SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF BIRHOR AND HILL KORWA OF CHHATTISGARH

Consequently, this paper explores the SEDC of the Birhor & Hill Korwa – two Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Chhattisgarh, India. The study specifically covered Jashpur and Raigarh operational area in terms of issues such as social and economic characteristics, family size and structure, literacy level, language spoken, marriage patterns, religion, and cultural taboos. Having chosen descriptive research design, data was collected through interviews, case studies and even participant observation. To obtain the sample, 240 questionnaires were administered and Krejcie and Morgan’s determinant was adopted to choose the sample and simple random sampling was used to make the sample representativeness. Evident also poor socio-economic statuses, high prevalence of illiteracy 80%, health and education facilities are inadequate, early marriage prevalent. Sadri is used as the working language while the other traditional languages of the community include Dalang Dabu and Birhor. Other practices include the clan system, totem as an identity marker, and a synthesis of animist religious practises with Hinduism. The investigation also underscores culturally specific barriers which include those concerning childbirth and breastfeeding. Part of method of fieldwork was to carry out interviews with the village heads, school teachers and health care givers in the villages under study with provided immense resource for grounding of local conditions. The specific research questions of the study were; To gather primary data on respondents, to identify the family type and to evaluate the socio-economic and cultural aspect of Birhor and Hill Korwa women. This information shows that there is dire need for intervention especially on issues to do with poverty, illiteracy, health and education facilities, and cultural conservation. This work stresses the need to design the relevant developmental programs that will enhance the status of these indigenous tribes’ living standards but will not at the same time alter their cultural values and norms.