Flip Side Of Freebies: Alcoholism Is Ruining Tribal Communities — A Ground Report From Chhattisgarh

There are many vulnerable tribal groups in Chhattisgarh. We travelled to Raigarh's Dharamjaigarh in search of the Birhor tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) living in the region.

The Birhors are less than 3,000 in number in the entire state. Less than a hundred of them are currently living in Dharamjaigarh's Khalbora village. Kendaram Birhor, a member of the Birhor tribe in the village spoke to Swarajya and admitted that the tribesmen are resorting to alcoholism as a result of the freebies being provided by the government.

'Bir' means jungle and 'hor' means men. The community speaks the critically endangered Birhor language and were hunter-gatherers traditionally. They are a part of the particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG). They worship nature. Local legends say that they are the descendants of Lord Surya — the sun god.

But it is now a community in deep crisis.

"Earlier, it was a dense jungle. We did not have any roads, electricity, drinking water supply or a single sign of development", Kendaram says, recalling his experience of having to cross a powerful stream nearby just to reach Dharamjaigarh town.

Successive governments in the state and centre have tried reaching out to the community in an attempt to uplift their current standard of living. The Birhor tribe used to be hunter-gatherers and ate fowl, monkeys, rabbits and other smaller birds that were available to them. They made ropes and sold honey that they collected in the jungle.

Slowly, the government taught them how to cultivate crops and rear cattle. They took it up. They never had the concept of a formal economy or money. They started cultivating sugarcane, but frequent bear and elephant attacks demotivated them from growing the crop. Instead, they took up paddy cultivation and started to make money by selling it in the markets nearby.

Traditionally, the tribe drank alcohol made from Mahua trees. But now, because of the freebies they are provided with, some of the tribesmen are having serious issues with excessive alcohol consumption, locals say.

"We get rice at one rupee per kilo. We have a borewell now, so we get free drinking water. By selling crops that we grow, the Birhors are making some money daily. Goat shelters were provided so that cattle-rearing could be done, but some people were selling the animals in exchange for money or alcohol," Kendaram tells Swarajya.

Kendaram has visited almost every Birhor settlement in Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Odisha. He says that the community, almost in every district, has an alcohol problem today. People are losing lives as a result of this, he claims.

With folded hands, Kendaram requests government intervention in banning the production and sale of country liquor made from Mahua trees. He says that it is destroying the community in Raigarh and other districts.

"When people's lives are affected because of alcohol, there are others who try and take advantage of this situation. Christian missionaries have approached the tribe and told them that the solution to their misery can be found in the Holy Bible," Kendaram adds.

He says that four to five families (of Manjhis) living in the village have been victims of conversion activities by the missionaries. He also says that other Adivasi groups are also affected by this and that it is not exclusive to Birhors alone.

"Our children are dying of hunger, but the men are not interested in saving up money. They never had that concept. Instead, they eat whatever's available and end up selling the crops that they cultivate for money. They use the 100-200 rupees they earn every day to purchase liquor," Kendaram complains.

He is hoping that the government takes note of this and intervenes at the earliest.

Media reports in the past have highlighted some cases of alcohol affecting the tribal communities in the region, Birhors included. In Jharkhand, Birhors are penalised with bottles of country liquor (Hariya) for crimes they commit. There have been requests from the community to reduce the price of liquor.

It is not just the men who suffer from alcoholism, Birhor women are also reportedly affected by this. Some media reports in the past have shed light on the same issue. The government has tried to modernise their lifestyle but has failed time and again since the Birhors prefer living a nomadic life.

Slowly, but steadily, things are changing. But one can ask — at what cost?