Why in the News?
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has asked the Union Home Ministry and the states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha to submit a detailed report on the condition of Gotti Koya tribals.
Why did the NCST urge the Centre and States?
- An estimated 50,000 Gotti Koya tribals were displaced due to Left-Wing Extremism and now live in 248 settlements across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
- Reports indicate that Telangana has reclaimed land from internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 75 settlements, impacting the tribals’ livelihoods and increasing their vulnerability.
|
About the Gotti Koya Tribe:
|
Details |
| Location |
- Multi-racial and multi-lingual communities found in the forests, plains, and valleys on both sides of the Godavari River in AP, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
- Migrated from Bastar, northern India.
|
| Society and Culture |
- Koya language (Koyi) is a Dravidian language related to Gondi and influenced by Telugu.
- Most speak Gondi or Telugu alongside Koyi.
- Divided into five subdivisions (gotrams).
- Patrilineal and patrilocal family structure, with a focus on monogamous, nuclear family.
- Worship their own ethnic religion alongside Hindu gods, with Mother Earth being a significant deity.
- Burial or cremation of the dead, with the erection of menhirs in memory.
- Pastoralists and shifting cultivators (Podu), are now engaged in settled cultivation, animal husbandry, and seasonal forest collection.
- Grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, and other millets.
- Maintain community funds and grain banks for food security.
|
| Festivals |
- Vijji Pandum (Seeds charming festival) and KondalaKolupu (Festival to appease hill deities).
- Perform the Permakok (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriages.
- Sammakka Saralamma Jatra, held once every two years on the full moon day of Magha Masam (January/February) at Medaram village, Warangal district.
|
| Challenges Faced |
- Many fled to Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) in the mid-2000s due to violent conflicts between Maoist insurgents and Salwa Judum (Govt backed tribal militia).
- Salwa Judum was later banned by the Supreme Court of India in 2011.
|
PYQ:
[2014] Every year, a month long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/ tribes?
(a) Bhutia and Lepcha
(b) Gond and Korku
(c) Irula and Toda
(d) Sahariya and Agariya |
