Where We Work

Sikshasandhan works for the tribal communities In Odisha in the following districts


The following community are the main focus of our initiatives

Ho

The Ho people are an ethnic group in India. The ethnonym "Ho" is derived from the Ho language word hō meaning "human". The name is also applied to their language which is an Austroasiatic language closely related to Mundari. Over 90% of the Ho practice the indigenous religion. The majority of Ho are involved in agriculture, either as landowners or labourers, while others are engaged in mining. Compared to the other communities, the Ho community has a low literacy rate and a low rate of school enrolment. Sikshasandhan started its work with this group in its inception in the Kaptipada area of the Mayurbhanj district, where they are the predominant tribal group.

Lodha

Lodha means a piece of flesh named after their ancestor. Lodhas have been the focus of anthropologists and social activists. During the early period of their rule, the British government in India oppressed the tribal people of Jungle Mahals, who were traditionally dependent upon the forests for a living. They had revolted but were ruthlessly suppressed. Deprived of their livelihood and without other alternatives, they had to resort to petty crimes and were subsequently branded a criminal tribe. Now the group is declared a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India. They live mostly in the Morada and Suliapada blocks of the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Sikshasandhan started working with them with the support of Lodha Development Agency and Karl Kubel Stiftung, Germany.

Khadia Mankdia

The Khadia and Mankadia are particularly vulnerable tribal communities in the district of Mayurbhanj. They are nomadic food gatherers and hunters, living in the hilly areas of Similipal hill ranges. Simlipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve.Many of them were displaced due to the tiger reserve.Sikshasandhan identifies vulnerable girls from this community and motivates them to continue their education in a special education centre at Jashipur.

Kandha

Khonds (also spelt Kondha, Kandha, Khondho etc.) are a Munda ethnic group and indigenous tribal people of India. Traditionally, hunter-gatherers, are divided into the hill-dwelling Khonds and plain-dwelling Khonds for census purposes. All the Khonds identify by their clan and usually hold large tracts of fertile land but still practise hunting, gathering and slash-and-burn agriculture in the forests as a symbol of their connection to and ownership of the forest. Sikshasandhan works with this group directly in the Rayagada district and as a resource support agency in Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts of Odisha.

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