Education among Dongria Kondh Youth in Niyamgiri Hills: Status and Challenges
Keywords:
Dongria Kondh, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Tribal Education, Niyamgiri Hills, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.Abstract
The Dongria Kondh, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) living in Odisha's Niyamgiri Hills, face significant hurdles in accessing and succeeding in the formal education system. This report synthesises current scholarly evidence to assess the educational status and primary challenges confronting Dongria Kondh youth. Findings indicate that while government initiatives such as Multilingual Education (MLE) and the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aim to improve outcomes, profound barriers remain. Key challenges include linguistic misalignment between the Kui mother tongue and the state-mandated medium of instruction, poor school infrastructure, and the socioeconomic necessity for youth to contribute to household and agricultural labour. Furthermore, the community’s ongoing resistance against industrial encroachment and the transition from forest-based livelihoods to market economies create a complex socio-cultural environment that impacts youth development. The report concludes that while progress is being made through specialised programs, a more integrated approach that respects traditional ecological knowledge and addresses systemic infrastructure gaps is essential for sustainable educational empowerment.
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