Tribals suffer lockdown blues in Odisha

The poor tribal people living in Odisha'a Mayurbhanj are mostly daily wage earners who maintain their family by collecting ‘Mahul’ flowers and ‘Sal’ leaves from the forest and selling them around the year. However, they have now lost their source of livelihood because of lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown.

Mayurbhanj (Odisha):The tribals are facing severe hardships to survive without food and water during the imposed lockdown after the outbreak of coronavirus in Odisha.

Tribals of Mayurbhanj have lost their source of livelihood and are left with no source of income, with starvation and unemployment looming over their heads.

According to sources, the poor tribal people living in this district are mostly daily wage earners who maintain their family by collecting ‘Mahul’ flowers (mainly used in the preparation of country liquor) and ‘Sal’ leaves from the forest and selling them around the year. But now as per the lockdown norms, these people cannot go to the nearby markets to sell flowers and buy essential commodities.

Speaking with the ETV Bharat, Shantilata Mahanta of a nearby village said," We used to sell these ‘Sal’ leaves and ‘Mahul’ flowers in the market but due to this lockdown, we are unable to go to the market. If we will not get any scope to sell these leaves and flowers, those would be spoiled very soon. This lockdown has increased our worries as the traders are not coming to the village and we are not going to the market to sell."

"We are unable to go to other villages or towns due to no transportation facility. In this situation we are urging to the government that kindly provide us essential commodities and other facilities for them during the lockdown," said Narahari Mahanta.

"Most of the shops are not open and there is a scarcity of grocery and other items. We all survive on daily wages and now there is no money to meet our basic needs. We are also worried as we do not have money to repay the loan taken through the Women Self Help Group," said Bimala Mohanta.

In such a situation, tribals have requested the government officials to provide them with essential commodities and other facilities for their survival during the lockdown.

"Lockdown declared by the Odisha government in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak has left these tribals in the lurch. Getting essentials including groceries, vegetables, and medicines have become a herculean task for these families", sources added.