Seraikela: Tribal Settlements at Dalma Foothills Face Basic Amenity & Wildlife Crisis

Seraikela: The primitive Sabar and Kharia tribal families living in the jungle foothills of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary continue to struggle for basic amenities. The situation is particularly alarming in the Pahadhar Kharia settlement, located under the Lupungdih Panchayat of the Neemdih police station area.

House Destroyed by Elephant; No Compensation for Two Months

About two months ago, a wild elephant demolished the house of Raghunath Sabar and consumed all the food grains stored inside. The victim’s family alleges that they have not received any compensation from the Forest Department so far. Terrified by the threat of recurring attacks, the entire family is forced to abandon their home every night and sleep at a nearby school.

Life Dependent on the Forest

The primitive tribal families living in the Pahadhar Kharia settlement depend entirely on the Dalma forest for their survival. They sustain their livelihood and support their families by gathering forest produce such as tubers, dry firewood, sal leaves, and traditional datun (wooden toothbrushes) to sell in the local market.

Acute Crisis of Roads and Water

The settlement lacks proper road connectivity, and access to clean drinking water remains a severe issue. Villagers report that they are still forced to drink water from natural streams. During the rainy season, the mud tracks become completely blocked, making it incredibly difficult to transport sick individuals to the hospital.

Deprived of Government Schemes Due to Lack of Documents

Several Sabar children in the settlement do not even possess birth certificates. Due to the lack of identity documentation, these children cannot access government welfare programs like student scholarships. They face similar hurdles when trying to enroll in schools or open bank accounts.

Local residents allege that development is restricted merely to paperwork and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, while the ground reality remains drastically different. “How much longer will the Sabar community face such neglect?” villagers questioned.

Official Responses

“The matter regarding the damage caused by the elephant has been brought to our notice. We will inquire with the Forest Department about the status of the compensation process. Furthermore, we will organize a special camp right in the settlement to issue birth certificates and identity documents. We have also forwarded a proposal to resolve the drinking water and road connectivity issues.”

— Block Development Officer (BDO), Neemdih

“Both the Central and State governments run multiple welfare schemes tailored specifically for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). We will ensure that the benefits of all these schemes reach this settlement effectively.”

— Deputy Commissioner (DC), Seraikela