we have tried and succeeded in is a co-operation that has allowed them to adapt some traditions for their benefit. Iodine deficiency across the whole area showed up in the medical term imbecile. Across India there has been a successful promotion of use of Iodized Salt. However to implement this among traditional people who believed in the ‘power’ of rock salt was not easy. We explained the situation and offered rock salt with 25% newly Iodized non rock salt mixture. It slowly rose to 75% and in most places today is accepted by all women. In the same area as tribal Dongaria there are also other non tribal communities. This is a change that occurred post British and with the opening up of area where people labeled as Schedule Caste came and interacted trade wise with the Tribes. Rarely to the Tribes advantage. A barter system existed for year. One change that came through New Hope was the idea to sell forest Tribal collected goods and materials by weight and not by ‘head load’.

Tribes India

Tribes India

The saddest part of our working together has been a decline, again, in child survival. There are many reasons for this but one can not ignore the complicated situation between group s of anarchist and the anti mining campaign. Its very political. The bottom line is that children are being born under weight which is due to malnourished mothers. Less food availability in the villages of Tribes India.

Tribes India

Tribes India

THE SHORT TERM ANSWER – We have been supplying pregnant women in 34 villages who use the same path and track down from the hills towards town and the market to stop both ways for a food supplement. Usually at least one egg and germinated legumes, with an iron supplement. Its has started to show positive signs. The longer term is to make the villages self sufficient again. To supply poultry to women as a starting point.

Tribes in India