With a population of over a billion, India has over 35 million people living in poverty. Despite having made commendable strides in economic growth and reduction of poverty through aggressive economic and trade policies under its Structural Adjustment Programme, in 1998 India was still ranked number 128 in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index. The incidence of rural poverty at 37% is higher than that in the urban areas which shows a figure of 31%. Among those ravaged by economic poverty, women and children and indigenous communities, especially in rural areas, are the most disadvantaged. A different version of poverty - a socio-political one, arising mostly out of caste-based discriminations and denial of fundamental rights - makes their status even worse. Gender bias, which cuts across communities, exacerbates the already disadvantaged positions of women and girl children. In India average life expectancy at birth is 62.9 years, the adult literacy rate is 55.7% (39% for women, indicating low enrollment for girls consequent to gender inequalities in access to education) and the GDP is US$2,077 per capita. But behind these global figures there is a very uneven distribution of wealth and development. 99% of the country's wealth is concentrated in the hands of 3% of the population. The overall development picture is compounded by regional disparities: in the poorest states, such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttranchal and Uttar Pradesh, millions of people live in abysmal conditions of poverty, malnutrition, ill health and illiteracy. These millions are in the position of poor food security or marginal livelihoods. In the area of health there are extreme regional variations in health status. For example in 1996 the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) varied from a low of 13 deaths per 1,000 live births in Kerala to a high of 97/1,000 in Madhya Pradesh. Gender-based violence is fast becoming a major cause of concern and is evident with the rise in infant mortality rate (IMR) in states where female infanticide is rampant (eg. Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab). Female foeticide continues to be on the rise even in states like Haryana and Punjab which are rich with natural resources and have a thriving farm economy, indicating that gender-based violence is cutting across economic barriers, though poverty is found to be aggravating such violence. Policies to ensure social justice and equity have been found to be inadequately addressing the question of land rights and equitable distribution of land and other natural resources like water. Denial of rights of women and children in all sectors of development has remains a critical concern, in spite of the Indian sub-continent's achievements across other sectors like trade, Information Technology, defence and nuclear advancement. India is a signatory to a number of international treaties and declarations, including the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 promising 'Health for All' by the year 2000 and the UN Convention on All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Yet application of the provisions and clauses therein are still a distant dream, countered by poor implementation and dis-investment policies affecting social and health sectors. Location In Tamil Nadu 36 tribal communities have been identified. The most common of these are Todas, Kadars, Irulas, Kotas, Adyans, Aradans, Kattunaikas, Koragas, Kurichiyans, Malasers, Kurumans, Muthuvans, Paniyans, Pulayans, Malayalees, Kurumbas, Eravallans, Kannikars, Mannans, Paliyans, Urasils and Vishvans. Unfortunately Narrikuravars are not officially classified as Tribals in Tamil Nadu, but as Most Backward Class! The Narrikuravars or Gypsies of Tamil Nadu are believed to have originated from the primitive tribes of India. In Tamil Nadu, they are known by different names. In northern Tamil Nadu, they are called 'Vakirivel' and in the southern parts of the State they are called 'Kuruvikaran' and they are commonly known as 'Narikuravar. This community speaks a dialect called 'Vaagiripoli', which is a mix of almost all languages in India and has no script of its own. Narikkuravars are beautiful people with expressive eyes, long hair and brown skin. Being nomads, they have learnt to live in temporary shelters and move all over the country, taking along their children and pet animals like cats, dogs and mongoose. Asset building is not their tradition and hence it is difficult to settle them down in one placec. The only normal possession is a silver idol of their deity, which is passed on through generations in the family. However, NGOs like NEWS have been able to make some qualitative changes in the lives of these poeple. That NEWS was founded by the Gypsies themselves made a major impact on the acceptance factor. Surprisingly there is a caste system within the community, orifinating from some of the rebels who defied traditions. The highest caste amoung the Narikkuravars is 'Charuvalo' and the lowest is 'Seelio'. Each sect worhsips a different deity, normally a form or incarnation of goddesses Kali, Meenakshi or Mariamman. The 'Bogovala' sector sacrifices buffaloes to Goddess Kali, mix this blood with locally brewed liquor, drink it and dance. They also have a brief that God resides in their hair and therefore they never cut their hair. Polygamy and child marriages are common among Narikkuravar, so also divorce. Community leaders impart justice in case of disputes. Most marriages are arranged by the family. However, women have equal freedom to remarry or divorce. Bride-money exists and is returnable in case of a divorce. As all nomads, economic conditions do not seem to worry Narikkuravars. While men go hunting, both men and women make and sell beaded jewellery. Children learn the skills from their parents. The community lead a culturally active life and is fond of singing and dancing especially in the evening and during festival times. Their love for life also makes them mortally afraid of not just death but also the dead bodies. In case of death, the family deserts the dead by moving away or moving house, and offers prayers and flowers to the dead. The body is either eaten up by wild animals or taken by the State. This habit is slowly disappearing due to motivation and awareness creation by NGOs like NEWS. Nomadic naure of these Narikkuravars has ensured that children remain illiterate and there is no scoe for upward mobility in the economic, social and political ladder. Though the State has been trying hard to provide housing to the communities and education to the children, only few families have been found to be able to make use of these facilities. Most migrate in serch of markets and economic returns through sale of the jewellery, in the absence of institutionalised and localised mechansims for raw material supply production and marketing of the jewellery. Thought he community of Narrikuravars is considered as Scheduled Tribe in every other State, for some inexplicable reason they are considered Most Backward Classes in Tamil Nadu. Due to this anomaly Narikkuravars in Tamil Nadu State are missing out on a large number of privileges and facilities that they are entitled to as Scheduled Tribes under the Constitutional provisions.
Essential
Desirable
Traditional Narikkuravars/Gypsies are nomads, a fact that has left them with no sustained income, poor literacy, and inadequate access to development resources. NEWS, a NGO set up by educated youth and women of the community, has been striving to make it possible for the children to receive quality education and self-employment. However, nomadic nature of the community continues in the absencec of localised economic activities. NEWS thus wishes to initiate production and marketing of the traditional jewellery that these artisans make, through providing inputs services and design and marketing support. THough these artisans have high skills in beaded jewellery making, the designs are not qualified to compete in open markets withint he country or abroad in the context of globalisation. Thus the role of the Development Worker will be to enhance the capacity ofthe artisans not only to creae new designs using software like CAD, but also to build their skills to gather market intelligence and to access new and wider markets with the help of internet. The community and the NGO are a receptive lot, willing to learn and advance and hence this placement cam make world of changes for the economic and socio-political status of these much-disadvantaged communities. Devararayneri, where NEWS office is loated, is on the Tanjore-Tiruchirappalli, 21 kilometres from the district headquarters of Trichy, in the State of Tamil Nadu in south India. The State has built a housing colony for this nomadic community in this area. The campus has 200 families living in State-given houses, a hostel which caters to 52 children yearly and the project office of NEWS. NEWS was founded initially as Depressed Peoples Development Association, changed it name to NEWS in 1996. The hostel has made a tremendous impact on the children and the families and has changed their attitude to education. Families now leave their children to the care of NEWS and moves out in search of markets and incomes. NEWS presently works in 8 colonies of four districts in Tamil Nadu and intends to expand this work and provide more services especially promoting child rights. These colonies are scattered within a distance ranging from 21kms to the nearest to 75kms to the farthest. Most people in the colonies eke out a subsistence living. Many are into beaded jewellery making and selling while a small group of families in urban slum of Samayapuri Toll Gate near Trichy city, retails knickknacks of personal products like combs. The plight of these slum dwellers is extremely pathetic. As settlers since over 60 years they have continued to live on land belonging to a local temple and have lived in darkness, with no electricity connection to any of the huts. Added to their woes is the fact that, recently developed housing colonies around the slum have deined their access to open spaces and bushes where they could ease themselves. The City Corporation has conveniently closed its eyes on the misery of these people and the temple authorieis continue to harass them in a tug of ward for ownership of the land. Socially ostracised, the Narikkuravar communities are finding it hard to survive. They are more comfortable in the ocmpany of nature, forests and wild animals than in the midst of urban or rural populations, who still find Narikkuravars detesting and consider them untouchables. The Development Worker will not have any managerial responsibility; though s/hew will supervise the work of the artisans/Mastercrafts people during the placement. The Development Worker will work in close coordination with the Project Coordinator and Director Click here
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