The Ghasi: A Scheduled Caste Community Of Orissa

Abstract

The Scheduled Caste Communities which are considered the most exploited group in Indian society traditionally suffered from the stigma of untouchability, social injustice and economic exploitation. As a national policy, Government of India adopted protective legislation to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Castes and this has been enshrined in the Constitution of India (Article-46). It was envisaged to make special provisions for the Scheduled Castes in particular to integrate them in the national mainstream of culture by transforming their low social status and thereby promoting self-reliance, dignity and freedom from servitude. While formulating and implementing programmes for their socio-economic development comprehensive knowledge about such communities was considered indispensable. The Tribal and Harijan Research-cum-Training Institute has produced the present monograph based on empirical study on the Ghasis, a denotified/ ex-criminal/ vulnerable community of Odisha. The principal objectives of the publication of such monographs were to acquaint the readers with the socio-economic and cultural life of the people studied to document the way of life of the people in a changing canvas and to evolve appropriate strategies for development of the community. In the absence of any comprehensive published materials the monograph on the Ghasi, would certainly go a long way to help planned development intervention, besides its academic significance