International Network for Development

the Koya

Since 1970s, much of the forest on which tribal people depended has been destroyed and the land turned into farms by wealthy outside landowners, often for cash crops. Their lack of education meant the tribal people couldn’t stop this from happening. Some Koya still have the land they inherited, but they depend on the monsoon rains and yields are often not good.  Most work as agricultural labourers and have work for about six months of the year.  For the rest they have to depend for their livelihoods as day labourers if any is available or on collecting products like seeds from which oil or soap is made, grass for brooms and honey from what is left of the forest, which they sell at local markets.

During the monsoon season there are often floods. When the forest was intact, it used to absorb much of the monsoon rain water, but now that most of the forest has been destroyed, the top soil is easily washed away by the heavy rains and the water runs straight into the river. The Godavari River often floods badly and the Koya people living near the river banks lose their homes and crops. At the other end of the scale, during the hot season, water becomes scarce and the area is often badly affected by droughts. 

Many of the villages in this area will have disappeared under water in a few years due to a large dam which is being constructed on the Godavari River which will flood Kukunoor and other surrounding villages...  It is hoped that relocation will be positive and that they will no longer have to face floods and drought.

EDUCATION

If you can speak English you are more likely to get a job and so many parents want a school which teaches in English.  English is the language of power.