A Brief Communication about the Padhar

 

A Brief Communication about the Padhar

 

 

Introduction:

The tribals constitute a share of about eight per cent of the country’s population with more than 500 different ethnic groups having special culture traits and identity and are at various stages of socio-economic progress and face handicap on account of isolation. Consequently they have not been able to get a just and rightful role in the larger society around them and have not been fully integrated into national stream. This is truer in case of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Article 342 of the Constitution of India specified about the Scheduled Tribes.

 

The term ‘tribe’ is said to be derived from the Roman word ‘tribua’, which denote a particular social group or a political unit living in their own occupied territory. Later on this term came to be used in general term as a synonym for primitive social unit. In India, the term ‘tribe’ was first used by the British during the colonial period. They refer it to those sects of people having distinct characteristics features, social back ground, economic status, physical structure and so on. Fried (1966, 1975) argued that “tribes were produced in course of the evolution of the state in different parts of the world and under varying periods of time and in some regions the process dated only from the last two centuries. The distinct meaning of ‘tribe’ separated from ‘nation’ emerged in the first half of the nineteenth century, when early anthropologists and sociologists associated it with the concept of primitive society.” On the basis of anthropological characteristics, tribal people of India are considered to be aboriginal (Dash Sharma, 2006). Risley (1891) has defined the term ‘tribe’ as, “it is a collection of families or a group of families, bearing a common name which as a rule does not denote any specific occupation, generally claiming common descent from a mythical or historical ancestry, occasionally the name is derived from an animal but in some parts of the country, the tribe is held together only by the obligation of kinship, member speaking the same language and occupy a tract of the country.”   

 

According to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India, there are certain tribal communities who are having low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, and pre-agricultural level of technology and economically backward. 75 such groups in 17 States/Union Territories have been identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups constitute the most vulnerable among tribal groups. There are five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups with around one lakh population in Gujarat. These are concentrated mainly in high rainfall districts of Surat, Valsad and Dangs, although there is some scattered PVTG population in Sabarkantha, Narmada, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar and Junagadh districts.

 

 

	PVTGs	Male	Female	Total population	Total Families
1	Padhar	13,114	11,785	24,899	4711
2	Kolgha	20,876	20,520	41,396	8879
3	Kathodi	6,477	6,215	12,692	2905
4	Kotwalia	10,817	10,594	21,411	5226
5	Siddhi	4,514	4,302	8,816	1858
		55,798	53,416	109,214	23479

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Sachivalay, Gandhinagar 2007-12)

 

Padhars are involved in fishing in Nalsarovar lake of Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts, Kolghas used to catch frogs, Kathodis used to process catechu (kattha) and are daily wage labourers working in agricultural fields, Kotwalias are dependent on bamboo work, and over the period, Government has provided them some land who are relatively poor. Siddhis are a unique community located in few villages in and around Gir forest. They are Negroid.

 

Population of PVTGs in Gujarat in last four decades (1971 to 2001):

Name of the PVTG group	1971 Census	1981 Census	1991 Census	2001 Census
Padhar	4758 (0.21%)	10587 (0.26%)	15896 (0.30%)	22421 (   )
Kolgha	29494 (1.28%)	62232 (1.34%)	82679 (0.65%)	48419 (   )
Kathodi	2939 (0.08%)	2546 (0.05%)	4773 (0.08%)	5820 (   )
Kotwalia	12902 (0.37%)	17759 (0.32%)	19569 (0.29%)	21453 (  )
Siddi	4482 (0.11%)	5429 (0.10%)	6336 (0.12%)	8662 (   )

(Source: Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat (according to census report)

 

Growth rate of PVTGs in Gujarat during last four decades (1971-2001):

 

Name of the PVTG group	Decadal growth 1971-81 Census	Decadal growth 1981-91 Census	Decadal growth 1991-2001 Census
Padhar	122.51	50.99	41.05
Kolgha	111.00	32.86	-41.44
Kathodi	-13.37	87.47	21.94
Kotwalia	37.65	10.19	9.63
Siddi	21.13	16.71	36.71

 

The table shows that the population of Padhar is significantly increasing in last four decades comparing to the other PVTGs. Tribal Research and Training Institute, Ahmedabad observes that the cause of increasing population among Padhar is the importance of the male child and by giving subsequent birth till 2 or 3 male children are born in their family.

 

Demography:

 

Sex wise population of Padhar in Gujarat:

 

Districts	Male	Female	Total	Sex Ratio
Ahmedabad	5277	4534	9811	859
Surendranagar	7837	7251	15088	925
Total	13114	11785	24899	899

 

(Source: PVTG Baseline Survey. Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat, 2005)

 

Padhars are chiefly found in Viramgam, Dashkroi and Dhanduka talukas of Ahmedabad and Limbdi taluka of Surendranagar district in an around Nalsarovar. Their sex ratio is only 899 per 100 males.

 

Literacy among Scheduled and PVTGs in four decades in Gujarat State:

Sr. No.	Details	1971	1981	1991	2001	PTG Baseline Survey (TRTI)
1	Gujarat State	35.79	43.70	51.15	69.14	N.A
2	Scheduled Tribe	14.12	21.14	29.67	47.74	N.A
3	Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (5)	6.56	15.27	24.81	26.09	34.21

(Source: Census survey and PVTG Baseline Survey. Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat, 2005)

 

According to 2001 literacy rate among Padhar was 26.09 per cent which has gone up to 34.21 per cent in the year 2005.

 

Ethnography:

Padhar is one of the five PVTGs of Gujarat state. They reside on the plains of Nalakantha region of Saurashtra. Padhars are centered in and around the Nalsarovar and their population is distributed in 12 villages of Daskhori, Dhandhuka and Viramgam talukas of Ahamedabad and Limbdi taluka of Surendranagar district of Gujarat. They are believed to be descendents of Padhiyar (assistant to the Bhua – priest who worships the Hinglaj goddess). They have proto-australoid physical features and their language is Padhari (austric language family). Padhars are divided into several clans (kutum) such as mer, daivi, sapra, pachani, bnuatra, kanotra, bamayita, kanora, dhasra, deorthala, domra, dharajia, khodani, permar etc. and they are all exogamous. From the legendary story relating the origin of the tribe there were only 12 villages made by Hinlaj Mata (the main Goddess of Padhar) for her 12 worshipers and they are maintaining their ancestral rule to not to  settle anywhere besides these 12 villages namely Shahpur, Dharji, Seal, Deorthal, Nanikathechi, Ranagarh, Parali, Parnala, Ralol, Gedi, Jinjhini and Jasmatpar. Besides, there are about 360 small islands (bet) in Nalsarovar like Bharela, Tamba, Lasa, where some Padhar people are found mainly with their cattle and fishing as their pursuit. Most of the time the islands are submerged under the water, because of this people can not reside there permanently.

 

Padhars are dark in complexion, middle built, stout in structure and very strong bodied. In a way, they resemble Koli Patels of Gujarat, even culturally they do almost share characteristics with Koli Patels except their non-vegetarian food habits. It is believed that Padhars are carrying a mixed blood of Kolis and Rajputs., especially with the Mer clan of Rajputs.

 

Settlement pattern: Their families are patriarchal and nuclear and the size of the family varies from 6 to 8 members. In every village Padhar’s hamlet are mostly traditional are called as Padhar Vaas. The houses are mud houses situated on the both sides of the road. But their traditional huts are called as kuba, made of locally available wood and thatched with grass. The wall of kuba is made with grass and plastered with clay and round in shape. Kuba is usually one room accommodation with a small door, has no windows. As Nalsarovar is very hot in summer and there is sand-storm often, this technology of making a kuba is more suitable for this particular echo-cultural zone. Traditionally Padhars classify their 12 villages into 3 different sections namely kathe ke gaon, the villages which are situated right on the bank of the Nalsarovar like  Shahpur, Dharji, Seal and Deorthal, secondly baban gaon, the villages which are original and primitive and 95% population of these villages is Padhar namey Nanikathechi and Ranagarh, thirdly chourashi ke gaon, the villages which are situated in a distance from the Nalsarovar namely Parali, Parnala, Ralol, Gedi, Jhinjhini and Jasmatpar.

Life Cycle Rituals: During pregnancy a woman maintains some restrictions in religious sector as well as in domestic work like cooking, milking, bathing in a pond etc. All these restrictions are the means of protection of mother and child. Padhars do not discriminate between male child and female child. They consider female as Laxmi (Hindu goddess of wealth). But being a labor community, a Padhar becomes happier if a boy is born because they have a notion that he will earn for the family as well as will continue the pedigree. After delivery the mother is given semi-liquid food called Raab, made  from millet flour. Six days later the mother is purified with a religious bath and allowed to do all the daily household works. Padhars generally follow marriage by negotiation. Marriage by elopement is common these days. In Padhar society bride price (dhej) is allowed. Divorce is permitted. Remarriage of widows and divorcee are permitted. The dead can either be buried in a grave yard or given a fire in a cremation ground. If an elderly person (male or female) dies his/her dead body is taken to the ground (bhoy-pathari) after a holy bath.

Religious Life: The term Padhar came from 'Padiar' which means the worshipper in their native language as Goddess Hinglaj is mainly worshipped by them. Now-a-days Padhars share the common rituals of Hindu religion with the local Hindu castes people though they have certain Gods and Goddess of their own. They have a conviction that the deities only protect their entire habitation. There are some clans and each clan possesses its own deity (kul devi).  Some are furnished below.

Clan                                        Kuldevi (clan deity)

Bhuatra                                   Kalka Maa

Daivi                                       Jhupali Maa

Deorthala                                Meledi Maa & Jhupali Maa

Dhansara                                Shakti Maa

Dharajia                                  Boot Bhawani and Jogini Maa

Domra/ Makwana                   Seori Maa

Gelia Sapra                             Gel Maa/Geliambe

Jhejhenia                                 Chamnud Maa

Kakaria                                   Boot Maa & Meledi Maa

Kanotra                                   Khhoriar Maa

Khodani                                  Meledi Maa

Ku-sapra                                 Shakti Maa

Lalani                                      Boot Maa & Meledi Maa

Mer                                          Hinglaj

Parmar                                    Khoriar Maa

Panchani                                 Chamunda

Samayita                                 Boot Maa & Meledi Maa

 

There are two kind of religious specialists among Padhars one of which are called Pujari who take care of the idol of the mandirs (temples) in daily basis. The other kind of worshipers, the shamans who are regarded as having access to benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing are called Bhuva. In Padhar society Bhuvas play a significant role in religious occasions or in daily life also. Bhuva is a clan oriented group and each clan has their own Bhuva.

 

Political Organization: In general Padhar take part with other caste member in the formal and informal council of the village and obey the general village rules. Constitutionally Padhars enjoy the reservation and membership in the democratic political system (gram panchayet). However, the daily life of the Padhar is governed by its own traditional tribal council (panch) which has immense influence on their life. From each clan one person is selected as the clan representative (Motiar) to form a village council called Panch or Nyay-samiti. The Motiars or the Mota Manas are selected on the basis of age, experience and the influence of the person on the community. A Padhar village head man is decided by their village deity. The Motiars form the Nyay-samiti and there is one village head man called Patel in each village. The village Ranagarh is considered as the central village among the twelve Padhar villages. The Patel of Ranagarh village is honored as the Patel of Bara-Gaam.  He is the most powerful and respected person among the entire Padhar community. There is one person in each village Nyay-samiti to assist the Patel is called Habildar. This Nyay-samiti deals every spheres of their life such as socio-religious besides it also settles the disputes and maintains peace and order.

 

Economy: Padhars are fishermen and gatherers of aquatic roots. Nalsarovar played the most vital role in this and they collect fish, aquatic roots and vegetables such as beed , kanda, theg, napa, banti, poli, etc., from the Nalsarovar. Gradually with the changes of environment and increasing population, modern development facilities, education, contact with modern market etc. fishing and food gathering is now the tertiary occupation. Very few Padhars possess small cultivable land which is not sufficient for their subsistence. Hence they are working as the daily or casual labor at various fields like earth digging, construction work, agricultural field etc. They also do hunting and bird catching.

 

Primary Occupation of Padhar:

Primary occupation	No. of people
Small children/old age	9656
Cultivators	720
Agriculture labour	78
Casual labour	11080
Govt.job	21
Private service	70
Small business	107
Skilled worker	44
Animal husbandry	130
Fishing	49
Automobile drivers	31
Maid servant	4
House work	300
Students	2600
Others	9
Total population	24899

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Sachivalay, Gandhinagar 2007-12)

 

The above table shows that 11080 people out of 24899 populations are working as casual laborers in various fields, 720 are cultivators, fishing, the traditional means of Padhar economy, is on the decline and only 49 people are engaged in this profession.

 

 

Health & Diseases:

After independence, more care is taken for health and hygiene of people and necessary facilities and amenities have been made both at district and taluka level, the details are given bellow:

 

No. of CHCs and PHCs in Tribal and Non-tribal areas of Gujarat:

Area	Community Health Centers (CHC)	Primary Health Centers (PHC)	Total
Tribal Areas	70	334	404
Non-tribal Areas	204	751	955
Total	274	1085	1359

(Source: Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat)

 

A list of chronic and other diseases from which Padhars are generally suffering are as follows.

 

Chronic and other illnesses among Padhar:

Sr. No.	Type of illness	Number of patients
1	No Chronic illness	24723
2	T.B. (0.01)	104
3	Cancer	5
4	Leprosy	-
5	Diabetes	2
6	Paralysis	10
7	Bronchitis	22
8	Cardiac problem	4
9	Kidney problem	2
10	Others	27
	Total	24899

(Source: Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat)

 

 The above list is showing that Padhar are generally suffering from T.B. According to the baseline survey in 2005, there are 104 people suffering from T.B. Cases of Bronchitis and Paralysis are also noticed in a considerable number among them. Other sicknesses include tumor in throat, blood pressure, anemia, heart disease, stone in kidney, etc.

 

There are also considerable numbers suffering from minor illness (2189 (8.7 per cent) cases) such as malaria, cholera, breathing problems, cough and cold, skin diseases, jaundice, ortho pain etc. Malaria is mostly found due to the stagnant water of flooded Nal-sarovar. Both central and state governments provide economic assistance for medical treatment for the patients. According to a survey by Tribal Research and Training Institute, Gujarat out of the total population of Padhar about 183 persons depend on their traditional medical practioners (Bhuva), 507 persons depend on herbal treatment and 4006 took allopathic treatment. This shows that there has been a definite change in method of taking the treatment among this group. They mostly prefer the allopathic treatment and also like to take advice from the shamans.

 

Development plans:

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru provided a five-point formula for tribal development; known as Adivasi Panchshil which are as follows:

1. Tribal should be allowed to develop as per their own desire and design. Nothing should be imposed on them. Their traditional arts and crafts as well as their culture need to be encouraged.
2. The land and forest rights of tribals should be accepted.
3. Their own people need to be trained to look after their administration and development. The experts can be invited at initial stage but the tendency to fill the tribal area only with outsider people need to be checked.
4. There is no need for a big administrative network for tribal areas. Likewise a large number of schemes need to be launched in tribal area simultaneously. As far as possible, their own social and cultural organization may undertake the responsibilities.
5. The evolution of the schemes and fulfillment of targets and level of expenditure should not be the target; but it should be focused on development as witness among tribal people per se.

 

In India, the progress started on systematic development planning since 1^st April 1951. The constitution of India suggested making an assessment of development every ten year. Besides, Dhebar Commission was formed to inquire and recommended for developing the scheduled tribes. Before Dhebar Commission, the Renuka Roy Committee and Elwin Committee were also constituted. These committees made a thorough study of programmes undertaken for tribal development and their impact. In order to achieve to growth and development of backward tribal areas the Tribal Area Sub Plan (TASP) was introduced; so that the simultaneous development is effected, resulting overall development of the society.

 

Objectives of Tribal Area Sub Plan:

1. To reduce the difference between development of other areas vis-a-vis development of tribal areas.
2. To make impact on economic front where at least 50 per cent of tribal families are above Below Poverty Line.
3. To raise the level of production in areas of agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, cottage and small scale industries.
4. To raise the level of literacy.
5. To successfully handle the difference between economic and social pre-requirements in the tribal area economy.
6. To provide for capital investment for developing the natural resources of land and forest as well as stabilization of industrial base for the tribal areas and its development.
7. To protect the tribal people against exploitation in sales and purchase of land, trade, small industries, subsidiary forest products and agriculture products by the vested interests and to ensure that they get full benefits of tribal development schemes as well as to stop taking away or transfer of their land and to help them come out of debts.

 

Major Infrastructure issues of PVTG villages:

Development priorities identified for the PVTG community                    No.of Villages

 

Problem of drinking water                                                                              282

Electricity                                                                                                        130

Road and link road to their hamlet                                                                 340

Housing                                                                                                           89

Lack of agricultural land                                                                                 15

Land improvement                                                                                          12

Loan facility for dairy activity                                                                        4

Street light                                                                                                      20

Drainage facility                                                                                             15

 

Development Activities undertaken:

Considerable emphasis was put in the past for development of PVTG families, their agricultural lands were leveled, agricultural kits, free seed, milching cattle, fishing boats & nets, etc. were provided to them. These families were also linked with schemes for housing, electrification of houses, health services and other social welfare schemes. However, the gap between these and other ST families could not be narrowed significantly. Under Ministry of Tribal Affair’s scheme for upliftment of PVTG families, following additional support was provided during last three years-

 

Schemes for PVTG development in the year 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08:

S.No.	Schemes	Rs. In lakh
1	Kotwalia Project(forest development)	14.75
2	Project for development of PTGs	213.32
3	Janashree Bima Yojana	105.00
4	CCD Payment	432.00
Total		665.7

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Sachivalay, Gandhinagar 2007-12)

 

Conservation cum Development Plan (CCD Plan, year 2007-2012) for particular vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) is being undertaken for the upliftment of the PVTGs with assistance of Gujarat State Government.

 

 

Objectives of Conservation cum Development Plans:

 

1.      Improved livelihood opportunities - to double their income.

2.      Housing – every PVTG family to have proper house with usable toilet.

3.      Access to safe drinking water – 100% houses to have piped drinking water supply.

4.      Access to electricity – every family to have electricity connection.

5.      Literacy – to achieve full literacy status for the children aged 6-15 years.

6.      Health - every family to have full access to government run health facilities and every antenatal mother to have delivery in private nursing home under Chiranjivi scheme.

7.      Access to road – every hamlet to have access to cement concrete roads.

 

Financial Report of Conservation cum Development Plans:

Total sanctioned budget of the project Rs.76.69 Crores for five years. So far, the project has received following grants from Central and State Govt.

 

The component wise expenditure out of the total outlay of 1378 lakhs for the year 2011-2012:

 

Sr. No.	Activity	Amount in lakhs
1	Group formation and awareness generation	29.72
2	Bamboo Craft Development	61.38
3	Eco-Tourism	-
4.1	Dairy Activities	425.70
4.2	WADI and Agriculture Development	220.96
4.3	Fisheries	7.95
4.4	Skill Training	251.91
4.5	Self Training	67.41
Total		690.68

(Source: District Development Office, Ahmedabad)

 

Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana (AGRICULTURE DIVERSIFICATION PROJECT FOR TRIBAL AREAS OF GUJARAT):

Hon. Chief Minister of Gujarat has announced Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana (CM’s Ten Point Program) for the development of 43 ITDP Talukas of Gujarat. This programme aims at ensuring very high quality social and civil infrastructure and sustainable employment in these areas such that the income of every tribal family doubles in coming five years. The main goals of this project are:

 

1. To introduce improved agricultural practices to the small and marginal farmers in tribal areas

 

2. To double the income from the land related activities and sustain it for at least one generation

 

3. To ensure sustainable and commercially viable involvement of the private sector

 

The project covered 5 to 10 villages per taluka in Banaskantha, Surat, Vadodra, and other districts but not in Ahmedabad and Surendranagar districts where the Padhars are concentrated and they did not get benefits under this scheme.

 

Special scholarship for PVTG students in standard 1 to 10:

The table below shows the amount of expenditure and the number of beneficiaries in different financial years. The scholarship rates have been revised from existing rate of 650/- per annum for both boys and girls students of class 1 to 8 to Rs.750/-,  and Rs.1000/- per annum for class 9 and 10.

Year	Expenditure (in Lakhs)	Benefited
2007-08	0.64	116
2008-09	11.92	2338
2009-10	11.10	2147
2010-11	10.02	19412

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Gujarat)

 

 

 

Financial Assistance for housing:

Under the scheme the PVTG person is granted financial assistance for housing on individually basis under poverty alleviation programme.

 

Year	Exp.	Benefited
2007-08	3.30	22
2008-09	3.70	19
2009-10	7.00	35
2010-11	6.06	12

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Gujarat)

 

Manav Garima:

Under the scheme of Manav Garima, a kit of Rs.5000/- is given to the person whose annual income is up to Rs.25000/- per anum.

Year	Exp.	Benefited
2007-08	7.23	241
2008-09	10.26	342
2009-10	2.82	92
2010-11	3.74	72
2011-12	3.33	85

(Source: Tribal Development Department, Gujarat)

 

Bibliography:

 

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