The Odisha government on Friday conferred Habitat Rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to 32 villages of Paudi Bhuyan particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG) community in the Deogarh district, under the government’s flagship Mo Jungle Jami Yojana (MJJM) initiative.

Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena handed over the Habitat Rights titles to the community leaders here today.

It’s pertinent to note here that Paudi Bhuyan is the first indigenous community from Odisha to receive the Habitat Rights. It is the fourth such title awarded in India under the category following the Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh and Kamar PVTG and Baiga PVTG in Chhattisgarh had legal title and rights over their forest habitats.

During the entire claim filing process, the technical support was extended by Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) under the ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department, said officials.

“This is a proud moment for all of us as the first PVTG community from Odisha, Paudi Bhuyans from Deogarh have been awarded Habitat Rights under FRA,” Commissioner-cum-Secretary Scheduled Tribe & Scheduled Caste Development, Roopa Roshan Sahoo said.

“Now, we will be collecting the minor forest produce (MFP) from the forests and could sell it to the SHGs and government agencies under Laghu Bana Jatiya Drabya Kraya (LABHA) Scheme to ensure minimum support price,” Chendali Pradhan (60), priest of the community Goddess Rambha Devi of Paudi Bhuyan community, from Pacheripani village, after receiving the title document, said.

Tela Pradhan (29) who is the president of the forest rights committee (FRC) of Saranaput village is very much hopeful that it would definitely help the community members of the 32 villages to have better livelihood. Tikeswar Nayak (55) from Gurusang village was hopeful that the Habitat Rights would also pave the way to the development of the religious sites across the 32 villages of the Paudi Bhuyan community in the Deogarh district.

There are 75 Centrally-recognised PVTGs in India. This special category from among the Scheduled Tribes was conceptualised during the 4th Five Year Plan on the basis of the report of Dhebar Commission (1960-61). They were included based on the recommendations of Tribal Research Institutes of the respective states. Odisha houses 13 PVTGs, the highest among all the states.

“This unique achievement is recognition to the socio-economic-cultural identity of Paudi Bhuyans as for generations they were having no recognition either for their own territory or the deities and nature to whom they usually worship,” FRA expert Arabinda Rout said.