Sustainability of Fishing as a Caste-Based Traditional Occupation: An Analysis of Studies on the Kaibartas of Assam, India

ABSTRACT Caste-based traditional occupations like fishing have been under pressure due to the inability of people to enhance technology against the intrusion of well-organised caste as well as non-caste entrepreneurial groups of people in to the trade. Fishing has been a traditional occupation among the Kaibartas of Assam who are recognised as Scheduled Caste. The present paper tries to analyse the sustainability of fishing as a traditional occupation among the Kaibartas of Assam amidst the expansion of organised Pisciculture on commercial basis. Some 25 research studies conducted among Kaibartas have been analysed to assess the situation. Using the DFID’s Sustainable Livelihood Framework, the paper shows that the traditional Kaibarta fishermen are not in a position to improve their livelihood through fishing activities due to lack of required livelihood assets as well as due to lack of reach to the development and welfare plans initiated by the state and the central government.

Socio-Economic Status of Dalits Community in Sindhuli District

This study is based on Kamalamai Municipality, Sindhuli District. There are 56 households of Dalit (Damai 29 and Kami 27) in this area. The census method was used in the study where, total population is 365 from 56 households. Among them, 172 were male and 193 were female. The general objectives of this study are to identify demographic and socio-economic status of Dalits and to find out causes of deprivation of Dalits people in the community. They worked as agricultural labour and service work. Their income is less than their expenditure. Most of them are uneducated but nowadays, the level of education has increased so that their children go to school and college. Only 39 percent were literate and only 7 percent Dalits have passed SLC and +2. They give priority on arrange marriage. Youth generation doesn't like the traditional occupation and skills. They use a lot of alcohol (Jaad and Raski) in the festivals and rituals ceremony however the economic condition of Dalit is poor so many children of them are forced to dropout from schools because their parents cannot afford their education fees. The social status of the females in the Dalit community is very low than the males in the society. After the father's death all the properties is transferred to the son. The main causes for degrading status of Dalits are due to poverty, lack of education and lack of social awareness. So far, there have not been any kinds of policies and plans to uplift the Dalit community in this area.

Using Ethnotaxonomy to Assess Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality: A Case Study with the Vaie People of Sarawak, Malaysia

This article demonstrates the potential of using ethnotaxonomy and nomenclature to assess the vitality status of indigenous languages and traditional knowledge at the ecosystem level. We collaborated with the Vaie people of Sarawak, Malaysia, applying a mixed methodology approach that relies on free-listing to a large extent. We applied the Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality (TraLaVi) index to assess traditional knowledge and language vitality against five major parameters, specifically: language priority, retrieval of information, knowledge erosion, lexical recognition, and social support for exchange of traditional knowledge. The results show that with a TraLaVi score of 0.84, the Vaie language can be considered “safe”. Individuals practicing the traditional occupation of fishing fared better (mean=0.90) than those of the non-fishermen group (mean=0.77). However, when the language vitality was assessed using the Language Vitality and Endangerment assessment tool of UNESCO, the results indicate that the Vaie language could potentially be in the “unsafe” zone, highlighting the differences between the ecosystem based approach of the TraLaVi and the macro-approach of UNESCO. However, these approaches can be applied in a complementary manner to generate a more accurate portrayal of the language vitality scenario.

Analysis of Food Security Program in Malika VDC of Dailekh District

This paper is an attempt to analyze the socio economic impact of food security program in the study area. Food security is widely defined as ‘access by all people at all times to enough food for an active healthy life’. Food insecurity is, therefore, the inability of a household or individual to meet required consumption levels in the face of fluctuating production, prices and incomes. Food insecurity is one of the major problems of the rural community. Community peoples are suffered from more food vulnerability due to the low production & having their traditional occupation as a way of livelihood. Their traditional occupation had faced different challenges due to modernization & globalization. Communities have been affected by the low production, lack of improved agriculture technology, road accessibility, and market facility and have experienced of rapid socio-economic, cultural changes over generation. Their way of earning livelihood differ by the development activities & these changes have been enumerated with case material from the survey.The Saptagandaki Journal Vol.8 2017: 56-68

Knowledge and Practice of Traditional Skill Technology among Hill Dalit of Kaski (A study based on Pariyars, Nepali and Bishowkarma of Kaski District)

There is a rapid change in traditional occupation and traditional skill technology of Dalit. The study shows that knowledge of the Traditional Skill Technology among Hill Dalit of Kaski district is declining.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjsa.v5i0.7037 Himalayan Journal of Sociology & Anthropology-Vol. V (2012) 19-33

Changing Occupational Pattern among the Bishowkarmas: A Case Study of Hemja VDC

This paper deals on the current issues of changing patterns of traditional occupational skills and technologies and management of the traditional skills and technologies of Bishowkarmas of Hemja VDC from an anthropological perspective. This paper highlights the salient traditional occupational features and recommendations of policies for the promotion of traditional occupation for self reliant. It also deals with the causes of intergenerational occupational mobility and shift from the traditional occupation of Bishowkarmas. The indings are based on a ield level investigation, observation and focused group discussion among the Bishowkarmas and analysis from multidisciplinary and participatory approach. Major causes for the occupational mobility issues among the surveyed population include socio-cultural practices, modernization, industrialization, urbanization and widespread use of western education system. The main management and promotional issues includes reservation, strong law against touchable practices, arrangement of raw materials and market. Promotional strategy comprise of socio-cultural and improved institutional capability aspects which emphases on issues like giving importance to native products and traditional occupational skills and technologies and create space for native products for conserving traditional art and promoting for the self reliant. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjsa.v4i0.4667 Himalayan Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.IV (2010) 49-60

Gender Perspective in Traditional Occupation among Hill Dalit of Kaski

Gender perspective in traditional occupation among hill Dalit of Kaski is a study based upon a survey to explore the status of men and women and their perspectives in relation to the traditional occupation among Dalit of Kaski district. This study tries to analyse the changes observed in traditional skills of hill Dalits. Traditionally hill Dalit works as artisan, mason, carpenter, painter, builder, labour, tailor, tiller, musicians, ironworkers and shoe makers. The study describes the gender perspective in traditional occupation among hill Dalit of Kaski and presents some of the empirical evidences. The ield research has been conducted amonh 570 male and female respondents. Attempts are made to discuss on educational, occupational and economic status of men and women, occupational knowledge on traditional skill technology (TST), caste speciic occupation, TST and perception towards work of men and women, gender based difference on wage, necessity and type of training and education to the Dalit women. The inding of the study reveals that Nepali Dalit women are in dual oppression in terms of caste and in terms of gender. The study identiies that the hill Dalits are gradually shifting from their traditional occupations.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hjsa.v4i0.4665 Himalayan Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.IV (2010) 28-48