Education & literacy

“The goal is to prepare some model students in our villages, so that others will be inspired to follow them.” – Santal educationist Boro Baski in “Long-term success of non-formal Adivasi school in West Bengal” (D+C Development and Cooperation, 2 July 2009)
https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/long-term-success-non-formal-adivasi-school-west-bengal
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=2274

“We are nothing without the forest, and the forest is nothing without us”: Kattunayakans in the Nilgiris, one of the last few remaining honey gathering communities of the world – Tamil Nadu

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Living in the Nilgiris, the Kattunayakans are one of the last few remaining honey gathering communities of the world. Over many generations they have mastered the skills required to tap honey and they take great pride in their knowledge and expertise. For the tribal community, honey gathering is of social, cultural, economic and spiritual relevance. … Read more

“Democracy and caste system can’t go hand in hand”: Paying attention to the enforcement of India’s 1989 act to prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against members of SCs and STs (Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes)

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Hardly anyone seems to have paid attention to India’s dismal showing at the UN Human Rights Council’s universal periodical review when the latter alleged that India is “all words, no action” on working against caste and related discrimination. The allegations are built around, among other things, data from the National Crime Records Bureau, which says, “Atrocities … Read more

Turning sacred groves into oases of biodiversity through community participation: The People’s biodiversity register (PBR) – Goa

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Rajendra P Kerkar, Times of India, Dec 1, 2016 KERI: The village panchayat of Bhironda in Sattari taluka has become the state’s first local self-governing body to have completed work on the people’s biodiversity register (PBR) in keeping with the Biodiversity Act, 2002. As per the Act, PBRs are to be prepared in consultation with locals … Read more

Putting an end to exploitation: The Halpati women who don’t want financial help from anybody – Gujarat

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Of Spice & Spirit: 24-YO Quits Cushy Job to Double Income of Gujarat Tribe! Jovita Aranha, The Better India, 3 July 2018 Turn the pages of history, and it will narrate the plight of the Halpatis of Gujarat, one of the most backward tribal communities. For the longest time, they have struggled to break away … Read more