Odisha Grants Habitat Rights to Saora Tribals

Bhubaneswar: In a significant move towards empowering Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Odisha has granted habitat rights to the Saora tribals of Gajapati district.

The Saoras, known for their sustainable living and rich cultural heritage, are the fifth tribal group in the state to receive such rights, allowing them to protect and preserve their ancestral lands and sacred sites.

The District Level Committee (DLC) in Gajapati, under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), recently approved these rights for 128 villages in Mohana and R Udayagiri blocks. This approval underscores the district administration’s dedication to safeguarding the traditional habitats of tribal communities.

According to the FRA, habitat rights include the customary areas and additional habitats within reserved and protected forests of PVTGs and other forest-dwelling scheduled tribes. With these rights secured, the Saoras can continue to perform their religious and cultural practices without any interference.

Previously, the ST and SC Development Department facilitated habitat rights for the Paudi Bhuyans in Deogarh, Juangs in Keonjhar and Jajpur, and Chuktia Bhunjia in Nuapada. Apart from Odisha, states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have also granted habitat rights to their respective PVTGs.