The Jayantira Pano: A Scheduled Caste Community Of Orissa

Abstract

The pattern of relatively non-osmotic social interaction accentuated by the stigma of untouchability, social disability, and discrimination, low economic status and segregation continued to widen the gulf of social inequality and created impediments for the Scheduled Castes in the way of integration with the national mainstream of culture. However, during the post-independence period, they have been experiencing radical social transformations through planned development efforts and constitutional safeguards and protective legislations. In the contextual framework of a plural society, the Scheduled Castes today at least find a path to move from a relatively static, rigid, disadvantaged, non-egalitarian state to a relatively dynamic, open, secured, and self-reliant one. Thus, their emerging social identity has enabled them to be conscious of the socio-economic injustice and exploitation and to rationalise their thought for social mobility. The present publication relates to the Jayantira Pano, a numerically small group of the most populous Pano community of Odisha who was once regarded as one of the denotified/ex-criminal/vulnerable groups among the scheduled castes. The main objective of such a publication in the context of identity transformation is to document the socio-economic and cultural life of the people in question; to help researchers, planners and administrators in conducting further research and to evolve suitable development strategies for them as well as to create awareness and interest among the general public. It is hoped that this monograph would certainly serve its desired purpose.