Efforts needed to save \u2018Van Raji\u2019 tribal community from extinction<\/p>\n
B.D.Kasniyal<\/p>\n
Pithoragarh, Sept 7<\/p>\n
Special efforts are required to empower the \u2018Van Raji\u2019 tribe of Pithoragarh, that is\u00a0on the verge of extinction, revealed a survey conducted by\u00a0 ARPAN (Association for Rural Planning and Action),\u00a0a Non Government Organisation (NGO)working in collaboration with South Asian unit of Rosa- Luxembourg- Stiftung Foundation, an international group.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Raji\u2019 community, a schedule tribe community, living in remote villages of Pithoragarh, Champawat and US Nagar districts of Uttarakhand state, has a total \u00a0population of 1075 members in 249 households spread over 11 villages of three districts.”The highest number of Raji population lives in nine \u00a0villages of 3 blocks of Dharchula, Kanalichina and Didihat blocks of Pithoragarh district, s followed by Champawat and US Nagar districts where one Raji community village in each district is situated,” said Renu Thakur, chairperson of ARPAN.<\/p>\n
According to Thakur, to empower this tribe, that is under category of particularly vulnerable\u00a0 tribal group or PGTV, state should take over policies to strengthen infrastructure in Raji villages and provide them complete social security. \u201cThe state should should improve their social infrastructure with an aim to improve\u00a0their social security. The Rajis should be given regular employment to better their purchasing power\u00a0 and to give rural employment, their existing skills be enhanced by training and providing infrastructural facilities like irrigation and soil testing facilities, ” said Renu Thakur.<\/p>\n
“The \u2018Raji\u2019 community survives by working as agricultural labourers and daily wage workers, but needs more land titles, food security by implementing recognition of Forest Rights \u2018 Act, 2006,” said Thakur.<\/p>\n
The survey further revealed \u00a0that the dropout rate of \u2018Raji\u2019 children from\u00a0 secondary schools is 75 percent, due to inaccessibility to schools, their remoteness and expensive education up to high schools.” Not only education but health issues of Raji community is alarming as\u00a0while the male suffer from malnutrition and\u00a0 stomach pains, the female suffer from reproductive health issues due to early child bearing, frequent pregnancies, lack of proper nutrition, which are the \u00a0main causes for health deterioration in \u00a0them,” said Renu.<\/p>\n
The survey has been conducted in the sphere of economic status, land holding, education, health, housing and toilets, their access to government schemes and\u00a0 their political status.” Despite been covered under Forest Rights Act, 2006, only 20 percent \u2018Raji\u2019 families have government land deeds but\u00a0despite deeds, that are yet to receive land titles, and several of their other claims have been rejected due to lack of\u00a0 sufficient documents,” said the survey .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Efforts needed to save \u2018Van Raji\u2019 tribal community from extinction B.D.Kasniyal Pithoragarh, Sept 7 Special efforts are required to empower the \u2018Van Raji\u2019 tribe of Pithoragarh, that is\u00a0on the verge of extinction, revealed a survey conducted by\u00a0 ARPAN (Association for Rural Planning and Action),\u00a0a Non Government Organisation (NGO)working in collaboration with South Asian unit of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[92,33,91,59],"tags":[1453,160,1454,1452],"class_list":["post-3673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-international","category-national","category-uttarakhand","tag-arpan-association-for-rural-planning-and-action","tag-pithoragarh","tag-rosa-luxembourg-stiftung-foundation","tag-van-raji-tribal-community"],"yoast_head":"\n