Accepted Panels

This panel aims to examine the status of nomadic communities across the world, whose wandering practices put them under scanner of the modern states. The state considers these communities as strangers in their own land, and as ineffective occupiers of their territories, having terra nullius status. They indulge in peripatetic practices as their survival strategy to overcome the historical and ecological challenges they have been facing for ages.  Nomadism also provides them new landscapes and new perspectives with a liberating affect. Their undeniable contribution to development of different techniques and ways of using land and sea that have created unique civilizations have been ignored. We propose to examine the prejudices held against nomadic communities and suggest effective policy measures for their development and social inclusion. It is imperative that nomad- state relationships be analyzed critically to enable them in negotiating their identities and carve out participatory decision-making process in policy matters that concern them directly. Deliberations are imperative over the strategies that are required to handle the issues of lack of basic amenities, maltreatment by administration and lack of social security cover for them. An academic, multi-disciplinary discussion will help in formulating welfare and development programs that cater to their specific needs.  Candid assessment and identification of gaps in accessing benefits under these programs and entitlements, and finding out ways to monitor and evaluate the progress of schemes is imperative. Since anthropologists have been long involved in the governmental affairs, the deliberations at this platform will help in influencing policy making and development process relating to nomadic communities.