Sunday, 13 November 2011

Gypsies, Poverty, and Social Exclusion

Recently I have moved into lodgings at Devarayaneri, a village inhabited by a gypsy tribe, the Narikuravars. The Narikuravars are semi-nomadic, meaning that they often leave the village to travel around India and neighbouring countries for their livelihood - selling Malya - religious beaded jewellery, hand crafted by community artisans, which is just about every adult.


Deverayaneri consists of about 1,750 people, which is large for a Narikuravar community. Poverty is widespread, the illiteracy rate is high and most families live in government housing built during the 1970s. Overcrowding is a problem in the community as there is not enough housing for everyone and families of 8 to 12 people often share these decrepit two-room houses, sleeping on the floor or outside under a mosquito net.


One key hindrance to community development is social exclusion. Although the traditional Hindu caste system was outlawed in India, the Narikuravar still experience discrimination from others, often more powerful groups who reflect, reinforce and enforce social attitudes and values which have continued to exist in spite of legislative changes. As institutions which govern society are run by people with prejudices, the effects are often negative for tribes people who are denied the same rights and opportunities as others and who also suffer pschologically, with reduced self-confidence and aspiration. This in turn reduces peoples' ability to challenge the system and slows the rate of development. It also means that poverty will not be solved simply by throwing money at it, but will need a paradigm shift of perception at a societal level which will not happen overnight.


One organisation which has been set up by Narikuravars from Devarayaneri is the NGO I have been lucky enough to be placed with for my spell in India. The Narikuravar Education and Welfare Society, or NEWS, is tackling social exculsion by inspiring tribes people to challenge the status-quo, raise their aspirations and access services which will improve the welfare of the community, by targeting health, education and livelihoods. Also, by encouraging Narikuravars to participate in decision-making, empowering people to take an active role in decisions which affect their lives, NEWS is striving for long-term benefits such as an increase in literacy and enhanced commitment to schooling. They realise the importance of involving excluded people so that they can successfully challenge the social structures which cause their exclusion. Then, obstacles currently in the way of accessing opportunities or equal rights can be dismantled, and communities can develop on a level playing field.



     

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