Who are the Katkari Tribe?
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The Katkaris are predominantly found in districts of Maharashtra, including Raigad, parts of Palghar, Ratnagiri and Thane. A small population of this tribe is also located in certain areas of Gujarat.
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They were traditionally engaged in making Katha, a thickened sap from the wood of Khair, earning them the name Kathodis.
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Their name 'Katkari' is derived from their forest-based activity of making and bartering 'Catechu' from Khair tree.
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Apart from making Katha, they also work as agricultural labourers, sell firewood and some jungle fruits.
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They are bilingual, speaking in Marathi or Katkari language, a unique dialect of Marathi-Konkani.
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The tribe has a unique festival called 'Undir Navmi', dedicated to the rodent.
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In addition to selling firewood and agricultural products, they also engage in fishing for domestic consumption, coal making and brick manufacturing.
For more insights and information beneficial for UPSC aspirants, refer to the links below:
The Inspiring Story of Shahpur’s Katkari Tribal Youth – Sunil Pawar
The Indian government has launched numerous schemes and policies to uplift the people from different tribes or rural/backward areas. One such scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana (PMVDY), was effectively utilized by a Katkari Tribal youth, Sunil Pawar. He took the initiative to expand the market for local produce to online platforms.
Sunil Pawar, along with a group of his friends, started selling products like Giloy to local markets through the “Adivasi Ekatmik Samajik Sanstha” of Shahapur in Thane. With the support of the
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India
(TRIFED) under the PMVDY, they created a website and expanded their business to online platforms and larger markets.
Despite the challenges posed by the Novel Coronavirus in 2020, this tribe managed to sustain their livelihood and their business flourished.
What is Giloy?
Giloy is a medicinal plant that is in high demand by pharmaceutical companies. It is an ayurvedic herb that has been used to make medicines for thousands of years.
Explore more about the art, culture and tribes of India through the following links:
An Overview of PM Van Dhan Yojana
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The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) launched the Van Dhan scheme in 2018. The primary aim of the scheme was to enhance the tribal income through value addition of tribal products.
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The scheme is aimed at the economic development of tribals involved in the collection of Minor Food Produces (MFPs).
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PM Van Dhan Yojana was implemented at four levels:
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National Level –
The nodal department at the national level is the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
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Central Level –
The Nodal Agency at the central level is TRIFED India (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India).
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State Level –
At the state level, the nodal agencies for Minor Forest Produce Schemes (MFP) are the State Nodal Agencies and District Collectors.
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Local Level –
At the local level, a Self Help Group consisting of approximately 30 members is formed to establish a Van Dhan Vikas Samuh.
To know more about the
Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana
, candidates can visit the linked article.
Candidates can also check the detailed
UPSC Syllabus
for the prelims and mains examination at the linked article and start their preparation accordingly.
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