Groupes tribaux et développement

Objectives

The nexus of tribal territory, forest resource and development induced social change forms the platform on which this research is based. With 109 tribes identified as practicing shifting cultivation in India and the Forest Policy 1952 and the National Commission on Agriculture 1976 suggesting that it be banned, this research becomes both interesting and essential in exploring the social structure of the Konda Reddis of the Eastern Ghats, a tribe that till date subsists on shifting cultivation.

The research attempts to address the issue of shifting cultivation, often branded as detrimental to the forest, at a micro level, looking at the Konda Reddi settlement pattern, population distribution, production and consumption pattern, land use and forest type. The study will also assess the compatibility of the Integrated Tribal Development Project programmes with the hilltop Konda Reddi social and spatial organisation exploring the impact and transition that has resulted, with special reference to the State policy of Andhra Pradesh which has adopted Micro finance as an important development initiative to reach the most isolated and remote regions of the state. In this connection the research will attempt to understand how the Konda Reddis themselves perceive the concept of development and social change. The study will further develop the issue of empowerment by tackling questions as in : What does it mean to be empowered ? Should empowerment necessarily follow development ? What is the relevance of these concepts within the social fabric of the community ?

Materials and methods

The research area includes 31 hilltop habitations and 7 resettlement colonies set up by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency for the Konda Reddis of the above hilltop habitations. The demographic details have been obtained through a survey using household schedules. The study will look into archival and other material in understanding the history of the community, their contact and isolation with people and places. An attempt the researcher hopes will throw some light on the age of their present settlements and on the place and reason of their migration.

The research relies on the strength of participatory observation and discussion. Interview and group discussion was used in collecting data on social organisation, shifting cultivation and in understanding the attitude of the Konda Reddis to development. Case studies and Life histories are used in understanding the process of transition. A study of the sequence of planning and course of implementation and the interaction between government agencies as in the ITDA with the community, with respect to the development programmes is aimed to help facilitate better communication between the community and the government agency.

Funding

French Institute of Pondicherry

Team

• Thanuja. M., Ph.D. student, Department of Anthropology, University of Madras, Chennai. Affiliated to the Department of Social Sciences, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry.
• Research supervised : Prof. M.A.Kalam, Deptartment of Anthropology, University of Madras.

Ph.D registration : January 1999 / To be submitted : June 2004 Thesis title : "The Konda Reddis in Transition : A Study of Social Organisation, Shifting Cultivation and Development"

Main Results

• Thanuja M., "Shifting Territories and Development : impact on the identity of the Konda Reddis", Seminar on Identity and territory in India organised by AJEI held at the University of Calcutta, Kolkata during February 17-21, 2003.
• Thanuja M., "Status of women in tribal societies", 3rd National Conference on Indigenous People, organized by the National Advocacy Council for Development of Indigenous People held in December 2002 at Chengalpet, Tamil Nadu.
• Thanuja M., "Resettlement for Development : a case study of the Konda Reddis of Bhadrachalam Agency Area", All India Conference on Sociology for a Better Future held on November 26 and 27, 2001 at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.-