Known traditionally for the hard life, due to lack of basic amenities there, Jharkhand’s tribal villages have it much easier now, thanks to the Government’s sturdy development initiative.
These days, radios, TV sets, even cable television, mobile phones, memory cards and pen drives can be found in those nomadic tribal villages, especially in hilly areas.
There was a time when nothing was available in the villages. Even getting foodgrain was tough job. Nowadays, however, tribals are getting more attracted towards the life of people living in surrounding villages.
Mobile phones are available for the same price as a goat. They are also an affordable way for tribe members to take advantage of modern day technologies without losing their wonderful, rich traditions.
Instead of raging against their destiny, they have made things tolerable by cutting out luxuries and concentrating on necessities. These are not the impulsive purchases of people who are not thinking hard about what they are doing.
Despite lacking a ‘material culture, about 30 per cent of Birhors, a primitive nomadic tribe, have been found to listen to the radio and follow the language and programmes. A study found that some Birhor families even have TV antennas on their roofs.
Budhan Birhor, residing at Darukasmar of Mandu block, did not buy his TV on credit - he saved up over many months just as a mother starts saving for her young daughter’s wedding by buying small pieces of jewellery and utensils.
In a few regions (hilly terrains), which lack mobile network, several youth have trendy cellphones and tablets (especially Chinese phones), using them as a multimedia device for listening to songs and watching video clips.
It is generally believed that though tribe find it difficult to make both ends meet, and sometimes don’t have enough to buy their food, even the poorest can afford a cellphone!
Mobile phones can play a vital role in the holistic development of the primitive tribe. Even in the most remote regions of Jharkhand — where indigenous people have almost no access to mainstream news in a language they can understand, where almost all communication is done by word of mouth — the phone gives them a new kind of power to improve their lives.
With the Government initiatives, a quick mobile phone call can lead to food delivery for hungry children, investigation into police brutality, payment for workers and access to much-needed medication.
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