ABSTRACT
Siro Mallik is a 48-year-old Khond tribal, living in Tamana village, situated in the foot hills of the Kerandimal range of hills. The village is connected to the main road by a dirt track. Siro had two acres of land, 28 mango trees, six tamarind trees and two Jack fruit trees. Of the two acres, he mortgaged one nine years ago to a landlord for 300 rupees, to meet the expenses of the marriage of his daughter, Tulsa. The mortgage agreement was that the landlord would release the land only after 10 years, after paying the capital with 60 per cent compound interest and, for the 10 years, the landlord would cultivate the land. If after 10 years Siro was not able to repay the capital and interest, the land would belong to the landlord.
