For the Dongria Kondh tribals living in Niyamgiri hills in Rayagada district of Odisha, the policemen are the people to go to for their developmental needs and medical care.
On Wednesday, 34 Dongria tribal representatives from five villages under Sikapadar panchayat reached the Rayagada district headquarter on their own to hold discussions with top police officials. They were from villages namely Khambesi, Jarapa, Serkapadi, Kesharpadi and Batudi. These tribals from Maoist infested areas had not come over to discuss any law and order problem but had come forward to put forward their grievances related to basic amenities and development like road communication, supply of electricity, drinking water supply etc. Apart from these grievances they also submitted a memorandum to Superintendent of Police (SP) of Rayagada, K.Siva Subramani urging his intervention and support in coordinating with district administration for formation of a new panchayat headquarter at Panimunda village. According to them if Panimunda became a panchayat headquarter then inhabitants of remote villages would be benefited during disbursement of PDS rice, old age pension, widow pension etc provided by government.
Although the issues taken up by the tribals were related to district administration these tribals felt more at home discussing the issues with police officials. The SP promised the Dongria representatives that he would take up the matter with the Rayagada Collector.
Two months of effort
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Subramani said this rapport with the tribals was the outcome of two months of efforts by the police personnel to get closer to the Donfria tribals.
According to him, through regular direct interactions and other efforts to build up personal relationship, police personnel of three police stations namely Muniguda, Kalyansinghpur and Bisamkatak have changed the image of police force in the eyes of these Dongria tribals.
Police is no more seen as agents of law and order but catalysts of support and change.
In all these three police stations the reception desks have been named ‘Dongria Adivasi Vikash Sahayak Kendra (Dongria Tribals Development Support Centre)’. Tribals now come to these centers with complaints.
The SP claimed that he is visits all the Dongria Kondh villages of these three police station areas at regular intervals to hold direct discussions with the tribals.
Earlier, people in this region were finding it hard to get transportation to shift ailing patients to nearby hospitals.
Now,ss Dongria tribals have been assured that whenever they come with any information regarding any ailing persons to the police stations, police personnel will make all arrangements to shift the patients to the nearby hospital. The poor tribals are also provided free treatment.
