The systematic exploitation of Indigenous Peoples, which began in the pre–independence era, continues unabated, post-independence. Exploitation in every walk of life, under the guise of development, industrialization, urbanization, and globalization, has ensured that they are not just homeless and landless, but are dependent as labourers, on crafty landowners, loan sharks, and scheming contractors, for their very survival.
The Katkaris, belonging to one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups of Maharashtra, were always considered ‘the sons of the forest’. Today, as they combat stresses, of nefarious activities, which force them to work as bonded and migrant labourers, their very existence is threatened.
It is for this reason, that the ethos of the Katkaris, becomes significant to the present study so that once and for all, the long-standing problems of their marginalization and oppression are hopefully addressed.
The Katkaris, being classified, as one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups in the state, are mainly found in the Raigad and Thane districts, of Maharashtra. The study has been conducted with qualitative and quantitative methods, along with extensive ethnographic fieldwork, and has also been supplemented with a survey approach keeping in mind the objective of the study: exploring development programmes and means of livelihoods that will help reduce the existing poverty, unemployment, and migration which lead to marginalisation. This procedure allowed for a deeper insight and knowledge about their way of life, coupled with an understanding of their present situation, to address their marginalisation from society, and an almost absolute absence of development, in their lives and their habitats.
