Bonda Tribe

Category

Details

Tribe

The Bonda people are tribal people who currently live in the hills of Odisha’s Malkangiri district.

Other Names

Also known as Bondo, Bondo Poraja, Bhonda, or Remo.

Groups

The Bondas are divided into two groups based on distinct cultural practices:

• Lower Bondas: Live in the Malkangiri district in south Odisha and border Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• Upper Bondas: Live in the remote villages of the district’s hilly terrain.

Literacy

Only 6% of Bondas are literate.

PVTG Status

This tribe is one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Language

The Bonda tribes in Odisha still speak Remo, an Austroasiatic language that is part of the Mundari group.

Occupation

Primarily farmers, but they also hunt, gather forest products, and perform labor.

Goti System

The unfree labour or Goti system in India is known as Gufam by the Bonda people.

Male Labor

 Male bonded labor is called Gufam-Rem.

Female Labor

Female bonded labor is called Gufam-Boy.

Marriage

Bonda people are often led to bonded labour through marriage, also known as diosing.

A form of dowry (known as Gining) is paid for brides.

Divorce, also known as “Lung Sisi,” is an issue within the Bonda people. The village council determines the severity of the case.

Death Ritual

When a death occurs, it is customary to sacrifice a cow on the tenth day, a practice also known as “Gaitang.”

Chief God

The chief god of the Bondo people is called Mahāprabhu (lit. 'Great Lord').

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q. Consider the following tribal communities.

1. Bonda Poraja
2. Juang
3. Kutia Kandha
4. Mankirdia

How many of the above tribe/s is/are recognized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. Only three

D. All four

Answer D

PVTG Communities of Odisha

Birhor,  Bonda Poraja,  Chuktia Bhunjia,  Didayi,  Dongria Kandha,  Hill Kharia,  Juang,  Kutia Kandha,  Lanjia Saora,  Lodha,  Mankirdia,  Paudi Bhuyan,  Saora.

PVTG (previously known as a Primitive tribal group)

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are a group of tribal community people in need of greater support and development. Out of the 705 Scheduled Tribes in India, 75 have been identified as PVTGs and are spread across 17 states and one Union Territory.

Government of India follows the following criteria for identification of PVTGs

Pre-agricultural level of technology

Low level of literacy

Economic backwardness

A declining or stagnant population.

The government of India initiated the identification of these PVTGs in 1975, and an additional 23 groups were added to the category in 1993.

Due to their vulnerability, PVTGs require greater support and development compared to other tribal groups. The more developed and assertive tribal groups often receive a larger portion of tribal development funds, leaving PVTGs in need of more targeted support.