PATH Foundation’s Field Research on Access to Justice among PVTGs residing at Gadchiroli and Chandrapur
PATH Foundation (People’s Action Towards Humanity) is a collective of like-minded socially conscious youth from different parts of Maharashtra belonging to legal and medical fraternity. While working on the issues of violation of very basic human rights in tribal region of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur we noticed that lack of legal literacy, poverty, non-affordability, illiteracy, geographical & language barriers and low socio-economic status are the major responsible factors in ensuring their legitimate stake in the protections provided by the Constitution and legal system. In addition, non-recognition and lack of awareness of their rights have made them more vulnerable. Therefore, to analyse the impact of above -mentioned barriers in getting easy access to justice in the socio-economic context of PVTGs we are conducting a field research in 6 tribal dominated blocks of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.
Objective of the research
Understanding the barriers in getting access to justice in the socio-economic context of Particularly Vulnerable Tribes residing in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur and reveal the overall outcome and suggest the recommendations and work for increasing access to justice for PVTGs.
PATH Foundation (People’s Action Towards Humanity) is a collective of like-minded socially conscious youth from different parts of Maharashtra belonging to legal and medical fraternity. While working on the issues of violation of very basic human rights in tribal region of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur we noticed that lack of legal literacy, poverty, non-affordability, illiteracy, geographical & language barriers and low socio-economic status are the major responsible factors in ensuring their legitimate stake in the protections provided by the Constitution and legal system. In addition, non-recognition and lack of awareness of their rights have made them more vulnerable. Therefore, to analyse the impact of above -mentioned barriers in getting easy access to justice in the socio-economic context of PVTGs we are conducting a field research in 6 tribal dominated blocks of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.
Objective of the research
Understanding the barriers in getting access to justice in the socio-economic context of Particularly Vulnerable Tribes residing in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur and reveal the overall outcome and suggest the recommendations and work for increasing access to justice for PVTGs.
Methodology
The research will involve the application of mixed methods i.e., quantitative and qualitative. Methods of structured interviews and surveys from fields to be used for data-generation. To obtain the data, closed ended and open ended questions will be asked in the survey. To make research more accurate and trustworthy we have chosen participants from PVTGs with similar geographical, social and economic conditions. The researchers will interact with the targeted group in their real-life environment. 3 villages each from 6 tribal dominated blocks of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur will be identified. 20 samples from each village will be collected. The interaction and survey will take around 10 days to collect first-hand information. Research is based on collecting the grass root information in relation to PVTGs interface with judicial and quasi judicial institutions, where exploratory research is more suitable it means a research where a problem which is not clearly defined. For the purpose of making research more comprehensive and detailed, due importance will be given to the interviews of local community leaders, teachers of the villages, president/ secretary of SHGs, local NGO workers working in the targeted area.
About PVTGs
In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as PVTGs. PVTGs have some basic characteristics: they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, absence of written language, relatively simple technology etc. A criterion for identifying Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are as under:
Estimated Expenditure for field Research Work
Total Days of Research: 10 Days
Total no. of researchers: 4
1. Traveling:
Petrol Expense for two bikes: 2500×2 = 5000 Rs.
2. Food:
150 Rs. Per person per day× 4= 600
600× 10= 6000 Rs.
3. Stationary:
Pens, Pencils, Photocopies of survey forms, Markers etc: 4000 Rs.
4. Remuneration to Researchers: 4 × 2500= 10,000
5. Remuneration to Research Analyst= 15,000
Total: 40,000 Rs.
The research will involve the application of mixed methods i.e., quantitative and qualitative. Methods of structured interviews and surveys from fields to be used for data-generation. To obtain the data, closed ended and open ended questions will be asked in the survey. To make research more accurate and trustworthy we have chosen participants from PVTGs with similar geographical, social and economic conditions. The researchers will interact with the targeted group in their real-life environment. 3 villages each from 6 tribal dominated blocks of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur will be identified. 20 samples from each village will be collected. The interaction and survey will take around 10 days to collect first-hand information. Research is based on collecting the grass root information in relation to PVTGs interface with judicial and quasi judicial institutions, where exploratory research is more suitable it means a research where a problem which is not clearly defined. For the purpose of making research more comprehensive and detailed, due importance will be given to the interviews of local community leaders, teachers of the villages, president/ secretary of SHGs, local NGO workers working in the targeted area.
About PVTGs
In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups. In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as PVTGs. PVTGs have some basic characteristics: they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, absence of written language, relatively simple technology etc. A criterion for identifying Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups are as under:
- Pre-agricultural level of technology,
- Low level of literacy,
- Economic backwardness,
- A declining or stagnant population.
Name of PVTG Population | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2011 |
Kolam | 56061 | 118073 | 147843 | 173646 | 194671 |
Maria Gond | 53400 | 66750 | - | - | 1618090 |
Estimated Expenditure for field Research Work
Total Days of Research: 10 Days
Total no. of researchers: 4
1. Traveling:
Petrol Expense for two bikes: 2500×2 = 5000 Rs.
2. Food:
150 Rs. Per person per day× 4= 600
600× 10= 6000 Rs.
3. Stationary:
Pens, Pencils, Photocopies of survey forms, Markers etc: 4000 Rs.
4. Remuneration to Researchers: 4 × 2500= 10,000
5. Remuneration to Research Analyst= 15,000
Total: 40,000 Rs.
Researchers: Adv. Deepak Chatap, Mr. Bodhi Ramteke, Adv. Vaishnav Ingole + 2 Field Research Interns.