The Socio Economic Conditions of the Kaibartas of Assam

Abstract

The Kaibartas constitute the second largest Scheduled Caste among the 16 SCs of Assam. They constitute an important segment of the Assamese Society. They inhabit the plain regions of the Brahmaputra Valley. In Assam , the term Kaibartas is used mainly to indicate the people whose main profession is fish trade Historical accounts of the community can be traced from the writings of several European and also Assamese writers. The Kaibarta villages are interspersed with people from communities having different caste, linguistic and religious affiliation. The study was conducted in seventy seven villages covering six hundred households with a population of 45532. Majority of the villages are situated in far flung areas , thus impeding them from accessing basic civic facilities. The Kaibarta community is poorly represented in the Gaon Panchayat Samabai Samities but well represented in the Fish and Boa Kata Samities. The villages have several socio-cultural organisations. There is a rising sense of educational status among the Kaibartas from the Pre primary to Post Graduate level. But dropout in education is also noticed. Household data reveals the erosion of traditional fisherman occupation. There has been switch to agricultural activities and hence ownership of agricultural land. Few families own individual fisheries and majority depend on other fisheries for their catch. Fishing is the sole means of income but various factors have stood as impediments for their development and progress. Women are expert weavers. The people are beset by problems of indebtness, lack of awareness of welfare measures. They lack proper drinking water and have poor health condition. Social evils like untouchability, atrocities and drinking are present to some degree. Due to their Socio Economic backwardness several measures were adopted under the SC Component plan.