Tribal Education

Dr. B.A. Deshmukh is the first Member of the Kokana Tribe to complete his Doctorate in Social Science Faculty. In this book, Dr. Deshmukh has not only high lighted the socio cultural profile of the tribe, but also emphasized the need to create educational reforms in the community .

This book will certainly be useful to students of education, Social Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, N.G.O’S and general readers as well.

Dr. B.A.Deshmukh,

M.A., M.S.W., Ph.D (Social Work) is currently working as a Lecturer in Bharati

Vidypeeth, Deemed University, Pune. He

was working with Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune as a social work educator. He has total 17 years of teaching experience in social workeducation. Hehastohiscreditsevenresearch and occasional issue based papers, published in professional journals as well as regional news papers.

He has been associated with ‘Inter- University Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Advanced study, Shimla (India) as a ‘Research Associate’. During which he has prepared and presented a paper on Innovative Tribal Development Approaches’:

Dr. Deshmukh has been associated with various social development organizations in and around pune in the capacity of field work supervisor and Development consultant in Anaapurna pariwar, Pune.

He is only the well-known academician from kokana-kokani tribal community in Maharashtra.

Dr. B.A

Preface

The present book entitled “Tribal Education’ is the my long institution of Kokana Community and its members. Myself being a member of the Kokana Community, I have always been in touch with Kokana life. My continuous involvement and interactions with the Kokana people helped me to gain an insight into the customs, traditions and culture of the tribal life. On the other side when I tried to search any written material on the Kokana tribe, it was noticed that there was not much literature available on Kokana tribe. This created lot of curiosity in my mind, which ultimately compelled me to do an indepth study of the tribe.

In my schooling days I observed and sometimes experienced the plight of tribal children in the hostels run by private management or NGOs. The facilities provided by the hostel authorities were of poor qualities and the students studying there had no other option but to be happy with whatever was being provided. At the school level it was also observed that there were many shortcomings as far as school teaching, curriculum and other details were concerned. After reviewing the school curriculum I came to the conclusion that, the curriculum itself was not appealing to the tribal students. It had no relevance with the day to day life experience of the tribal people. Perhaps this could be the reason for high drop out rates, among the Kokana children. Walking for a long distance (30 to 35 kms.) of children from their schooling place to native place for their short term holidays and long term vacation was somewhat painful pleasure for tribal children.

But after 1982, since the separate Ministry of Tribal Development came into existence in Maharashtra. It was thought that this would bring some quantitative and qualitative changes into the services being provided to the shmukh, tribal communities. After 4 years, I had an opportunity to visit some Ashram Schools in Satana and Kalwan talukas of Nashik District, it was very disappointing experience. I found no much difference in the schools and Ashram Schools before 1982 and after that.

In the present study, I tried to organize and analyse the references on origin of Kokana Tribe which is very much valuable with regard to understand and recognize the Kokana tribe, which never happened in the past. As far as present educational trend and causes of children for not attending the schools are concerned. I observed the changing trends among Kokana people due to the increasing interactions between Kokana and non-Kokana people.

History has repeatedly proved that where education suffers everything suffers. Education has been the main causative factors behind India’s social, economical and cultural problems. Unfortunately in the last 50 years, because of the absence of the political will handful of sections of the population was deprived of their fundamental rights. The government has still continued to keep low budgetary allocation for the socially disadvantaged population.

The present study aims at drawing the attention of the policy makers, administrators, researchers, academicians for the further study of the educational problems of various Indian tribes in general and Kokana tribe in specific.

I convey my heartful gratitude to Dr. P.M. Vasave for his valuable guidance and constant encouragement, without which the present study would not have come to its present shape.

I am extremely grateful to Dr. Shivajirao Kadam, pro- vice chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Deemed University. Pune, Dr. U.B. Bhoite former vice-chancellor of the same university and Dr. Robin Tribhuvan a well known Anthropologist and Development expert, for their inspiration.

I am thankful to my daughter Vinaya and my wife Jayshree for their patient support.     

In the end, I dedicate this small piece of work with sincere regards to my father late Shri, Anaji Deshmukh, who had worked till his last breath for the Kokana people in the tribal villages of satana taluka. I dedicate this book to his ever lasting memories.

Dr. B.A. Deshmukh M.A., M.S.W., Ph.D.