Rayagada (Odisha): While the Dongria Kondhs of Odisha, are struggling to sustain their livelihood after the lockdown abruptly closed their traditional marketplaces, another problem has apparently hit their tradition by forging the indigenous art and culture.
According to reports, the 'Kapadagunda' art of the Dongria Kondhs has become famous in national and international markets but the tribal community has alleged that the art form has been forged and without their concern, an E-Commerce site has started selling materials by putting Dongria Kondhs' art form on their products.
As per Dongria Kondhs' traditional ritual, they draw several pictures and art paintings on the walls of their houses in order to propitiate their forefathers on the occasions like the birth of a child or death of somebody, particularly during the festival like "Meria".
The matter came to light when a business organization put an advertisement about shoes which contained the picture that exactly resembles the one usually drawn by the Dongria community on the walls for worshipping their presiding deity, reports said.
The allegation has come up over the use of such pictures in the shoes. Following the discontentment growing among the community, an FIR has been lodged in the police station in this connection and the Dongria Kondhs have demanded justice for this, reports added.
"We have received a complaint regarding the matter. The department is very concern about such things and we have started an enquiry regarding this. If such forging evidence will come to the fore, we will definitely take actions on it," Jagannath Saraka, Minister for Tribal Welfare Department.
The Minister, Saraka has also assured that the department has taken this matter very seriously and as soon as possible the action will be taken on this issue.
ALSO READ: Odisha's tribals generating revenue using their tradition amid corona crisis
