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People from the Baiga community.
People from the adivasi (tribal) Baiga and Gond communities together with those from the Manikpuri caste congregate at Dal Dali village for a traditional annual Mela (fair). The Baiga and Gond people are classified as ST (Scheduled Tribes) and qualify for certain government benefits including job reservations. Manikpuris are classified as OBC (Other Backward Caste) and also quality for government benefits. The centuries-old mela brings together thousands of people – about 80% of whom are from the Baiga tribe. Food, jewelery, fabrics and sweets are sold. The Baiga who traditionally collected fruit and seeds from the forest have more recently settled closer to roadsides where they are better able to access limited government services (food, health etc). Baiga people often live in isolated communities, are ostracized by wider society and are therefore particularly vulnerable to food insecurity.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Bodla block, Kawardha District, Chhattisgarh. India
February 15th 2011
People from the adivasi (tribal) Baiga and Gond communities together with those from the Manikpuri caste congregate at Dal Dali village for a traditional annual Mela (fair). The Baiga and Gond people are classified as ST (Scheduled Tribes) and qualify for certain government benefits including job reservations. Manikpuris are classified as OBC (Other Backward Caste) and also quality for government benefits. The centuries-old mela brings together thousands of people – about 80% of whom are from the Baiga tribe. Food, jewelery, fabrics and sweets are sold. The Baiga who traditionally collected fruit and seeds from the forest have more recently settled closer to roadsides where they are better able to access limited government services (food, health etc). Baiga people often live in isolated communities, are ostracized by wider society and are therefore particularly vulnerable to food insecurity.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Bodla block, Kawardha District, Chhattisgarh. India
February 15th 2011
