Tribes constitute approximately 8.2% of the total Indian population. For the development of tribal and rural communities residing in different parts of India, various developmental initiatives are taken from time to time. To achieve better socio-economic status as well as for protection of tribal and individual rights, the constitution provides various safeguards and measures. In spite of such provisions, though 62 years have elapsed after independence, Musahar (mice eaters) community has been marginalised and all the sagas of development are simply a nightmare for this community of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The Musahar community in this area is one of the most backward and economically deprived communities of the country. They are living in abject poverty, hunger and deprivation. They lack agricultural land and are compelled to survive on eating meat of rats, cats and turtles. Most of them don't even have a BPL card, and the few of them who somehow are able to manage a BPL card, fail to afford to buy ration from even fair price shops (FPS) and government run ration shops. They are unable to make efforts to uplift their health standards due to prevailing illiteracy and ignorance. Their condition is so pathetic and miserable that they feel reluctant to demand anything even from their respective village head man. Pulse Polio and immunisation programmes are out of reach for them. The community in this region is waiting for help from government authorities that could actually transform their lives. The government knows the concerns of Musahars, but there has not been any apparent result. The present anthropological study conducted in nine villages of Jaunpur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh highlights the socio-economic and health status of Musahars and attempts to analyse the realities regarding their development through various government initiatives using various anthropological methods of research like field work, interview schedule and case study, etc.
Musahars, BPL, PDS, Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act
