1. Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   It has come to our notice that an article titled “Lockdown has pushed Tribes in Odisha’s Niyamgiri Hills to the brink of Starvation” by Abhijit Mohanty. I would like to point out that the article is inaccurate and misleading. Firstly, the headline itself is misleading when it says the Lockdown has pushed us to the brink of starvation. The starvation and malnutrition in the area are a long-unsolved problem because of structural injustices that Adivasi people face. To reduce the problem to just be an impact of the Lockdown is a distortion of reality.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   This comment / allegation has been well explained on the following sections. I did not responded here, just to avoid repetition.

   Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   Secondly, the story has been written without any field visits made by the author and is based on the misinformation provided by certain NGOs. These NGOs have not communicated with the Panchayat or the community in general regarding the matter. In fact, the pictures provided are of a different time and the names do not match the photographs. This seems like the concerned NGOs are posturing as concerned organizations to the larger world to fulfil their project goals.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   Primary information and verbatim have been collected by Susanta Dalai for this article. Dalai has been working in the Dongria Kondh in Niyamgiri for over 8 years, and this fact can be verified based on his various initiatives published in other media platforms. Following links could further prove his work with Dongria:

   http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/07/tribal-priestesses-become-guardians-of-seeds-in-eastern-india/

   http://kalpavriksh.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NiyamgiricasestudyJuly2016.pdf

   https://www.villagesquare.in/2017/09/22/niyamgiri-tribe-revive-wild-harvests-vedanta-victory/

   NGO like Vasundhara, whose name has been cited in the article, is one of the pioneering civil society organisation working on the land rights and forest governance issues in Odisha. Making derogatory remarks by alleging that NGOs are interested to fulfill their project goal, is abusive, unethical, and unacceptable.
   Regarding the miss-matching of pictures and its names, I shall cross-check the matter and get back to you at the earliest.

   Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   Thirdly, if the article was based on facts then it would have not missed the biggest problem we face right now, i.e. the sale of the massive pineapple stocks recently harvested. If these stocks do not move to the market then we are going to lose lakhs.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   The major focus of the article was to highlight the issues of procurement and selling of Minor Forest Products (MFP) by the Dongria. And Pineapple is not a forest products. Neither it is a traditional crop of Dongria, nor did it has the potential to address nutritional securities among Dongria Kondh. Traditional millets, pulses, cereals has significant potentials to address food and nutritional securities of these communities. Besides, Mr. Jitu Jakesika, you are also accepting the fact that there is a concern for moving harvested pineapples to the market, that means transportation and mobility is a problem for selling harvested agriculture produce in Niyamgiri – amidst the lockdown. Now, I want to say here, is not this problem is also applicable for selling/procurement MFP? And that’s what I have written in the article clearly. Can we say that logistic/mobility is only a problem for agriculture produce, and not for forest produce? Absolutely not. This argument is thorough and thorough wrong.

   Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   Fourthly, our Panchayat has taken swift action to address the Lockdown situation. Free ration for three months was distributed by the Panchayat. Rs. 1000 has also been provided per ration card. Nirman Shramik beneficiaries have been provided Rs.1500. All Govt provided benefits have reached the citizens of Kurli Panchayat. Also, several NGOs have provided relief material in several villages of the Panchayat.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   How come any of these philanthropic initiatives solve the problem of selling and procurement of MFP??? As I told, the major focus of the article was to highlight the issues of MFP, now, tell me, if free ration is provided for three months, can it compensate the loss that has been already incurred by the Dongria for not been able to sell their harvested MFP? Is Rs. 1000 is sufficient to cover the loss of 4000 to 6000 rupees from selling MFP, that a Dongira household earn per month for four months in a year. Do Mr. Jitu Jakesika want to say the relief distributed has reached to all the households in Niyamgiri? If yes, I need the evidence of it. Do Mr. Jitu Jakesika want to say three-months ration has been distributed to all the households of Dongria Kondh? If yes, I need evidence of it. As per our findings from ground, some Dongria Kondh don’t have their Aadhar card, and as they are not able to seed/link their ration card with Aadhar, they are not able to access the benefit of PDS.
   I have not said that there was no relief measures undertaken by government, civil society, panchayat. My submission is very simple, “No amount of Relief and Supplies can compensate the loss of MFP-income for the Dongria Kondh.” Why Jitu Jakesika is putting a deep silence on the issues of MFP? He is addressing all other issues, which was not the focus agenda in the article. But he is not uttering a single word on the MFP issue. Why? MFP plays a critical role in ensuring basic income for all the Dongria Kondh household during off-season. This is what I have written. I have also written that private traders are operating in Niyamgiri, and paying less price for MFP to the Dongria. Why Mr. Jitu Jakesika is not giving his remarks on this?

   Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   I would like to point out that the village mentioned in the article, Kadragumma, is just 1km away from the Panchayat headquarter and I have not been informed of any starvation case due to the Lockdown. Let me repeat that starvation, malnutrition, health problems, livelihood problems are endemic to our region because of years and years of exploitation and apathy. To reduce the problem to just be an effect of the lockdown is a grave distortion.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   My article clearly projects that if the issue of procurement of MFP is not address by the government on a timely-fashion, it will adversely affect the socioeconomic status of the Dongira. Where I have said anything wrong about it?
   Because, subsistence agriculture and gathering forest based produces are the main source of livelihood for these communities. The lockdown has adversely affected timely selling of harvested MFP. And this has been mentioned in the article, with primary and secondary data/facts/observation. Mr. Jitu Jakesika is saying that he has not heard any cases of starvation in Kadragumma. Have I wrote in the article there are reported-cases of starvation in the said village? No. If government don’t act swiftly, the situation may turn worse, leading to hunger, that’s what the essence given as a concluding remark in my article.

   Mr. Jitu Jakesika

   I find this article to be unethical and incorrect. Rather than stating our real problems, the NGOs are twisting the narrative to serve their agenda. Since we do not have access to mainstream media like your website our voices are not represented and Delhi based writers are cooking up stories that serve their interests. I strongly condemn this unethical reporting and urge the website to pull down the article or make immediate corrections.

   Mr. Abhijit Mohanty

   In a democratic country like India, each citizen has his/her rights to express their opinion, and freedom of speech is enshrined in our constitution. I am repeating my earlier statement here, in this article, my focus was only on MFP. And I restricted my article on highlighting several micro and macro level issues concerning MFP and how the lockdown is affecting the livelihood of Dongria Kondh. Why Mr. Jitu Jakesika is arguing that Delhi-based writers does not have any right to write stories on Adivasis? I have started my career in the development sector in 2012, I have worked with many grassroot NGOs working with the tribal communities in Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal districts of Odisha. I have a strong empathy for the issues of tribal communities in India. And it absolutely does not matter, whether am based at New Delhi or New York, I will keep writing stories to advocate the issues Adivasis at the national and international platform.
   Mr. Jitu Jakesika is asking to The Wire to pull down or make immediate corrections on the article. However, after going through his article, I found that his arguments and allegations are thoroughly vague, represents emotional-outburst and a kind of personal frustration. There are very few media agencies in India who dare to speak and reveal the bitter-truth. The Wire is one of them. And it will continue to do so in future as well.

2. Every citizen of this country has right to express their view. I respect it. In regards to MSP for MFP, I have last 6 years of official information about procurement of MFPs under the MSP mechanism rolled out by the Government of India. We found that more than Rs.100 crores is with the State Nodal Agency as well as State Procurement Agency. In last 6 years, the State Nodal Procurement Agency has procured only Rs.369 lakhs worth of MFPs, which only is 6% of total allocation. During this period less than 12000 people have been benefited, while 1/3rd households of Scheduled Tribes of our state critically depends upon the forests and forest resources for their live and livelihood. Before accusing NGOs, I request to visit TDCC web portal and download the information on status of MSP in Odisha. Another fact I would like to bring your kind attention. From April to 1st week of May, more than 20 small and big articles/ news clippings have been published in various local and national news papers on non-procurement of MFPs under MSP and its impact on tribal live & livelihood.

3. I am Susant Kumar Dalai working with the indigenous communities to promote indigenous uncultivated forest foods campaign in and outside of Odisha.I got an opportunity to work with indigenous communities in Niyamgiri hills from 2005. Since then, many times I stood with the communities in their issues.

   As, I have been working with the communities, I know the reality there in the hills. After discussion with one of the most respected and an elder people named Krushna Kadraka of Kadraguma and Sindhe Wadaka from Khajuri, I realised to take up NTFPs Issues. I have extended my support to the Abhijit Mohanty to write grassroot issues in this situation.The writer has never ever written in the article about starvention death occurred. But the writer has written well and described the facts of lack of marketing on MFP during lockdown.

   When the whole world is facing and fighting against the COVID-19, lockdown has badly impacted the livelihood of marginalized forest dwellers across the Country.Forest dependant tribal inhabitants of Niyamgiri hills who were very hopeful and planned to sale their Non-timber Forest products (NTFP) being collected during March-June are the biggest suffers beacue of the distressed sale of their NTFP produces due to the imposition of lockdown.

   The lockdown which has unfortunately coincided with the peak harvesting season of NTFP along with the restriction on their mobility to acess market continues to compel them to sale their produces to the village level Middleman in a very cheaper price.

   If this scenario continues for few more months it will left no options for the community to not to become more vulnerable and also will have negative repercussions on thier future sustenance.

   At this time of crisis, Lockdown has badly impacted the livelihood of marginalized forest dwellers.Which will make them more vulnerable and push them into the poverty trap

   The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. I thank Abhijit Mohanty to brought notice in the article.

   Neither, I have an NGO nor my intention is to make some project.Years of experience in this field and with the communities, I have right also to support them in this pandemic situation.

   The published article in @thewire_in by Mr. Abhijit Mohanty is justified and reflect the truth. He has been writing on the issues of Adivasis for over 8 years. And I wish him to continue his dedicated work for our Adivasi brothers and sisters. Equally thankful to The Wire for providing a platform to address the issues of Adivasis.

   I want to coat here with the consent of Prafulla Samantara who is National Convener, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements and the leader of Lokshakti Abhiyan, Orissa and Goldman Environmental winner Asia, 2017 who
   is environmental activists for their sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the Natural environment recently twitted @thewire_in How Savarna platform “The Wire” publishes Savarna Anti Adivasi Writing! https://t.co/di19VFO4XV #This counter article is unjustified. Article in The Wire nowhere mentioned there was no deprivation before Lockdown rather reported aggravated poverty as fact.

   The 65-year-old from Bhubaneswar, Odisha State, India, has made it his life’s work to fight injustice by lending a voice to Indigenous communities and small scale farmers. Now he has won the prestigious 2017 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia for his relentless efforts.The gold man thanked and appreciated Abhijit Mohanty article on Dongria Kondh

   An iconic leader of social justice movements in India, Prafulla Samantara led a historic 12-year legal battle that affirmed the indigenous Dongria Kondh’s land rights and protected the Niyamgiri Hills from a massive, open-pit aluminum ore mine.
   He further added to continue writing on the issues of our Adivasi brothers and sisters.

   I request to the Nirveda Odisha editor, kindly don’t surface voice of the tribals where they have been struggling, and help the community to get their rights as well.

   I have a respect for the editor and sincerely request him to join hand to fight collectively against the injustice imposed the communities by publishing their real issues.

   Thank you.

4. Hello. I am Susant Kumar Dalai working with the indigenous communities to promote indigenous uncultivated forest foods campaign in and outside of Odisha.I got an opportunity to work with indigenous communities in Niyamgiri hills from 2005. Since then, many times I stood with the communities in their issues.

   As, I have been working with the communities, I know the reality there in the hills. After discussion with one of the most respected and an elder people named Krushna Kadraka of Kadraguma and Sindhe Wadaka from Khajuri, I realised to take up NTFPs Issues. I have extended my support to the Abhijit Mohanty to write grassroot issues in this situation.The writer has never ever written in the article about starvention death occurred. But the writer has written well and described the facts of lack of marketing on MFP during lockdown.

   When the whole world is facing and fighting against the COVID-19, lockdown has badly impacted the livelihood of marginalized forest dwellers across the Country.Forest dependant tribal inhabitants of Niyamgiri hills who were very hopeful and planned to sale their Non-timber Forest products (NTFP) being collected during March-June are the biggest suffers beacue of the distressed sale of their NTFP produces due to the imposition of lockdown.

   The lockdown which has unfortunately coincided with the peak harvesting season of NTFP along with the restriction on their mobility to acess market continues to compel them to sale their produces to the village level Middleman in a very cheaper price.

   If this scenario continues for few more months it will left no options for the community to not to become more vulnerable and also will have negative repercussions on their future sustenance.

   At this time of crisis, lockdown has badly impacted the livelihood of marginalized forest dwellers.Which will make them more vulnerable and push them into the poverty trap

   The dramatic spread of COVID-19 has disrupted lives, livelihoods, communities and businesses worldwide. I thank Abhijit Mohanty to brought notice in the article.

   Neither, I have an NGO nor my intention is to make some project.Years of experience in this field and with the communities, I have right also to support them in this pandemic situation.

   The published article in @thewire_in by Mr. Abhijit Mohanty is justified and reflect the truth. He has been writing on the issues of Adivasis for over 8 years. And I wish him to continue his dedicated work for our Adivasi brothers and sisters. Equally thankful to The Wire for providing a platform to address the issues of Adivasis.

   I request to the Nirvaday editor, kindly don’t surface voice of the tribals where they have been struggling, and help the community to get their rights as well.

   I have a respect for the editor and sincerely request him to join hand to fight collectively against the injustice imposed the communities by publishing their real issues.

   Thank you.

   I want to coat here,

   Prafulla Samantara, National Convener, National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements and the leader of Lokshakti Abhiyan, Orissa and Goldman Environmental winner Asia, 2017 who is environmental activists for their sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the Natural environment recently twitted @thewire_in How Savarna platform “The Wire” publishes Savarna Anti Adivasi Writing! https://t.co/di19VFO4XV #This counter article is unjustified. Article in The Wire nowhere mentioned there was no deprivation before Lockdown rather reported aggravated poverty as fact.

   The 65-year-old from Bhubaneswar, Odisha State, India, has made it his life’s work to fight injustice by lending a voice to Indigenous communities and small scale farmers. Now he has won the prestigious 2017 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia for his relentless efforts.The gold man thanked and appreciated Abhijit Mohanty article on Dongria Kondh

   An iconic leader of social justice movements in India, Prafulla Samantara led a historic 12-year legal battle that affirmed the indigenous Dongria Kondh’s land rights and protected the Niyamgiri Hills from a massive, open-pit aluminum ore mine.
   He further encouraged Abhijit Mohanty to continue his writing on the issues of our Adivasi brothers and sisters. Good work Abhijit Mohanty. More courage to THE WIRE.

5. I know Abhijit Mohanty for the last 8 years. He has extensively worked with the Adivasis communities in Odisha. His recent article published on The Wire about the Dongria Kondh reflects the truth, like other tribal communities, the Dongria Kondh too suffering from lockdown and not been able to sell their harvested minor forest products. I strongly condemned the counter article written by Mr. Jitu Jakesika. The title of his article is highly offensive and is a direct attract to a journalist. I request Nirveda to immediately withdraw the article of Mr. Jitu Jakesika. Or else other emminet personalities and activists like Prafulla Samantaray will highlight such shameful act executed by Mr. Jitu Jakesika and endorsed by Nirveda. I also like to admire THE WIRE for vhemently promoting journalism in it’s true spirit. We are with Abhijit Mohanty. We are with The Wire. Jay Hind

6. Niyamgiri has become a Goldmine for Savarna owned NGOs with at least a dozen such NGOs operating in the region. Many of them are funded by the killers of Kalinga Nagar, Tata.

   If one were to look into who the funders (info available on their respective websites) are for the NTFP project of the NGO mentioned in this story and for the Wire it turns out both are the same, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives! The same capitalist charity also funds several other NGOs in the Niyamgiri region and even distributed Covid19 relief material.
   What is the real purpose of these capitalists being so charitable around Niyamgiri?
   Is it to dilute the revolutionary Adivasi movement against Brahmin Bania nexus to exploit bauxite reserves and destroy the sacred mountain?

   The Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti has always maintained distance from NGOs so it is surprising that so many NGOs are claiming to be working in the area.

   It would be most revealing if one were to do a caste census within the employees of these NGOs. How many Brahmin savarnas are employed and what are their salaries and how many Adivasi people get employed and in what position.
   Obviously since the projects are mostly dealing with forest produce, agriculture, then the real experts would be the Adivasi people themselves so shoudnt they be getting paid for their expertise and knowledge that these NGOs document and turn into reports for their donors?

   Not to forget the largest NGO of Odisha, Achyut Samanta’s KISS, a Manubadi project very similar to RSS’s free schools for Adivasis and the ‘stolen generation’ schools for indigenous people in Australia and Canada. KISS is funded by Tata, Vedanta, Adani, etc. and is opening a chain of ‘free schools’ across Odisha where Adivasi children are assimilated into mainstream Manubadi Jaganath culture. Achyut Samanta is even held up as a ‘Living God’ of the Adivasis!!!

   The Govt of course has a bunch of organisations to ensure the funds meant for Adivasis never reaches them, like the ITDA, OTELIP, DKDA, etc. A cursory glance at their activities will reveal these are not just agencies of corruption but that they serve the Manubadi agenda of taking the Jagannath cult into the last remaining spaces where Brahmin Gods do not dominate.
   While BrahmiN Savarna saviours are held up as living gods and get Green Nobel prizes, the Adivasi leaders and activists are routinely harassed, tortured and incarcerated which gets no attention or outrage ever. Adivasi activists languish in jails for years without enough resources to get proper legal representation.

   Is it not a heinous crime that the Brahmin Savarna NGOs make so much money in the name of Adivasis while the Adivasi leaders themselves cannot afford basic health care and legal fees???

7. The outright intellectual bullying by the Savarna NGO coterie with online comments that make veiled as well as direct threats against the Dongria Kondh youth activist for calling out inconsistencies in an article in corporate sponsored media is emblematic of the Brahminisim of these NGOs, and their intolerance for criticism from the very people the claim to work for.

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