The migration of women and their notion of moving out of home/land are enough for Adivasi society to rethink over the claims made by the society. The whole society of Adivasis is undergoing serious phenomenal danger caused by multifaceted forces. Moreover, less conscious about own problems is the biggest drawback for the community as such. Adivasi women are more vulnerable to loss of the resource base household, because the livelihood activities under their management tend to be more resource based than money based. Ecological degradation that resulting in loss of forests, leading to scarcity of minor forest produce and fuel wood and this loss of common property resources directly affecting the rural Adivasi women.Without the traditional resource base for food and livelihood and with the market they becoming the “prime mover”. Adivasi women who are traditionally not used to it, have to begin to deal with this force for their survival needs. Although this phenomenon is sad and shameful for proud Adivasi community who claimed so much of their richness in forest, water, land, and their cultural heritage and claims to have given equal rights to womenfolk ,but our women who have become domestic servants are satisfied because now they have control over ‘cash’ instead performing multiple tasks in their own land. They feel satisfied for they have the control of cash in their hand and therefore management can be done in their own way.
We need mass awakening to overcome these kinds of situation of crisis. Otherwise Adivasi society can also become the victim of Ethnocide eventually. The crisis reported and highlighted by Mukti is one of the ugly faces of many prevailing Crisis. The amount of consciousness within the society is much lesser than the speed of destruction taking place. Structural evils can be defeated if people are conscientized, sounds too ideological, but that seems to be the way out. Role of more and more individuals and groups who have touched the heights in the field of education and many more developed sectors should take the responsibility with this regard and this ‘knowledge group’ must act as watchtower of the society. For maximum of Adivasis, a Socio-cultural quest hardly gets attention before the increasing urge to make a better lifestyle in material terms…
Idan Topno
network@jharkhand.org.uk
