They live atop the Bonda hills in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, segregated from the mainstream and have rarely stepped out of their environs, so an invitation to attend this year’s Republic Day parade in the national capital was beyond their dreams.
For Dhabalu Sisa (41) and his wife Samari (46), an invitation letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting them to Delhi for the parade on January 26, changed everything and they have not stopped beaming since, an official of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) said on Saturday. The Bondas are members of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
Dhabalu and Samari reside in Bandiguda village under Mudulipada gram panchayat of Malkangiri district. The couple may be first from the community to go to Delhi and shake hands with President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi, the official said.