We recently met Pahari Korwas during our visit to Korba district of Chhattisgarh. Pahari Korwa is a group of indigenous people classified as PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) in India. Traditionally, these people are hunter gatherers, and still follow that lifestyle to a certain extent. During our ground reporting we found that the government has given them land for cultivation, but these people do not show any inclination towards agriculture. However, schemes like MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) have helped them. The Right to Food Act also ensures that they at least get enough rice to eat. But we noticed some worrying things, when we spent time with them.

The mortality rate among Pahari Korwas is very high, the literacy rate is very low, and incidence of child marriage is high, with girls and boys as young as 12-13 years old getting married. Most of the population, especially women, are malnourished. The collapse of the family system is apparent. We met many families where parents were separated and children were left in the care of grandparents.

From what we understood, one reason for this situation is that these tribes have been abandoned at a crossroads. The government of India convinced them to settle down in one place, and engage in agricultural activities, but did not do enough to make sure that this rehabilitation succeeded. The government failed to ensure that till such time that these people acquire the skills for agriculture, they have enough food and the scope to engage in other activities to lead a healthy life. We felt a clear lack of motivation to live a good life, and it will take a long, sustained effort to bring them back from the brink, otherwise this group could soon become extinct.