Kalahandi, one of the KBK districts in Orissa has always been in news due to poverty, hunger, starvation deaths and sale of children. Picture of the hungry people of the district sells well before the international community for mobilization of funding by NGOs. These NGOs and so-called Development Agencies make money and enjoy their life with the money donated for development of tribal people of the district. There has not been any visible change in poverty and development scenario of the state, in spite of huge fund inflow.
In contradiction, Kalahandi district is endowed with huge natural resources. Historically the region was known as Karunda Mandala, due to availability of precisou stones. The district also has huge reserves of bauxite, primary raw material for aluminium. Yet more than 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, as per 1997 Census.
Off late Companies have expressed their interest to utilize the mineral resources and set up aluminium industry. Vedanta Aluminium is the first company to set up the first mega industry in the district. Another company – joint venture of Dubal and L&T – is going to start mining activities in the district, while their refinery and smelter will be located in other districts.
These industries will no doubt influence the socio-economic scenario of Kalahandi district, which is often characterized by unemployment and non-industrialization. The most significant contribution by the industrial activities is employment generation. This is quite evident from Vedanta’s Aluminum Refinery at Lanjigarh. A lot of employment opportunity is available in the locality. The project has provided gainful employment to about 2,500 local people. While about 2,000 people had got direct employment in the refinery, over 2,000 others get indirect income generating opportunities. Local youths are trained on various employability skills and are being engaged in the company or in the contracting company. The number will certainly increase, when ancillary industries will come up. More economic activities will boost local business and more and more people will get business opportunities.
Earlier the tribal people here were getting Rs. 20~30 per day for labour work, now their wage has increased upto Rs. 100. They no more need to migrate to other places, in search of work. Rather people from other areas are coming to this small village for job. This will certainly enhance the socio-economic profile of the area.
However, more initiatives from Government as well as the Company are needed to make people employable in these industries. Only creation of job is not enough. The second step is to train the local people and make them job-ready. Otherwise, Kalahandi people will miss the opportunity. Vedanta has taken up several steps to train people and employ them in the company, directly or indirectly.
Understanding the agrarian mindset and interest of local people the company has initiated a program called Shashya Shilpa Abhiyan, an initiative on vegetable cultivation to give a boost to agriculture in the area. As per the company sources, Nearly 550 farmers from 45 villages are partnered this project. The company bears the expenses for irrigation and diesel pump sets are provided to the farmers. These farmers are growing cauliflower, brinjal, ladyfinger, cabbage, tomato and radish etc. Monthly income of partner farmers has grown up to Rs. 4500/- per month from Rs. 1500/-, on average. Besides, the Company is also providing capacity building and technical support for pisciculture, goatery as well as horticulture. This is really a welcome step. Industrialization has not only created more job opportunities, it is also strengthening local agriculture.
However, more initiatives are desired. People from the entire district should get the training cum capacity building support. The company should set up a permanent training facilities and Skill up-gradation centers. This training center should impart technical training in different areas.
There are some NGOs and the so-called activists, who project themselves as saviors of tribal community and the environment are deliberately inciting people against industrialization. Whatever their intention may be, the ultimate looser shall be the tribal people. If they are really serious about development of local tribal, where were they five years before? If the industrial activity is stopped, can they provide the improved employment opportunities? No, they will go back, leaving the tribal to the fortune of hunger and migration.
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