Dwarf bamboo (Ringal): A traditional livelihood option for scheduled caste families of Garhwal Himalaya

The present investigation deals with Ringal a dwarf bamboo species, used for preparing as traditional handicraft articles and utility items in marginalized hill area villages of Dewal block in Garhwal Himalaya. 4 species of ringal were commonly used on the basis of their characteristic. Among these ringal species Chimnobambusa jaunsarensis was mostly (40%) used by the ringal weavers (locally known as Rudiya) for making ringal based crafts and utility items followed by Thamnocalamus falconeri (30%) due to their smoothness, flexible and durable nature. Average 47.65% scheduled caste families were engaged as part time ringal weaving work out of total habitant schedule cast families of these study villages. The average income was between rupees 1398-1775/family/month, which play an important role in sustaining their livelihood as well as supporting their socio-economic status (Table 2). The main purpose of this study was to document the traditional knowledge and art of these schedule caste families, the Rudiya’s or ringal weavers in the perspective of their ringal based crafts and articles and how much this art of theirs contributes to support and strengthen their socio-economic status from time immemorial. Another purpose of this study was to conserve their traditional art, this knowledge was depleting in their young generations, due to migration, decreased farming and farmland, low income from the sale of these articles and the less of the interest.