Indus Valley Times

Focus on safeguarding Dongria Kondh communities in Niyamgiri

By C.B. Singh

Rayagada, Oct. 29: Timely preparedness and coordinated action by the Rayagada district administration helped avert major damage as Cyclone Montha brought heavy rain and strong winds to southern Odisha on October 28.

Anticipating the cyclone’s impact following the red alert issued for the region, District Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni peonally oveaw the preparedness measures, ensuring that vulnerable areas—particularly tribal settlements in remote parts of the district—were placed under maximum alert.

Special attention was given to the safety of the Dongria Kondh, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) residing in the Niyamgiri hills, which often face heightened risks during extreme weather events.

District Chief Development Officer and CDEO of Zilla Parishad, Akshay Kumar Khemundu, led an extensive on-ground review of sensitive zones in Bissamcuttack and Muniguda blocks. His inspection covered Dongria Kondh villages and hamlets such as Daliakuji, Boriguda, Taladwaragudi, and Uparadwaragudi, ensuring that residents were relocated from unsafe hill slopes to safer shelte ahead of the storm.

During the visit, Khemundu also inspected the temporary shelter at Pusuguda, assessing the arrangements for food supply, drinking water, sanitation, and emergency response systems. He instructed officials to maintain constant vigilance and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all evacuees.

BDO Bissamcuttack Siba Prasad Pattnayak, Tahasildar K. Venkatesh Reddy, and other field-level office accompanied the CDEO during the inspection, coordinating relief measures and verifying ground readiness.

The administration reiterated its commitment to ensuring the complete safety of the indigenous communities of Niyamgiri, emphasizing that proactive planning, early evacuation, and efficient inter-departmental coordination were key in mitigating Cyclone Montha’s potential impact on the district.