People & Occupation

Kosal comprises 24.34% of the total population of Orissa out of which 24.41% are males and 24.26% are females. Tribal population comprises 40% of western orissa’s total population. 23.38% of Scheduled caste and 33.9% of Scheduled Tribe population of Orissa are residing in this region. This area has 29.75% of the total economically backward people, 25.8% of the cultivators, 27.52% of the agricultural labourers, 32.18% of the house-hold industrial worker, 25.36% of the workers, 30.54% of the marginal workers and 22.87% of the non-workers of Orissa state. The rural tribal people of the area have their own peculiar belief- systems and are remarkable for their simplicity, integrity and friendliness.

The tribal are divided into two main groups.

(1) Dravidian group:

After defeated and droved out from Northern India by the Aryans, the Dravidian people entered Kosal region via Chattishgarh and then spread across Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and to costal Orissa. Some of them are Sahara (Sabar), Kurmee (the ancient known inhabitants of Sambalpur, after arrival of the Kandh they migrated towards Keonjhar , Mayurbhanj and Daspalla area), Kandh (from Central India, the Kandhs have migrated towards south and found mostly in Balangir – Boud – Athhmallik areas), GanId (found across Kosal , they had migrated from Bindhya- Satpura range to Kosal region), Binjhal (found mostly in Balangir – Bodasambar – Khariar – Bindranuagarh in Chattishgarh ), Bhuiyan (mainly found in Sundargad – Banei – Bamra areas), Khadia (found mostly in Sudargarh – Sambalpur areas), etc.

(2) Munda group:

Kohl, Kishan, Koda, Oram, Munda, Santhali, etc belong to this group. These native tribes are bit underdeveloped than the Dravidian tribes inhabiting in Kosal. They have not accepted cultivation as their prime occupation. For in existence they collect forest products and by offer labour to others. They are well built, hard working and simple by nature.

Other native castes:

Aghria, Bamhan (Jhadua, Udia, Raghunatia, Halua, Kanajia, Laria), Bhulia, Chamar, Chasa, Dumbhal, Gana, Gaud (Jhadua, Udia , Maghada, Nanda), Ghansia, Karan (Jhadua, Udia), Khandayat, Khyatria, Kosta, Kulta, Mali, Odra (Sahasia, Rana/ Maharana, OdaChasa ), Panra, Shuda, Sunari, Teli, etc.

Through generation of interaction between the tribal and non tribal of the region, the acculturation has not only affected the tribal to get into a process of de-tribalisation but has also made the non tribal inhabitants to acquire many tribal features (i,e; tribalisation). Careful observation on the people of this region reveals the mutuality of the process. Glimpses of this integration can be observed in the inbuilt simplicity, friendliness and amity, and in many material and non material aspects of life. The perfect example of influence of tribal on the Aryans in this region is the acceptance of goddess Samalai, Budhaling, Pitabali by the later as their prime God and Goddess. Kosal which as a society with complex culture grew through the processes of tribalisation and detribalisation, encultures its inhabitants in such a manner that the forces of modernisation, instead of transforming it to a new mode of life, help in enhancing the appeal of its tradition.

Occupation:

Like other part of the country, the general Kosli people of this region are affluent class. They are in every sphere of occupation from basic agriculture to government, to private sector and into MNCs jobs holding good positions. But, due to the state government’s apathy towards the development of Kosal region, the unemployment problem persist among them in large number than the costal Orissa belt. Participation of Kosli people in state government jobs is very minimal. Almost all of the state government jobs in Kosal region are occupied by people from costal Orissa. The general Kosli people do business as well but confined in small sector only. Entrepreneurship skills lacks among them mostly. The Bhulia caste is very good at waving techniques and has brought many glories and awards such as Padmsri awards to the state. World famous Sambalpuri handlooms have reached to its zenith by the craftsmanship of this caste spread across Sambalpur- Bargarh- Sonepur tracts.

Industries as a means of expansion of employment have failed in this region in the large scale, small scale and cottage- sectors equally. Small- scale industries in Kosal are only 6.5% of the total number of units Orissa is generating. Only 7.4% of the total employment of Orissa is contributed by this region. In the handloom and cottage- industry sectors, on the other hand, 37.01% and 29.7% of the total employment of Orissa respectively are drawn from this Kosal region. Thus the large- scale and small- scale industries in this region need serious review from both economical and ecological angles.

All the tribal in Kosal region are not at the same level of development. A few are shifting cultivators who interact intimately with the hill ecosystems and most of them either earn their livelihood from settled agriculture or by selling their labour to forest contractors and miners. The Bhuyans of Bonai and Kandhs of Thuamul- Rampur are examples of shifting cultivators. The Binjhals, Orams, Mundas, Kissans and Kandhs of other areas are settled agrarians and/ or industrial labourers. The Kudas and Mirdhas are traditionally known for their earth works. Across the generations, through oral history it is ascertained that, there is a rapid change in their environment, economy and culture. The physical environment, as a survival and socio- cultural support system having deteriorated, has given rise to acute socio- cultural dislocations. Nearer home, the poor tribal have been exploited and ignored in the name of national development. The minor forest products which are major sources of income for the tribal being pushed into consumerist market has marginalized them further.

Unable to obtain a livelihood in their deteriorated forest land, has resulted in an increase of migrant labour and other cultural dislocations. The orthogenetic skill for their life- support system from their local resources has turned disused, alienating many from the production process. A year of late rains, ruining the harvest and causing famine and drought means the dispersal of tribal and rural communities to migrate into and settle at nearby urban centers and other employment potential pockets, throwing themselves to the mercy of the rich gentry in the irrigated areas, forest and civil contractors. Many of them leave their children in the care of the old who are themselves left totally uncared for. Their mode of living in dry season due to scarcity of forest based food compels them depend on exploiters forcing them into distress sells and debt traps.

Thus, the natural and built- in environment of Kosal is in a crisis and need the urgent attention of all concerned with a focus on the anthropogenic aspects of the crises. The poor tribal have been exploited and ignored in the name of national development. The minor forest products which are major sources of living hood for the tribal being pushed into the consumerist market has marginalized them further. It is true that some minerals are important but not more so than human.

(Excerpts taken from the books, “Sambalpur Itihaas” by Sri Shiba Prashad Dash and ” West Orissa : A study in Ethos” by Sambalpur University).