Area Profile

Context of the community

The tribes in habiting the area are Bhagathas, Valmikies, Kamaras, and Primitive Tribes like Porjas and Kondhs. They converse in a dialect of Adivasi Oriya and Kui. The area is very interior and still most of the villages are inaccessible by vehicles. 90% of the population in the project area is living below the poverty line. Terrain is hilly, traversed by numerous streams rendering many villages inaccessible in the rainy season.

 The livelihoods of the tribal community in the region has a distinct set of economic characteristics which differ widely from the plains adjoining this area of Visakhapatnam, with respect to climate, soil, rainfall, habitat, flora, and fauna. Subsistence agriculture is the primary occupation for nearly 99% of the primitive tribes and includes:

• Primitive agriculture through Slash and Burn Technique on hill slopes, known as podu cultivation,

• Gathering of Non Timber Forest Produces and selling in the open market,
• Farming on terraces or in valleys both under irrigated and rain fed condition, and
• Cattle and backyards gardens.

The current annual average income of house holds in the region ranges is between Rs.15, 000 to Rs.18, 000 (USD 350-400). Indiscriminate podu cultivation has resulted in barren lands with increased soil erosion leading to environmental degradation contributing to poverty and deprivation in the area. Dependence on forest and land has become extremely difficult for the tribal. The rate of growth in population and diminishing forest cover making them extremely vulnerable. Therefore, an integrated, holistic development approach centering around building their local resources and skills to improve the agriculture and Non Timber Forest Produce [NTFP] needs to be adopted to address the issue of tribal poverty and build their economies. 23% are landless and depend on podu cultivation

 There is absence of safe drinking water in 60% of the villages.  The Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) of the area higher side with 195 while the national rates is 135 per 1000 and the Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) in the region are 137 while the national are only 57/1000. The people are still seeped in traditional practices, a few of which can be harmful such as usage of sickle or bow and arrow during the delivery.  The area is endemic with malaria and TB.

 Habitations do not have proper schooling facilities and the literacy rates are lowest with male literacy rate standing at 14% and female literacy rate at dubious rates of 5.65%.