Aishwarya Beejadi
Daijiworld Media Network—Kundapur (RD)

Kundapur, May 13: The Gonda community living on the ranges of Kodachadry hills, near here, is leading a miserable existence owing to lack of civic amenities. The Gonda community belongs to the scheduled tribes who are settled more in Uttar Kannada district and found in Byndoor in Udupi district. Gonda community is found in Ganganadu, Onakodlu, Kyaltoru, and neighbouring villages and are socially neglected.

Ganganadu is a deeply-wooded hamlet that lies about 10 kms away from Byndoor.  A colony of Gonda community members lives at Ganganadu that is surrounded by hill ranges. One should be physically agile in order to walk in the dirt tracks on deep woods.

Farming in jungle:

The Gonda community has made this hamlet as their abode and farmland for over three centuries. They speak Kannada with an Uttar Kannada accent, besides speaking Kannada in Kundapur style.  They follow the tradition of Kundapur.  There are about 23 families in the Gonda colony, and counting a few other families nearby it will be over 50.  Koosa is the head of the Gonda colony.  His deity is Mahasati Amma, while the natives worship Mahalingeshwar and Ugranarasimha at Onakodlu. 

They earn their livelihood by farming and seem not interested in opting for odd jobs.  Even if they are interested, there is dearth of facilities such as drinking water, roads, hospitals, high schools, etc. It was a milestone when the colony got electricity supply three years ago.  Majority of the community lives in thatched roof houses.  Despite crores of rupees are being spent for the progress of scheduled tribes by ST development board, the life of the Gonda community has not been improved yet.

Education and healthcare is a distant dream:
 
The colony has two graduates, Eshwar and Yashoda, who lived in hostels in the cities to pursue their studies. Nonetheless, for others, they had to be satisfied with studies at their local higher primary school.  They had to walk miles together in the jungle to attend classes. Critically-ill patients will not survive as there is no private bus service that is limited to Onakodlu.  The locals are aggrieved over lack of most essential infrastructural facilities.

Gonda community lacks education and healthcare and has no voice to raise their issue even today. As deforestation is taking place, the community will face imminent threat to their existence in the near future.

Gonda community deserves state benefits:

The community is surviving on a little farming and working as farmhands and the concerned department has to take note of their plight and take measures in improving their living standards.  The youth of the community are aggrieved at the state administration for not awarding state benefits such as old age pension, physically handicapped income, Ashraya houses, title deeds, primary health centers, Bhagyalaxmi health insurance, and ration cards.  The dirt roads need to be asphalted for better connectivity at all times.
 
“There is no one to address our grievances.  We have no basic amenities.  Not many educated members in the community.  In spite of us belonging to scheduled tribes, we have not got any state benefits.  Many of us did not get title deeds for our dwellings.  Drinking water is not available during April and May.  We have to depend on a rivulet for this.  We only cultivate during the monsoon season and have no water sources to grow other crops in other seasons. 

The menace of wild animals ransacking the crops is rampant.  Over 300 people are living in a colony that is lacking in basic amenities.  Meanwhile, the community in Uttar Kannada gets many facilities.  Despite us are living in Udupi district, the government has been treating as untouchables.  The living is extremely difficult,” says Keshav Gonda, a local youth.