Social Customs & Political Structure

The socio-political governing and decision-making body of the Dongria Kondh community is also known as the Kutumba. To make the work of the body more efficient the Kutumba is then divided into two groups one which functions at the level of clan or Kuda Kutumba and one at the level of settlement or Nayu Kutumba. The management of each clan is then done according to a more root level division, in which a separate group of people are dedicated to address the religious and political matters of the Dongria Kondh hence four functional groups or punjas are formed. The punjas of the Dongria Kondhs are jani, pujari, bismajhi and mandal. The kuda kutumba presides over the matha mandal which manages the affairs of a particular clan in a cluster of villages. It presides and solves disputes related to inter-ethnic and inter-religious groups. The Dongria Kondh have adopted a system of imparting cultural and traditional values to the adolescents and youths in their villages through exclusive youth dormitories. The Dongria women are also given equal status in the society in matters such as widow remarriage, possessing property without the interference of their husbands and sons.

The Dongria Kondh family structure depends on which clan the person belongs to as clan exogamy is practised in this community which according to some people is a process of incest taboo prevalent among these communities in its customs. These exogamous clan group have resulted in existence of dominant clan groups which was due to a process of marriage and kinship which formed during a long period of time.