Gutti Koya Tribals in Post-Conflict India

Context: In 2005, around 50,000 Gond tribals were forced to migrate from Chhattisgarh to then-undivided Andhra Pradesh (now parts of Telangana).

Why were Gutti Koya Tribals Displaced?

• Strategic Hamletting to Counter Maoists (2005): The Government of India launched a “Strategic Hamlet” programme (inspired by the Vietnam War model) in Chhattisgarh to eliminate Maoist presence.
  • Tribals were forcibly relocated from their forest homes to roadside camps for security and surveillance.
  • This led to mass displacement.
• Fear of Maoists: Some tribals did not return home out of fear of Maoist retaliation.
  • Maoists often threatened or targeted tribals who were seen as supporting or collaborating with government forces.
• Continued Violence in Bastar Region: Even after the initial hamletting, violence between Maoists and security forces persisted.
  • The ongoing armed conflict in the Bastar region led to continued displacement, especially in the border areas.
• Neglect and Denial of Rehabilitation: The Chhattisgarh government denied displacement, claiming no tribals had migrated due to violence.
  • There was no proper survey or recognition of the internally displaced people (IDPs), delaying rehabilitation or resettlement.

What are the Challenges they are facing?

• Lack of Legal Protection: India lacks a comprehensive national or international legal framework to protect the rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
  • No birth certificates and hence no Aadhaar, making children ineligible for government welfare schemes and admission to Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV)
• Hostile Treatment in New Settlements: In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, they are seen as “encroachers” or migrants.
  • Their houses are demolished, and they are denied tribal status, even though many were born there after 20 years.
• Poor Access to Health Facilities: Settlements in remote, hilly terrain lack roads and ambulance access.
  • High prevalence of home births (non-institutional delivery).
  • Risk to maternal and child health due to the absence of medical aid.
• Lack of Employment: Geographic isolation and lack of documents like Aadhaar or caste certificates hinder access to job opportunities and government schemes such as MGNREGA.

What Can Be Done?

• Mobile Documentation Drives: Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs) deploy mobile Aadhaar centres to reduce the burden of long travel for displaced tribal families.
  • Women and Child Development officials and ASHA workers should be actively involved in helping families obtain birth certificates.
• Skill Training Programs: Launch tribal-centric livelihood and skill development initiatives under schemes like DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana).
• Access to Healthcare: Set up Mobile Health Units (MHUs) with antenatal, postnatal, and child care services.
  • Incentivise institutional deliveries with maternity benefits and ambulance connectivity.
  • Train local tribal women as health workers to bridge cultural gaps and improve trust.
• Cultural & Social Integration: Involve tribes in local governance (PESA Act) and forest conservation (FRA Act).
  • Address discrimination and exclusion through awareness and sensitisation drives.

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