Consider the following statements:1. Niyamgiri Hill is located in Kal...
1. Location of Niyamgiri Hill
Niyamgiri Hill is located in the Kalahandi district of Odisha (formerly known as Orissa). The Kalahandi district is situated in the southwestern part of Odisha and shares its borders with several other districts. Niyamgiri Hill is a prominent geographical feature in this region.
2. Inhabitants of Niyamgiri Hill - Dongria Kondhs
The hill is inhabited by the Dongria Kondhs, who are an Adivasi community. The Dongria Kondhs are one of the indigenous tribal groups in India and are known for their unique cultural practices, traditions, and close connection to their natural surroundings. They have been residing in the Niyamgiri Hill region for centuries and have a strong bond with the land.
The Dongria Kondhs are primarily dependent on agriculture, forest produce, and horticulture for their livelihood. They practice shifting cultivation (known as podu cultivation), collect forest resources, and rear livestock. They have a deep knowledge of the local ecosystem and have developed sustainable practices to ensure the balance between their needs and the preservation of natural resources.
The Dongria Kondhs have a rich cultural heritage, which includes their unique language, traditional clothing, music, dance forms, and rituals. They have a strong sense of community and follow their own social and governance systems.
Niyamgiri Hill and the Dongria Kondhs' Connection
The Dongria Kondhs consider Niyamgiri Hill as their sacred and ancestral land. The hill is of significant cultural, religious, and ecological importance to them. They believe that their deity, Niyam Raja, resides in the hill and is the protector of the Dongria Kondh community.
The Dongria Kondhs have been involved in a long-standing struggle to protect their land and traditional way of life from external forces, particularly mining activities. The hill is rich in bauxite, a mineral used in the production of aluminum, which has attracted the attention of mining companies. However, the Dongria Kondhs have vehemently opposed mining activities in the region, as it would not only destroy their sacred land but also disrupt their entire socio-cultural fabric.
Conclusion
To summarize, both statements provided in the question are correct. Niyamgiri Hill is indeed located in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, and it is inhabited by the Dongria Kondh Adivasi community. The Dongria Kondhs have a deep connection with the hill and have been fighting to protect their land and way of life from external threats, particularly mining activities.
Consider the following statements:1. Niyamgiri Hill is located in Kal...
- Niyamgiri Hill located in Kalahandi district of Orissa. This area is inhabited by Dongria Kondhs, an Adivasi community.
- Niyamgiri is the sacred mountain of this community. Vedanta, a major aluminium company, was planning to set up a mine and a refinery here which will displace this Adivasi community.
- They had strongly resisted this proposed development and had been joined by environmentalists as well.A case against the company was heard by the Supreme Court.
- In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court in 2013 directed the smallest units of local governance to use their powers and take a decision on whether the Vedanta group’s $1.7 billion bauxite mining project in Odisha’s Niyamgiri Hills can go forward or not.