Squeezed by middlemen, they live hand to mouth

​Vizianagaram: International Adivasi Day may come and go but there is not much of change in the lifestyle of tribals. The tribals continue to eke out their living from selling products from forests. But they are not making sufficient money even by selling much-in-demand fruits like custard apples, mangoes, jack fruits and the like since middlemen are allegedly exploiting them.

In the district, Salur, Kurupam, Gummalaxmi Puram, Giyammavalasa and Komarada are the major mandals which have the largest tribal population. Gadaba, Jatapu and Konda Dora are the major tribes living in these mandals and till date they depend on forests for their livelihood. There is lack of medical facilities in some of these areas due lack of sufficient number of Primary Health Centres. The tribals mostly earn money by selling agriculture produce and timber besides manufacturing of cots, parts of bullock carts.

Even though they sell much-in-demand fruits like custard apples, jack fruits, bananas and other organic seasonal fruits in the market, they are earning just peanuts. For instance, a basket of 100 custard apples is sold for Rs 100 to traders who in turn sell each fruit for Rs 10 in the plains. So is the case with jack fruit since fruit peels (tonalu) are sold for a meagre price. 20 tonalu are purchased for Rs 10 but when it comes to the retail market, it is sold for three to four times the actual cost.

With poor road connectivity, the tribals have to depend on private jeeps to reach their villages. In case of any emergency, they continue to use the traditional vehicle - a bullock cart - to carry the patients for medical help. K Mangayya of Pelliguddi village in Komarada mandal said, “We have been living on a hilltop village and depend on the shift cultivation by selling forest products like jack fruits, mangoes, bamboos and firewood. We are habituated to do so and we can’t leave our huts and go to another place in search of employment.”