Malkangiri: Few months ago, they used to work as farm labours to eke out a living. Now, they have become self-reliant and economically independent.

At least 40 women of the Bonda community have found a direct regular source of income in the cashew processing unit, established by the district administration and commissioned a month ago at Mundiguda under Khairput block. It aims to provide a secure livelihood to the Bondas, listed as one of the particularly vulnerable tribal group.

"Our aim was to enhance the Bondas' economy by providing work for them round the year. Cashew is produced abundantly in the Bonda hill, where the tribal group stays. But due to the absence of any processing unit, the tribal people used to sell the raw cashew to traders at throwaway prices. Hence, it was decided to set up a cashew processing unit," said Malkangiri collector K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy.

Officials said the tribal people used to sell the raw cashew to the traders at Rs 70 to Rs 80 a kg, but now, the administration fixed the price at Rs 140 a kg. "We have roped in three Bonda women self-help groups. They collect raw cashews and sell those to us for the unit. The groups have been provided with a revolving fund of Rs 1 lakh each to procure raw cashew, and they sell it us at Rs 140 a kg," said the Bonda Development Agency's Jugal Kishore Ransingh.

The administration has spent around Rs 80 lakh, including Rs 50 lakh from the Integrated Action Plan fund, to set up the unit. The Bonda women have been provided training to work there and they are paid Rs 200 as daily wages with free accommodation at the unit.

"We used to lead a miserable life. The daily wage was not enough to meet even the household expenses. Besides, we were unable to get work round the year. Now, we have got a regular source of income and can work in a secure environment," said Lachma Kirsani, a Bonda women working in the unit.

Jayanti Dhagdamajhi, another worker of the unit, echoed the same.

The administration has also provided electrician training to at least three Bonda youths, who are engaged to maintain the unit.

"At present, the product is marketed locally. But, it has been planned to package the product and export it to other areas. The unit's capacity is to process at least 1,000 quintals of raw cashew per day," said Ram Krushna Gond, project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Malkangiri.

The collector said the unit had been helpful in arresting migration of the Bondas to other areas in search of work.

The Bonda hill covers about 130sqkm in Mudulipada and Andrahal panchayats and the Bondas' population stands at 7,098 in 1,819 households.