Afro Asian Journal of Anthropology and Social Policy
Year : 2010, Volume : 1, Issue : 2
First page : ( 120) Last page : ( 129)
Print ISSN : 2229-4414.

Educational Profile of Katkaris of Maharashtra: Reconsideration

Kurane Anjali

Dept of Anthropology, University of Pune (Maharashtra).

Abstract

The present study has tried to present an overall educational profile and problems of the education of the katkaris. The poor socio-economic situation, illiteracy of the katkari parents’ plays major role in high rate of non attendance of students in school as well as drop out in from school. The literacy rate is low 21.01% among the Katkaris and they are backward in many ways. Most of the katkaris migrate seasonally to work in coal and brick manufacturing factories and work as woodcutter in forest. This seasonal migration rate is very high 70.65%; and significant. The Katkaris do domestic work in the landowner's house. They collect and sell the forest products for their livelihood. They borrow money from the landowners and repay that by doing farm work without pay. They are known for their alcoholism and cold-heartedness for strangers. The Katkari students do not get any motivation, aspirations, and guidance from their parents. They are made to work in the fields, look after the siblings and help in the household activities. Village does not have high school and transportation is not available. Since there is insufficiency of teachers, classrooms and poor attendance of the students, the teacher faces lots of problems for teaching the students. More planned efforts are required to provide basic infrastructure, general scheme of poverty alleviation and employment generation should be implemented for them to reduce their seasonal migration in the haunt of job. Efforts should be taken to create the awareness among them. A great deal of Anthropological study of the Katkaris is necessary for designing an effective pedagogy for them.

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