Congratulations on being selected to attend the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Programme (to be held in USA from May 9). Are you prepared for it?
I am really happy to get the invitation from the US Consulate General’s office in Hyderabad to attend the programme.
They selected me after going through my background. I will be there from May 9 to May 28. Being a member of the Bonda community, I will present a case study on the major issues affecting the tribal communities, especially the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTG).
I will also try to learn what steps other countries are taking to protect the particularly vulnerable tribal groups. After I return, I will also present a case study before the state government.
You represent Chitrakonda Assembly constituency, which is dominated by Maoists. Have you ever received any threats from them?
Everyone is aware that our area is affected by Maoists. They keep a tab on our activities. If they feel that someone is dishonest and not committed to the cause of common people, they issue all kinds of threats.
As I maintain a simple life and total transparency in my work, they have never threatened me. I am the people’s representative and don’t belong to any particular group.
The kidnapping of former MLA and your party’s current Koraput MP Jhina Hikaka in 2012 and former Malkangiri collector Vineel Krishna in 2011 must have had an impact on the minds of people’s representatives who hail from tribal areas?
Yes, that’s true. But you have no other option but to work in that atmosphere. You have no control over your birth and death. You cannot remain confined to your house fearing possible death. Of course, our movement has been restricted. The state government has already issued guidelines on how to move in Maoist-affected areas. We avoid travelling after sunset.
We are following the guidelines strictly by taking intelligence inputs and sometimes move in a camouflaged manner. In both the kidnappings, Hikaka and Krishna had made a few mistakes. But they did not do that knowingly. Sometimes, you have to ignore guidelines for the cause of the people.
Hikaka avoided visiting his constituency after his kidnapping. Is it the same with you?
I belong to a tribal community -Bonda — which is a reclusive community. I wanted to be the voice of my people. I decided to stay in Chitrakonda and rarely visit Bhubaneswar with this in mind. These visits mostly take place during Assembly sessions.
How do you feel the Maoist problem can be solved?
This is an old problem and cannot be solved overnight. The government alone cannot solve the issue. There is a need to change the public’s attitude. A massive awareness drive is needed for this.
Besides, the government’s implementing agency should effectively implement the various welfare programmes meant for the tribal communities. People should get a chance to see what the government is doing for them.
The Maoists have started issuing threats to the tribal community to join their movement. They have also killed some tribal people.
Bondas are conscious of their self-esteem. They are, by nature, very independent and don’t like to work under any group or system. That spirit of independence has, so far, prohibited us from joining the Maoists. I can proudly say that not a single member of our 12,700 strong Bonda (out of them, 6,670 live in the upper parts of the hills and the rest in the villages adjoining the footsteps of the hills) community has joined the Maoist movement so far. Besides, the Maoists have also not issued any threat to our community.
The rich culture of Bonda community is on the decline. We have noticed that those who are educated among the community have started alienating themselves from the culture…
This is the age of globalisation and modernisation. Modern technologies such as mobile phones, televisions and radios have reached every nook and corner of the state. Despite this, we have been able to preserve our culture and tradition.
In order to preserve it, we have constituted a Bonda Samaj and meet frequently to discuss ways of further preserving our culture and tradition. Despite the fact that we are in the 21st century, our people have, so far, not accepted any kind of pesticides and chemical fertilisers for farming. Even if you provide them with these things free of cost, they will not use it. The world will be surprised to know we have preserved 80 varieties of paddy seeds.
Are there any government initiatives to protect the Bonda culture?
The state government has introduced an innovative system to protect our culture and language. Bonda tribals are being taught in Bonda language using Odia script. The state government has appointed people of Bonda tribe as Multi Lingual Education (MLD) community teachers who are teaching the students in their language. It has helped the Bonda community to understand things easily.
The tribal pockets were considered Congress bastions earlier. But the BJP is slowly replacing the Congress. Why is it so?
Earlier, Koraput and Malkangiri were considered as strongholds of the Congress. But people are fed up with the party because of its faulty policies and the lack of strong leadership. The BJP has taken this opportunity and had tried hard to make inroads into the tribal belt. But if one analyses their vote percentage in the last election, one will see they have miserably failed.
In fact, people have reposed their faith and confidence in the BJD, which has gained because of its dynamic leadership and welfare programmes for tribals. The people living in urban pockets will not understand the importance of Re 1-a-kg rice scheme but it has been a game-changer for the tribals, particularly Bondas.
The scheme has saved them from starvation and is a big help at a time when their crops are destroyed by rain. Similarly, the Rs 300 monthly pension scheme for old people has also helped BJD strengthen its position.
What issues do you wish to take up as an MLA?
A number of rivers criss-cross the Malkangiri district but we are unable to provide irrigation facilities to our people. If we are able to come up with the proposed Saptadhara project, farmlands in our area will be irrigated. The state government has already initiated steps to this effect and made a budget estimate of Rs 26 crore for the project. Work on the Gurupriya bridge project, which will link the district’s mainland areas with the cut-off areas (bicchinanchal), is on in full swing. The project will overcome the problem of transport and communication. The ongoing Vijaywada-Ranchi Highway, once completed, will also boost communication. Health and education also remain major concerns. But the good thing is that government has posted 27 doctors in our district. Another issue is the fear haunting our people because of the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.
Maoists are against the Gurupriya project. Are you hopeful that the project will be completed?
This is a dream project for the people of the area. They have waited 60 years to see the project take off. The work is going on under BSF supervision. Only 16 of the bridge’s 108 pillars are left to be completed.
You are talking of the Polavaram project, but it seems that BJD’s protest over the issue has lost steam.
Our party is constantly organising movements against the project, particularly by raising the issue of the height of the dam. Because of its height, large swathes of land in our district will be submerged. It’s unfortunate that despite a case pending in the Supreme Court, Andhra Pradesh is going ahead with the project.
You married a woman from outside your own community. Do you support inter-caste marriage ?
I have always argued in favour of inter-caste marriage as it exposes you to other cultures. But despite inter-cast marriages, one should strive to protect one’s language and culture
FEARLESS LEGISLATOR
Sisa, 34, a postgraduate degree holder in Mathematics, is now pursuing his PhD in law from Berhampur University
He studied at the residential Sarvodaya Samiti School in Koraput
He joined the CRPF in 2001 in the rank of a constable before taking up a job with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
His desire to work for his community made him quit his job with NTPC and join the social sector
In 2009, he contested on a BJD ticket but was defeated by a margin of only 256 votes by the Congress candidate. He emerged victorious in his second attempt in 2014
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN HAD YOU NOT BEEN A POLITICIAN?
Taking into account my academic background, I would have continued with my job in the CRPF. But, I didn’t want to be selfish and so decided to join the social sector and then politics.
