'CENSUS OF INDIA 1971
Part- VI C
SERIES-~ BIHAR
SURVEY -REPORT ON SELEC'I'ED VILLAGES
MEROMDEGA (A Village Restudy)
Draft by RAJENDRA PRASAD Assistant Director of Census Operations
Edited by S. C. SAXENA Deputy Director of Census Operations
Supervised by V. K. BHARGAVA Dy_ Director of Census Operations Directorate of Census Operations Bihar 71 CENSUS PUBLICATIONS BIHAR
PART I-A General Report (Report on data yielded from P.C.A. and Tables and Mothertongue and Religion)
PART I-B General Report (Detailed analysis of the Demographic. Social. Cultural and Migration pattern).
PART I-C Subsidiary Tables
PART II-A General Population Tables (A-I. A-II. A-III and A-IV and R.C.A.)
PART II-A SUPPLEMENT General Population Tables (Standard Urban Areas)
PORTRAIT OF POPULATION
PART II-B (i) General Economic Tables (B-1 Part A and B-II)
PART II-B (ii) General Economic Tables (B-1 Part B. B-1I1 to B-V and B-VII to B-IX)
PART II-B (iii) General Economic Tables (B-VI)
PART II-C (i) Social and Cultural Tables (C-VII and C-VIII)
PART II-C (ii) Social and Cultural Tables (C-I to C-VI and Fertility Tables).
PART Il-D Migration Tables
PART III-A Report on Establishments and Subsidiary Tables on Establishment Tables.
PART III-B Establishment Tables
PART IV Housing Report and Tables
PARTV-A Special Tables for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
PART VI-A Town Directory.
PARTVI-B Special Survey Reports on selected towns
PAATVI-C Survey Reports on selected villages
(ii) PART VIII-A Adm~nistration Report on Enumeration , PARTVIII-B Administration Report on Tabulation
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
PART IX Census Atlas
PART IX-A Administrative Atlas
PART X-A District Census Handbook (Town & Village Dir~ctory)
PART X-B District Census Handboo~ (Village & Townwise Primary Census Abstract).
PARTX-C District Census Handbook. (Analytical Report and Administrative Statistics and District Census Tables).
CONTENTS
PAGES
FOREWORD III-IV
PREFACE. V-VI
CHAPTER-I: INTRODUCTION 1-14
Location (1); Physical features .(4) ;Transport and Com,muni cation(s) Demographic trends (10); Levels of Developmentments (14); Historical Politico-Cultural, economic and other events (16); Settlement Pattern and physical layout (19); Ethnic compo sition and settlement history (23); A General feel of the village (26)
CHAPTER-II: SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHIC AND VITAL STATISTICS 28-58
Primary Census Abstracts (28); Age at marriage (36); Popul ation control measures, attitude and pra_ptice (48); Birth stati- stics (49); Disease and treatment, sanitation and hygienic hat)its (54); Migration (58)
CHAPTER-III: ECONOMY 59-99
Economic resources (59); Land use pattern (61); Ownership or resources (6~); Primary and secondary occupations (63); Occu pational mobility (64); Detailed discussion of the occupation (64); Forestry (79); Animal husbandry and poultry rearing (80); Fishing (82) Trade and Commerce (82); Industry (86); Other occupations (89); Family budget (89); Indebtedness (92); Unemployment and under employment (96); Transfer of wealth (99)
CHAPTER-IV: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 100-139
House type (100); Dress and ornament (104); Household goods (106); Food and drink (108); Household composition (111); Net work of social relation (115); Marriage (118); Death (123); Religion, leisure and recreation (125); I nfluential and prestingious persons (131); Function ing of Administrative and developmental organisations (133) Function of traditional Panchayat (134); Voluntary organisation (134); Faction and clique (136); Range of contact with outside world (137)
CHAPTER-V CONCLUSION 140-144
MAPS 101
Photographs 105
- (v)
FOREWORD
The Census of India has a long tradition of providing data on a variety of socio economic aspects: After independence the Census has increasingly turned its attention to the presentation of such data-both at Macro and Micro levels-as would meet the needs of planning and development. Accordingly, from 1.951 onwards certain village statistics are being brought out to inter alia help in 'grass-root' planning and rural reconstruction by way of provision of basic amenities and infra-structure, etc.
2. As ancillary to the 1961 Census, a study of more than 500 villages was taken up. The main objective of this study, to put it in the words of Shri Asok Mitra, the Census Commissioner for 1961, was "to invest the dry bones of village statistics with flesh and-blood accounts of social structure and social change". The basis of selection of these villages was purposive to cover adequately geographical, occupational and ethnic diversity besides representing (a) villages of medium size with multi-ethnic population and ha~ing variegated occupations through primarily dependent on agriculture, (b) having one dominant c()mmunity with one predominant occupation, like fishing, pottery etc. and (c) primarily inhabited by a scheduled tribe. About 400 monographs based on socio-economic surveys all over the country have been published. As adjunct to the 1971 Census, at the initiative of my predecessor, Shri A. Chandrasekhar, it was decided to conduct a re-study of some of the above villages to note how fast and in what direction the winds of change were blowing. This involved not only recording change during the decade but a study of the process of change in the light of the following issues.
i) To what extent and in what manner the village was a distinct unit during the earlier study and is still so;
ii) Whether the village is displaying increasing urban look, and if so, in what manner;
iii) What is the interplay of the various factors that have helped or impeded the full utilisation of the amenities and infra-structure availabl_eJo the villages;
iv) Whether the village life is marked by increasingly more cohesion or conflict; and
v) To what extent the demographic pattern of the village is related to eco-system, compriSing environment, technology, social organisation and population by different attributes.
The foci of analysis was on the social process in the village society concomitant to industrialization, urbanisation and changes in the agrarian structure. The main criteria for selection of villages for re-study in the state were (a) a village near an effective urban centre with population of 50,000 and above and pre~erably in proximation of a city or town, (b) a village away from an effective urban centre which could, however, be near a small town at a distance of about 10 kilometres and (c) a village at a distance of at least 25 kilometres from an urban centre. The suggestions of the Planning Commission cover a few villages in (a) a dry belt, (b) I.A.D.P. area (c) areas having small irrigation facilities and rural electrification, and (d) where facilities of institutional financing for agricultural operation had progressed well, was also taken intq consideration as far as possible.
3. I must congratulate my colleagues in the Social Studies Division for organising these studies. I am grateful to Dr. B.K. Roy Burman, who was incharge of the division, for stimulating his colleagues in the- census office to study in depth the specific problems of social change and for developing the necessary tools for the study by devising exhaustive schedules for collection of requisite data. I am thankful to Dr. N.G. Nag, Deputy Registrar General, who later took over the coordination of the programme. I also acknowledge the important role of Dr. K.P. Ittaman, Senior Research Officer, who undertook the scrutiny of the statistical data and drafts prepared in the census offices in the states with the ab~e assistance of Shri V.K. Jain.
4. The present monograph is the outcome of the study uodertaken by the Directorate of Census Operations, Bihar, Patna. The study was conducted by Shri Rajendra Prasad, Assistant Director of Census Operation, Bihar, Patna. Shri S.C. Saxena, Deputy Director of Census Operations, edited the report. I am indebted to my colleagues in the census office of their painstaking efforts in the preparation of the monograph.
NEW DELHI (P. PADMANABMA) THE 17TH July, 1978 REGISTRAR GENERAL, INDIA PREFACE
Meromdega, located in the Thethaitangar Block of Ranchi district (now in Gumla district) is one of the villages selected for the study ancillary to 1961 Census and for restudy in 1971 Census with a view to assessing the changes that have taken place in the rural society during the decade as well as factors and processes associated with such change. The main criteria for .its selection for restudy were that it is a village away from an effective urban centre, but near a small town Sim.dega within a distance.of five to ten Kms. and is predominantly inhabited by the Kharias who are primarily dependent on agro-based economy.
2. Two types of schedules, viz., Village Schedule and Household Schedule, have been canvassed in the village for carrying out.this job. Village Schedule is divided Into two sections namely, the Basic Schedule to be canvassed in the whole village and Special Schedule to cover economic activities, migration, political organisations, caste and community organisations, religiOUS organisations and social mobility movement. The Household Schedule is also divided into three sections, namely, A(i) Composition and'Socio-cultural Linkage, A(ii) Life Cycle and- Material Equipment and (b) Economic ./ Life.
3. The survey was conducted in 1978 by Shri Rajendra Prasad, Tabulation Officer (now Assistant Director of Census Operations, Bihar, Patna) with the help of six staff namely SjShri T.N. Rukhaiyar, B.M. Prasad and R.N. Verma, Statistical Assistants and SjShri Feku Lal Yadav, Haldhar Prasad Singh and N. Siddiqui, Computers.
4. Dr. N.G. Nag, Ex-Deputy Registrar General and Dr. K.P. Ittaman, present Deputy Registrar General (Social Studies Division) of the Office of the Registrar General, India provided the technical guidance and suggestions for this study. The Division scrutinised the report and the report had to be recast in the list of comments and suggestions given by the Division. Meanwhile the officers and staff were engaged in the operations of 1981 Census. A number of difficulties were experienced because of the time gap between the initial collection of data and finalisation of the report.
5. I must record m~· deepest sense of gratitude to Shri P. Padmanabha, ex-Registrar General, India, Shri V(S. Verma present Registrar General, India, for their encouraging guidance and valuable suggestions and Shri B.B. Lal Ex-Director of Census oper~ns, Bihar wt)o could spare time to go through the first draft and give valuable suggestions. I am thankful to Shri B.P. Jain, Asstt. Director, Printing, Office of the Registrar General, Indra and Press who have helped in bringing out this publication.
6. Lastly, in this Directorate the report was drafted' by Shri Rajendra Prasad, Assistant Director and Shri S.C. Saxena, Dy. Directol" of Census Operations edited the report. SjShri Vidya Prasad Sintla, Investigator, Sudhir Kumar Das 'Sudhakar' and Madan Mohan Kan!h Statistical ~ssistants and Gajendra Kumar Labh, Computer provided very good assistance in finalising the report. The maps included in the report I were prepared by Shri Mohd. Nasimuddin Khan, Draughtsman under the supervision of Shri A.P. Singh, A.O. (Map). Shri Md. Ashr?lful Hoda, LlC typed the manuscript. I am thankful to all of them.
7. The photographic coverage of the village has been complet~d by them. The inclement weather and preparing the villagers especially ladies for facing the camera were great difficulties which I could overcome with the help and cooperation extended by Shri Soloman Kuru and his son Peter Kuru of the village and for this both of them deserve my thanks.
(V.K. BHARGAVA) PATNA Dy. Director of Census Operations, August, 1988 Bihar, Patna. CHAPTER··!
INTRODUCTION
Location theft, burglary and external. aggression which had 1.1 Meromdega is situated at a distance of 10 km. become a common phenomenon in the localities south-east of Simdega, the Subdivisional during those days. But the Oal could not succeed in its headquarters, and 16 km. north-east of its Block mission and consequently, it was reorganised in 1972 headquarters at Thethaitangar. Sirndega is under the banner of Mr. Willium Bilung. The Oal hac::! 10 approximately 200 kms away from Ranchi, the district members in the beginning which rose upto 18 during headquarters, via Rahchi-Gumla-Rourkela road. This the period of re-survey in the year 1978. The members distance is, however, reduced nearly by 50 kms when hailed from Kharia, Turi, Gond and Mehar one journeys from Simdega to Ranchi via Basia. All the commt..:nities. Each member has to contribute rupees State buses ply on the road passing through Gumla _ten annually. The amount so deposited is invested for while the private bus-drivers normally choose the the upliftment of the Oal and welfare of the villagers. As short-cut route via Basia. averred by the Dalpati, rupees eighty was sanctioned for the repair of the roof of the village school last year .. 1.2 The village is spread in fourteen different The main aim of the Oal is to maintain amity and peace clusters locally known as ."toils". It is bounded on the by way of compromising all sorts of disputes occurring north by the villages Barabarpani, Thalkobera and in the village off and on. The Raksha Dal also .keep Belgarh falling under the jurisdiction of Simdega Police watchful eyes on illegal and unauthorised cuttings of Station; on the west by a portion of Simdega town and village forests both by the villagers and outsiders. villages Tukupani, Gurgu-chuan, Kasdega and Tapudega Pandri Pani; on the south by Simarkudra, a 1.5 For trade and cbmmerce the village depends village under the Thethaitangar Police Station. entirely on Simdega town. Being ~urrounded by the Ghutbahar, a village of Thethaitangar Police Station, jungles, the town has abundant forest resources and and Muria falling under the Simdega Police Station, products to supply to the neighbouring areas. together form the eastern boundary of village Meromdega. 1.6 Besides huge bi-weekly markets,which are ,held ' at the Bazartanr, a daily market is also held in the 1.3 So far as the important centres of administration chowk area. No important industrial establishment has are concerned, the village is nearer to its Sub been found in -the neighbouring town, except several divisional headquarters, Simdega than anchal saw mills which process the timber brought there from headquarters at Thethaitangar. The Police Station the nearby jungles. Agricultural products are also controlling law and order of the village is also located available in this town through6ut the year. During the at Thethaitangar. But the statutory Gram Panchayat, harvest seasons peop'le prefer to buy them from the which is the smallest unit of the village administration, local markets where a large number of people come to is located in the village itself in the main settlement. sell the agricultural products for the purchase of other necessary things of their daily use. 1.4 The villagers formed a 'Gram Raksha Dal' (Voluntary Village Protection Force) in 1970 under the .". 1.7 There is no place of tou~ists' attraction or patronage of Peter James Kullu with its headquarters cultural or religious~importance in the village except, at. Meromdega for their safety and protection against Ramrekha where a large number'of people gather on . the eve of Ram Nawami. The temple dedicated to Lord well as by the cultural programmes prganised by the Ram and his consort Sita is said to have been }ocal people. Tribal dances and dramas are also constructed by the Raja of Siru. Later on, some repair arrang~ for entertainment. The State Government· work was got done by the Marwaris of Simdega town. also opens stalls for publicity. Ramrekha is about 40 kms away from Simdega. It is located amidst the natural surroundings of forests. 1.12 Rourkela, the important industrial town in the While going to Lanka in search of Sita, Ram and his State of Orissa is only about 70 kms. away from brother Lakshman are said to have stayed at Meromdega. All the Cosmopolitan and the Ramrekha overnight. , . 'Metropolitan cities of the country can be approached by'roads from Simdega. The nearest industrial town is 1.8 Kelaghagh is the construction of a masonary Hatia (Ranchi), approximately 15Q kms. away from the dam encased in concrete qpver over the fqce. across village. Chinda rjver by connecting two hillocks on either side at the place of the same name in Simdega Police Physical Features: Station of Ranchi district, 6 kms. away from village 1.13 Meromdega is situated in the hilly tracts 01 Meromdega. It provides irrigation facility to scarcity Ranchi Plateau and has an undulating and steep areas of South Chotanagpur inhabited by tribal people terrain. Hills abound on all &ides and rocky exposures where rainfall is erratic and uncertain. The dam serves in the form of big boulders ate seen in all the the purposes of water supply for drinking to Simdega, settlements as also in the entire revenue village. The a SUb-diviSional town of Ranchi district and lift residential buildings a're located on the uplands while irrigation through pump canals to local areas. ' the low lands are invariably used fdr cultivation. The low lands, locally termed as 'Don', are used for paddy 1.9 The scheme of the construction of this dam was cultivation. The uplands indigenously known as 'Tanr' approved by the Government in 1971,* but due to are ased partly for the CUltivation of coarse paddy and some public objections, the construction of the dam partly for Shadai and Rabi production. was delayed for about. 5 years and it was again started in the month of June 1976 and completed in the year 1983. It was opened for operation from the auspicious 1.14 Uplands (Tanr) are prone to gully erosion due day of 26th January, 1984. to their slopy terrain. Inspite of the best precautlons and measures taken by public and the Government, \ some portions' of these lands are eroded every year 1.10 Now-a-days Kelaghagh has gained during the rainy season. Rain water drains out quickly prominence and become an attractive place both for from the upland leaving the 'Tanr' lands without much local and town people. Everyday in the evening a few of moisture. It is accumulated in the 'Dan' cars from the town are seen parked in the vicinity of comparatively for a long period and keeps the low the dam and people enjoy the panoramic view of the lands full of moisture. The colour of 'Tanr' lands is red reservoir surrounded by beautiful hills. Temples with coarse grains and at some places with pebbles . dedicated to Lord Mahavir, Goddess Durga, Lord whereas the 'Don' lands are blackish grey, generally, Shiva and Radha Krishna have added beauty to the free from grains and pebbles with dominance of clay. place. The nursery of the forest department in the bed of the reservoir also attracts the visitors. 1.. 15 The maximum and minimum temperature 1.11 'Gandhi Mela' is another event 6f some during summer and winter were not readily available at attraction for the local people. It is held every year on the time of survey. However, the maximum and the eve of 26th January. This fair lasts for more than a minimum temperature of Simdega. town situated in the week. A large number of people attend this fair and are close. vicinity pf Meromdega were 460 .00 c;lnd 40 .00 entertained by performances in.circusand theatres as. centigrade respectiVely. ** the cllm~te of the village is'
* Lett"r No. 14147 dated 15.10.1971 of Irrigation .Department, Bihar. ,..-Census of India 1971, Part VI-A: Town .Director of Bihar, Page 64.
2 moderate. It is neither too hot during the summer nor 1.16 'It may be seen from the above table that the too cold during winter season. In the month of .April or village start~ receiving rain from the month of June and May the ~ay temperature sometimes rises, but the the rainy season normally lasts till September with nights become cool even in the' summer. The rain torrential rains generally in the monms of July and breaks usually before the end of June and ~nds August. Occasional spells of rain are also rnar~ed in generally by September. The cold weather begins from May and October. Occasional showers in ,the months November and lasts till the end of February. The of March and April are pleasant for the people as these following table shows the rainfall statistics 01 bring down the temper;:tture whereas rains io the Thethaitangar block which is also effective for village . months .of January and February give excessive cold Meromdega. to them.
Table 1.1: Rainfall statistics recorded at Thethaitangar Block Office for the years 1973·78~
Months Years
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978
2 3 4 5 6 7
January 10.0 38.8 38.2 16.5
February 37.9 3.6 17.0 20.2 6,4 23.Q
March 18.5 9.2 18.0 1.0
April 1.0 9.5 22.8 26.1 11.8 " May 28.0 [ 66.1 7.2 60.6 142.0 12.5
,189,2 85.9 108,9 101.2 358,3 201.5
July 309.3 885.6 404.7, 225.8 642.8 334.0
August 573,0 445.5 506.4 325.6 522.2 405.2
September 526.6 73.4 213.0 299.8 150.5 290.6
October 234.0 67.5 104.7 11.5 26.8 62.1
Novembe( 43.0 6.4 9.4 6:4
Deoember 4.8 18.0 58.2
Total 1970.5 1636.8 1428.2 1078.7 1941.7 1514.5
N.B.: Figures are in Milimetres.
1.17 Because of their high fertility potential, the produce different kinds of crops in different years. This 'Oon' lands are regularly' put under cultivatipn .. But. the rotation of crops is essential to keep these lands fertile. 'Tam' lands are generally left fallow. Paddy is the main The usual succession at· different crops and fallow single crop grown in the loW lands. The uplands lands extracted from the "Village Note" Qt MerorJ1dega
3 is given in. the, table below to understand the cropping pattern of the uplands.
Table 1.2: Types of land (Tanr) and rotation of crops
Years 1st class 2nd class 3rd class
1st year Makai and Goradhan & Til Kurthi, Jetangi 8; • Tarkari Gondli.
2nd year -do- Urid & Kapas Fallow
3rd year -do- Fallow -do-
4th year -do- -do- Kurthi etc.
5th year -do- Goradhan & Til Fallow
6th year -do- Urid & Kapas -do-
, 1.18 As is evident from the ctbove table, 1st class hedges for protection against the wild beasts and stray 'Tanr' lands which form the homestead lands are never ~nimals. left fallow. Maize and vegetables are grown on these lands every year. Being in close proximity to the 1.22 The cultivation of Kapas (cotton) has totally settlements, these lands are easily and heavily been given up now-a-days. Most of the cloth required manured with compost and other manures. This helps by the villagers is purchased from local markets. The in retaining much fertility in the land and as such gives villagers. invariably use mill-made cloths except for a bumper yields. few traditional garments which are locally prepared hy the Mehars and the Chik Baraiks. These weavers do 1.19 2nd class 'Tanr' lands start just after, the not spin yarn at home but purchase them from extremity of class I 'Tanr' lands. Being away from the Simdega town and weave,cloth from it. village settlements, these lands are not manured regularly with the result that after two continuous 1.23 The villagers have recently started growing harvests, they become barren and unfit for crop ground nuts in 'Tanr' (I) lands, in addition to maize production, These lands retain their fertility when they crop. The production of ground nuts is preferred to the are not cultivated continuously for two years. maize because it requires less labour and involves less expenditure. 1.20 3rd class 'Tanr' lands start after the 2nd class and are far away from the main settlements: These 1.24 Occurrence of floods is not reported in the lands are seldom ploughed and mostly left for grazing. village but heavy rains often damage the crops sown However, coarse crops liKe Kurthi, J~tangi and Goncj/i on the low lands. On the other hand, drought is now a are sown in these plots after leaving them fallow for common feature almost every year. After- the severe two or three years. drought of 1967-68 there were two more drought years which heavily affected the village economy. It is said 1.21 Several persons in the village hold the view that that the wheat production in the' vil(age started after the fertility of the 'Tanr' lands is decreasing day by day. the drought of 1967-68. As a result, Maize is generally grown in tlie 'Bari' lands whereas the contiguous plots of the settlements are Transport and Communication: generally put under the cultivation of crops like Kurthi, Gondli, Marua and Jetangi. Vegetables are also grown 1.25 In respect of transport and communication, in these class I 'Tanr' Ia:nds as also in the 'Bari' lands Meromdega is not very backward. There is a metalled which are kept completely surrounded by walls or road which passes throuQh Kasbahar and Kahupani 4 tolis of Meromdega. ThiS pitched road branches oft found to have increased by 102, that is from 337 In from the State Highway at Pandripani and terminateS 1961 to 439 in 1978. Corresponding rise in population at Jaldega; After the construction of Kelaghagh dam, a was 570 persons, the number rising from 1,833 in 1961 permanent pitched road has been constructed apta. to 2,403 in 1978. This shows that while the number of 'Bairtoli", a cluster of Meromdega. This new road households increased by 30.3 per cent, the directly connects Bairtoli, Bartoli, Nagra toli, Bhadra corresponding rise' in population was 31.1 per cent in toli and Girja toli with Simdega town. There. is another tlie village in the last 18 years. The annual growth ratA. katcha road which connects the State Highway near comes to 1.8 per cent which Is far below the growth Kharemtoli and goes up to the proper Meromdega rate of the State 2.1 per cent and the country as a village. Due to sandy and hard texture of soil, this road whole 2.5 per cent. Sex-wise population growth of the is jeepable throughout the year. Thus the village is well village in 18 years was 26.2 per cent for males and linked by roads with its block headquarters, 32.9 per cent for females. Thethaitangar, the Sub-divislonal headquarters, Simdega and the distr.ict headquarters at Ranchi. 1.29 However, rise in the village population was not commensurate with the number of tolis which 1.26 The nearest rail communication is· available at remained intact over the last 18 years. No new toli Birmitrapur, an industrial town in the State of Orissa sprang up in this long period. The table below shows situated at a distance of about 35 ·kms. from Table 1.3: Toil-wise dispersal of .households In the villaget> Meromdega. The nearest railway station within the State of Bihar is Orga which is approximately 60 kms. Name of 'toW No. of households in from the village. The villagers prefer to go to -.' 1961 1978
Birmitrapur for availing the Railway·facility. 2 3
MeromdegajBasti toli 91 119 1.27 Intra village and the inter-toli communication is not satisfactory. Except a few peripheral tolis, no tolis Bartoli 62 64 are inter-connected with roads. One has to trek down through the ridges of the fields during the rainy season Girja toli 38 55 and through the temporary short paths carved out by .. the daily passersby during the fair weather months to Kahupani toli 36 43 reach the different tolis. Owing to steep and undulating 34 nature of the village lands, internal roads are not Kasbahar 28 possible to be constructed easily. Further, owing to the Mahua toli 20 23 absence of bullockcarts and other vehicles in the village, the villagers also do not feel their necessity. Purab toll 20 29 The male members carry loads through 'bhars' while the females take on their heads. The village lanes are Nawatoli 10 8 also katcha and at some places very narrow. For postal services the villagers had to depend on Tangartoli 9 24 Pandripani while the telephonic and telegraphic Mahto toll 8 15 facilities are available at Simdega town itself. Since the last 5-6 years, the services of post office have been Bhadra toli 6 4 made available In the village at Girjatoli. Pahartoli 4 7 Demographic Trends / Bairtoll 3 a 1.28 There were 337 households comprising 1,833 persons In this village during 1961 Census out of which Nagra toli 2 6 933 were males and 900 females. When the village was 337 439 revisited in 1978, the number of households were Total
5 'toli'-wise household figures in Meromdega for 1961 shifting of two households of Kumhar community from and 1978. Nawatoli (where they were residing in ather's land) to the adjoining village after they constructed houses in 1.30 The above table indicates that except Bhadra their own land. Similarly, at Bhadra toli 3 households of toli and Nawa toli, the number of households Kharia, 2 of Chik Baraik and 1 of Turi were reported increased in various proportions. in all the tolis during 1961, but in 1978 0!:l'Y 4 families of Kharia were between 1961 and 1978. This increase was, three-folds found. residing there while the Chik Baraiks and the at Nagratoli and nearly three folds at Bair toli, more lone hOllSehold of Turi shifted to Bartoli for their own than two and a half times at Tangartoli, nearly two convenience. times at Pahar and Mahtotoli and nearly ope and a tmIf ti~e at Girja and Kahupani toli. In case of Nawa a,nd 1.31 Based on the survey figures, the community Shadra toli, the number of householqs has decreased wise population, their sex ratio .and percentage from 10 to 8 and 6 to 4 respectively during the last 18 variation in the population growth for the major years. The reason for this reduction as averred, by the communities of th~ village are given in the following villagers as also investigated during the survey' was table.
Table 1.4: Community-wise population of Meromdega during 1961 and 1978 based on survey with sex-ratio and percentage of variations (only for the major communities)
Community 1961 1978 Variation Percentage in total variation, Persons Males HJmales Sex- Persons Males Females Sex· poputa_tion ratio ratio (per (per 1000 1000 males) malesl
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Khana 678 354 324 915 956 460 496 1,078 + 278 + 41.0
Gond ,343 172 171 994 495 246 249 1,012 + 152 + 44.3 " Mahar 244 135 109 a07 299 161 138 857 +55 + 22.5
Dom/Naik 86 52 34 654 110 65 45 692 + 24 + 27.9
furi 79 45 34 756 68 38 30 789 - 11 - 13.9
Bhogta 199 84 110 '1,369 230 114 116 1,018 + 31 + 15.6
Chik Baraik 98 44 54 1,227 120 64 56 875 +22 + 22.5
Others 106 47 59 1,276 125 59 66 1,119 + 19 + 18.0
Total 1,833 933 900 965 2,403 1,207 1,196 991 570 31.1
1.32 The above table indicates that the growth rate 1.33 The community-wise sex-ratio for the year 44.3% is the highest among Gonds followed by 41 per 1961 and 1978 was favourable among Bhogtas and cent of the Kharias, 27.9 per cent of Dom and 22.5 per Chik Baraiks in the year 1961; which was, however, cent each of the Chik Baraiks and the Mehars and 15.6 adverse in case of Chik Baraiks in 1978. Though a per cent of Bhogtas. Among the Turis the percentage considerable reduction is marked in the sex-ratio of growth rate is negative that is 13.9. among Bh~s over the last 18 years, it was still
6 favourable to females In 1978. The sex-ratio which was Thethaitangar plans for the development of the village adverse among Gonds and Kharias in 1961, became and also executes it. As per report of the Block favourable in the yaar 1978. Agricultural Officer, 44 irrigational wells were dug in Meromdega till 1978. Of them. 22 were dug with the 1.34 Except for Bhogtas and Chik Baraiks, the sex aid from the State Government, 14 through personal ratio has increased for all the communities of the efforts of the villagers and 8 through the Christian village in the last 18 years. For the village the sex-ratio missionaries. In addition to these. 8 tanks. 1 big <[~ce increased from 965 females per 1,000 males in 1961 to well and 1 bandh have also been constructed. The 991 females per 1.000 males In 1978. This proves that bandh and the big dice well have respectively been the female birth rate was comparatively higher in the prepared with the aid from the State Government and village during the last 18 years. In view of the the Christian Missionaries. Similarly. of 8 tanks, 2 were demographic trends discussed above, the village can constructed by the Government. 2 by the villagers not be said a region of rapid population growth as the themselves and 4 by the mission. growth rate of population of the village is below that of the country as well as the State. 1.39 50 persons received Rs. 32.521/- as agricultural loan through the Multipurpose Co· 1.35 Immigration was practically nil in the village as, 'operative Society. The amount was still to be repaid. except two school teachers. a lone household of Seven persons received a loan of Rs. 2.760/- from Kayastha and a Kharia nurse no outsider was found Bank of India for purchasing seeds and fertilizers of 1~lng in the village when the investigator visited the which Rs. 2.600/- had been repaid. 20 persons were village in 1978. Of the two teachers, one was the granted an induslrial loan of Rs. 2,000/- from the headmaster of the village middle school belonging to Commercial Bank, 5 persons incurred a loan of Rs. Kharia tribe. He was residing at Girja tali. The second 25,000/- from Land Development Bank to purchase teacher was a Gond living at Mahua tali. The Pumping sets. Rs. 10,000/- had been repaid to the headmaster had already constructed a house of his Bank. The Block Development Office had advanced a own at Simdega near the College and was to shift sum of Rs. 8,625/- to 19 persons of the village as there shortly. short-term credit loan for purchasing seeds and ., fertilizers. Of Rs. 8,625/-, a sum of Rs. 4.900/- had 1.36 A Kayastha who had eloped with an Oraon girl been repaid by them. had come to live at M.eromdega proper while -a Kharia nurse. fell In love with an engineer and after having 1.40 Besides, subsidy grants were also given to established matrimonial alliance. she chose to settle at some of the villagers to improve the agricultural Gi~a toll. She had built there a pucca house and was production. One person had been granted a sum 01 living alone. Her engineer husband used to visit her Rs. 100/- for seeds and fertilizers on 100 per cent casually. subsidy; 10 persons wer~ given horticultural plants on 1.37 A group discussion revealed that tliere were 52 75 per cent subsidy and 41 villagers got vegetable emigrants in the village in 1978. Of them, 11 were in seed packets on 50 per cent subsidy rate. Military service posted at far off places in the country, 4 were In civil service. 12 were working in the different 1.41 Crop demonstration was conducted in 8 plots factories, 7 were teachers, 10 were engaged in on 100 per cent subsidy through the Block Office in religious works and 8 had gone to work in the tea the year 1977. Of 8 plots, 3 were used for the gardens of Assam. As reported by the villagers. except demonstration of High Yielding variety of wheat; 2 for the tea garden worRers and persons engaged in high yi~lding variety of paddy and 1 each for the ecclesiastical duties. others were frequent visitors 01 demonstration of ground nut. Moong and Masoor. The the village and their family members. Block had to supply the villager~ with 35 quintals of . seeds, 19 tons fertilizers and 25d Kg. dust and 5 litres LewIa of Development -liquid pesticides for the demonstration. To encourage 1.38 The Block Development Offic~ located al the villag~rs for the development of education, a sum 7 of Rs. 1,500/- was distributed among the tribal 1.46 This 'Sangh' stages various plays on different students of the village Middle School. occasions for the entertainment of the people. Two plays entitled 'Mukhiya Chunaw' and 'Hasino Ka Devta' 1.42 The construction of Kelaghagh dam on the were staged by the Sangh on 11.1.1970 and 16.4.1972 Chhinda river is a great achievement for the village for respectively. It also arranged a documentary film show the development of irrigation. A considerable portion through the public rer"ations department on 28.2.1963. of the village upland will be put under irrigation w~en Another play named 'Garibon Ka Devta' was staged by the dam starts functioning. This will also provide this 'Yuvak Sangh' thereafter. Subsequent plays irrigational facilities to the nearby villages. The namely "Satyameva Jaiyte" and "Satya Harishchandra" Government is doing much to save the soil from gully were respectively staged on 25.4.1976 and 15.3.1977. erosion by constructing contour bunds, bench tracing The drought of 1967 had not only affected Meromdega and levelling and by digging silt detention dams. and its viCinity but also engulfed the whole state. Contour bunds are raised on the lands with 1 to 4 per Besides some relief given in the form of food stuff and cent slope at the cost of Rs. 400/- per hectare whereas seeds to th~ villagers, they were encouraged to avert lands with 5 to 10 per cent slope are chosen for bench this havoc by growing wheat in their lands located in tracing and levelling at the cost of Rs. 1,800/- per the river beds or where source of irrigation was hectare. The average cost of making a silt detention available. The Development Block Office helped by dam is Rs; 10,000/-. way of giving seeds, fertilizers and even cash _for digging wells. 1.43 As averred by the persons concerned with the project, the work was done under the 'Rangall Mandira 1.4 7 Some of the villagers adhered to it with great Project' to save the reservoir ofRourkela Steel Plant zeal and started growing wheat in their low lands from premature silting. Thus, the Government had where water was available. Some of them constructed decided to check silting of all the contributory rivers in a temporary bundh in the river Chinda and stored the States of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar. 50 water to irrigate their wheat plots in the bed of the river per cent expenditure on this project was borne by the by lifting water either by pumping sets or through Central Government. some indigenous methods commonly applied in the village. Though it was a costly affair for them, some 1.44 Electricity has yet to find its way in the village people carried it even today and that has impact on though the ·neighbouring village Tapudega Pandripani their food habit. Some people now take wheat had been electrified. During 1978-79, Meromdega regularly as their one time meal preferably during the proper had been linked by 7.5 Kms High Tension Line daytime. (11,000 volts) with Simdega town.
Historical Politico-Cultural Economic and other 1.48 The agrarian movement of 1968 after the wide events: spread drought of 1967, added much to the economic development of the village. Prior to 1968, none of the 1.45 No historical or political event of any villagBrs was aware of the methods of the production importance has been reported in the village during the of wheat. As averred by some of the villagers, many recent past. But the cultural life of the people has had not even seen wheat. Rice and rice preparations changed to some extent after the adoption of "Chhau. yvere staple food for them. dance" specially by the Mehar community of the village. Previously, the traditional community darlce 1.49 Contour ploughing and bunding of village and songs were the only source of entertainment for uplands on a large scale to avert soil erosion is an .the people. In "Chhau dance" they use masks of innovation brought to the village by community different motifs as required by the different characters Development agency duril)g the decade. Construction of the play. This dance is organised by the of Kelaghagh dam is also very beneficial for the village. 'Meromdega Yuvak Sangh' which had been Both these devices will improve the village economYito established in the village since 7.3.1970. - a large extent by way of bringing maximum area urider 8 cultivation and by providing irrigational facilities and Gond tribes. This village is about 10 Kms away. respectively. from Simdega town which is the subdivisional headquarters of the village. The village was selected 1.50 For restudy, as part of 1971 Census three for the purpose of studying those communities vis-a· villages were selected from each State on the following vis interaction of other sections of people· on their life considerations: during 1960. The process of electrification stepped in the village has not started functioning. Electric poles (a) One village near effecti\(e urban centre with h~ve been erected only in the main village Le. BastitolL population of 50,000 and above (proximity to industrial Prospect of irrigational facilities is also there as the towns and cities preferred). canal branches off from the Kelaghagh dam passes ~hrough the village. Keeping all these factors in view! (b) One village away from an effective urban centre, this village has again been selected for restudy the which may, however, be near a small town (within a changes that might have taken place in the village distance of three to six miles). during the last 18 years. ".
(c) One village, at a distance of not less than 1~ Settlement Pattern and Physical Layout miles from any urban centre. 1.54 The settlement is found comparatively on 1.51 Besides, the following suggestions ot the uplands at all the 14 tolis of the village with uniform Planning Commission were also kept in view. "It would pattern. Construction of houses on uplands provides be useful if in each state three or four villages were people safety from rain water, but at the same time selected in such a way that one was in a dry area, the they have to struggle hard during summer for the second in IAD.P. area, the third having small irrigation procurement of drinking water which is available in low facilities and rural electrification and the fourth where lands. The level of water goes very low in the wells also facilities of institutional -financing for agricultural and some of them become totally dry. Houses ~r~ operations had progressed welL" generally constructed on both sides of the lanes fachig each other. But in the star-shaped clusters, the 1.52 It is implicit in the foregoing criteria of selection entrances of houses are not systematic. However, care of villages for restudy that foci of analysis would be, is always taken to provide sufficient space for easy the social process in the society, concommitant with communication. Boundary walls are. r?rovided for big industrialisation, urbanisation, and changes in agrarian and spaCious houses. Compact houses are devoid of strl,lcture (including productive forces and productive any kind of fencing. Generally, house doors are made relations). The demographic structure related to these of wooden planks. Villagers who can not afford the social processes is an emergent area of investigation. planks alternatively use shutters made of leaves' and twigs. Community-wise dispersal of·houses at various 1.53 Meromdega is a village of multi-ethhic groups tolis can be seen in the following table which is based of people mostly belonging to population of Kharia on survey data 1978 for village as a whole.
Table 1.5; Community-wise dispersal of houses_
/' Name of Total Kha-' Gond Me- Bho- Chik Lo- Tu- Doml Ma- Mu- Kay- Bra- Go· tolis no. of ria har gta Bar- hra ri Naik lar nda astha hmin sain house- aik holds
2 3 4 5 6 7 B 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Meromdegal Basti toli 119 34 58 7 17 Bar' tali 64 36 11 3 14 Girja toli 55 39 10 3 2 9 / Name of Total Kha- Gond Me- Bho- Chik Lo· Tu- Dam Ma- Mu- Kay- Bra!\- Gosaitl tolis no. of ria har gta Bar- hra ri Naik lar nda astha min house aik holds
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Purab toli 29 25 3
Mahuatoli 23 23
Mahto toli 15 15
Tangartoli 24 24
Kasbahar toli 34 2 32
Kahupani toli 43 22 7 9 4
Bairtoli 8 6 2
Bhadra toli 4 4
Nagra toli 6 6
Pahar toli 7 7
Nawa toli 8 5 2
439 167 90 61 48 23 13 14 17 2
1.55 It appears that the main village Meromdega is Bhogtas and Chik Baraiks in three each and Mehars the most compact area· both in terms...of number of have in only two tolis. The rest communities of the households as weU as the number of ethnic groups. village are residing each at one place in different Seven communities are living here in 119 households. clusters. People of five ethnic groups are living at Girjatoli and Kahupani. Four communities were living at Bar toli, 1.57 The internal communication system of the three each at Purab tali and Nawa tali, two at Kasbahar village is not satisfactory. T olis are not connected with and Balr tolis and one community each in the roads. As mentioned earlier, the canal roa9 touches remaining Tangar toli, Mahua toli, Mahto toli, Bhadra Girja toli, Bar tali, Bhadra and Nagra tolis. The proper tali, Nagra toli and Pahar tali. village Meromdega is linked with Simdega only through a katcha road. Road going to Jaldega passes 1.56 So far as community-wise spread is through Kasbahar and Kahupani tolis. Other tolis are concerned, the Kharias are spread in the maximum approached through ridges during rainy S'eason and number of tal is. They are living in eleven out of through pedestrian paths during other seasons. fourteen clusters in the village. Lohras are also spread in six tolis. They provide necessary tools and 1.58 There are several dependable sources of water instruments to be used in agricultural operations as in the village. The villagers use river and danr; water for also in houses. Gonds are residing in five clusters, drinking. Normally, well water is utilised by villagers for 10 drinking purposes and for other domestic uses. The rarely reported. In certain cases, dead bodies are residents of Meromdega use river water for bathing, disposed of near the bank of the river or near some washing cloths and also for drinking purposes. watery place. Drinking water is obtained after digging a cavity by removing sand on the surface of river. Filtered water 1.64 So far as the flora is concerned, the village is accumulates in the cavity which is subsequently bounded by hilly tracts full of jungles of Sa/ trees with brought home in earthen pitchers. People at Kahupani and Tangar tolis use danri water, though wells are in their common associates like asan, dhota., kend, pial eXistence at Kahupani tali. etc. Inside the village, mango, jamun and Mahua trees are commonly fo.und. Katha/ tre~ and Bamboo groves are also found in some to/is._Jungle trees provide the villagers with fruits for consumption and woods for fuel 1.59 Except the headquarters of the Gram and furniture, construction of house; and agricultural Panchayat, no administrative centre is located in the implements. Sal, pesar and asan are the best wood~ village. Even welfare centres are located in the for furniture. Kendu leaves are procured for neighbouring villages. The health sub-centre is located preparation of Bidi whereas Mahua provides them with at Ghutbahar, a border village. Veterinary hospital is flowers and fruits which are respectively used as drink situated at Pandripani. and food by the local people. Mahua flowers are also sold in the local markets to buy articles of daily use. 1.60 A Lower Primary and a Middle School are running in the village. Students from the nearby 1.65 Fauna in wilctstage is now rarely found in the villages also come to these schools for reading. Hostel village jungle. Occasionally, the villagers set out for accommodation is not available at either school. All hunt in these forests especially at the Lamki pahar students are· day scholars. located in the north and entrap some rabbits and hare: Deer is not found in these forest areas. Wild animals 1.61 So far as the religious and cultural institutions like leopards and tigers are also in non existence. are concerned, there is no temple or devasthan in the However, bears are occasionally seen specially during village except two Churches for the Christians. One the summer seasons when flowers of Mahua trees Church is dedicated to the Roman CathOlic mission bloom. Snakes of different species are reported by the while the other is for the German missionary. Both the villagers. Even most poisonous snakes like qorait and Churches are located at Girja toli. Except peopl~ of cobra are commonly seen. A huge species'of snake Kasbahar and K2hupani to lis who attend ChUrch at locally known as 'Bora' is found in the hillocks located Tapudega Pandripani, the rest of the Christians of the in the south of Meromdega. It can swallow goats ahd village assemble at the Churches at Girjatoli to o~er even infants if they are caught. The birds include prayers. peafowl, hariya/, Maina, ParJ 1.62 The Hindu population in the village worships in Ethnic Composition & Settlement History the 'SarnaS' which are marked by a grove of old trees. They also worship their ancestral souls at their own 1.66 As mentioned earlier, thirteen communities are houses. For cultural performance there· are 'akharas' living in the viUage. Among them the major (danCing arenas) in all tolis where interested persons communities are Kharias, Gonds, Mehars, Bhogtas assemble at night for singing and dancing. Both males and Chik Baraiks. Lohras, Turis and Doms are also as well as females equally participate in the cultural having a considerable number of, population. The performances. During festivals the relations and remaining' communities are represented by a Single people of the neigbbouring villages are als 11 / Table 1.6 : Distribution of Caste/Tribe/Community in Meromdega Name of the Total no. Total Population Caste/Tribe/ of house P~rl:)ons Males Females Community holds 2 3 "- 4 5 Kharia (ST) 167 956 460 495 Gond (ST) 90 495 246 249 Mehar 61 299 161 138 Bhbgta (SC) 48 230 114 116 Chik Baraik (ST) 23 120 64 56 Dom/Naik (SC) 17 '110 65 45 Lohra (ST) 13 90 40 50 -Turi (SC) 14 68 38 30 Munda (ST) 2 15 7 8 Kayastha 2 Brahmin 8 5 3 Gosain 7 4 3 Malar 3 2 Total 439 2,403 1,207 1,196 1.67 As reported by the villagers, there is no hard He cl~lims that 'Tamra Patra' given to Ganga Kharia and fast rule for constructing houses in the village by by King, Akbar is still lying with Palkot Raja. 'The the members of different communities. They are free to original Pahan of the village was a Kharia. Even today build houses on their lands adjacen,t'to the house of Baya Pahan, a Kharia, worships in the Pat Sarna where ~nother pers~n irrespective, of their caste and clan. A he-buffalo is sacrificed. Malar may be neighbour of Kharia or a Gond. But during the resurvey, it was found that in most of the 1.69 Later on, this village was given to one Panru cases persons of one community were hovering Pradhan, a Gond, by cas~e. It is said that Gopi Jhora, a together at one place in a compact group. water man of Pal kat R~ja was once fishing in the nearby stream when he got a diamond. He covered it 1.68 So far as the settlement history of the village is with Nagra (black) soil and went to sell it at Pal kat. The concerned, both the Kharias and Gonds claim to be queen of Palkot took the diamond and in lieu gave him the first settlers in the yillage. As per version of Payara the Zamindari of Biru Pargana. From that day Gopi Kharia of Purab toB; the first and the original settlers of Jhora was named as Hiranath and became the 'Meromdega were the Dhelki Kharias who got Zamindar of 484 villages including Meromdega of Biru possession of the 'village after appeasing King, Akbar. Pargana. Hiranath Gonjhu made Lanka Gond, the 12 Chief of the village ·Meromdega. Lanka Gond drove the last 18 years are concerned, it is found that a away the Dhelki Kharias from village and appointed a Gosain and a Kayastha came to the village whereas Gond Pahan for worship in the Sarnas. Since Gond two families of Kumhar had left it. Both the Gosain and Pahan was not familiar with the Kharia langLlage, he the Kayastha came to earn their bread whereas the was quite unable to appease the local malevolent Kumhars had' shifted to the adjoining village after spirits which caused resentments among the local constructing their own houses. people. Consequently, a Kharia Pahan was invited and lands of sheet number seven of cad estral survey map A General Feel of the Village was allotted to .Kharias. The present Kharias are DUdh Kharias who came to the village after the Gonds. 1.74 Meromdega appears to be a forward looking village. Owing to its nearness to the Sub-divisional ~ .70 Turis, Chik Baraiks and Lohras are said to be town Simdega, this village gets all sorts of facilities. invited by the Kharias whereas Mehars and Doms There are two schools in the village for the small boys. came to the village with Gonds. Others came to the For higher studies the villagers have not to bother village in due course. Regarding the settlement history much as high schools and colleges are located in of Meromdega, the village note·prepared at the time of Simdega. In the field of education, the Kharias who are first land survey and record kept in District Nazarat all Christians top the list. Office, Ranchi speaks as follows:-- 1.75 The working class of population also get ample "The Bahera of Biru holqs the village under opportunities to work in different establishments at Maharaja of Chotana~pur, alongwith the other villages Simdega town itself. Many boys and girls get jobs of of Pargana Biru. loading and unloading on the trucks and in road construction activities as daily workers. For the last 3-4 This village is said to have been founded by one years, a large number of boys and girls are engaged Panru Pradhan, great grand father of Ghansham by the contractor of Kelaghagh project. A considerable Gounjhu, a Gond by caste. Bahera Gajraj Singh, father number of workers are engaged by the hotel owners of Hukum Singh dispossessed Ghansham about 12 or and the stall keepers at Simdega. They fetch water and 13 years ago, and took Khas possession. Soon after wash utensils in the hotels and motels. death of Gajraj Singh, the village passed under Act VI management. "* 1.76 No land reform movement had been started on th.e village either by the villagers themselves or by the 1.71 The Gonds of the village Meromdega also Govt. but efforts are always made to save the soil confirm that when their fore fathers came to erosion by applying Contour ploughing and making Meromdega, the village was inhabited by Kharias, ridges on the slopes. The Block Office had distributed since Jhora king did not accept water from Kharias some improved seeds, fertilisers and horticultural who used to eat beat, he invited Gonds and drove plants for the improvement of the agriculture but their away the Kharias. The village note was prepared in the impact was not satisfactory. Only a few person~ of the year 1907 and during that time Gonds were living iii village derive benefit of these schemes. Arrangement Meromdega. The present Kharias who belong to the of demonstration for the use of Chemical fertilizer in Dudh section of Kharias also confirm the fact ,that they some selected plot was_ also made but' the co had come after the Gonds. operation of the villagers was not whole hearted. Some people started production of tomatoes and other 1.72 The original settlement in Meromdega and vegetables after the historic droug,ht of 1967 to other tolis came into existence when other sections 01 substantiate their economy. people immigrated to the village. 1.77 Simdega, a town of a tribal look, has influenced 1.73 So far as the changes in the ethnic groups in ./ the people of ~he village much specially in their * Record Room District Nazarat Office, Ranchi 13 dressing pattern and food habits. Addiction to tea and meal from community to community in the village. Also betal chewing are the contribution to the village by the the attitude of people towards family planning is not town. Untouchability is no more in practice, but there encouraging and only a few persons were reported to are certain restrictions in the acceptance of cooked derive benefit from this scheme. 14 CHAPTER -- II SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY AND VITAL STATISTICS Primary Census Abstracts villages, big or small falling within the radius of 15-20 Kms. 2.2 The status of Meromdega could be understood 2.1 Meromdega falls within the ambit of Simdega by careful study of the following statemem in which town and is greatly influenced by this town in respect Primary Census Abstracts of a few villages 'situated in of marketing transport facilities, education and the different directions at various distances along with employment on daily wages. This town serves as the Meromdega have been given for assessment of the nerve centre for air cultural, economic and educational influence of Simdega on them according to 1971 activities not only for Meromdega, but also for all the Census. Table II. I: Primary Census Abstracts of five villages as per 1971 Census SI. Name Dis- Area Number Nomber Total population Scheduled Caste 'Scheduled Tribe No of ·tance of vil-. of of vil- from lages Occu- house lages Sim~ In pied holds with dega Hect- resi- Rev. town ares dential Thana (Km) houses p M F P M F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1. MerQm- 10 1989,79 392 392 2,161 1,066 1,095 397 203 194 1,275 606 669 daga (18.37) (59'.00) (125) 2. Ba9- 20 2067.83 95 113 1,372 667 705 1,351 667 684 tihata (98.47) (100) 3. Pakar- 20 2398.74 414 414 2,053 977 1,(176 167 81 86 1641 776 665 danr (8.13) (79.93) (30) 4. Pithra 15 1818.01 457 457 2,467 1,194 1,273 183 130 53 1.934 915 1.019 (48) (7.42) (78.39) 5. Kurung 12 1591.85 169 189 956 472 484 95 47 48 77"4 ~ 392 {59) (9.94} (80.96) 15 81. Name Literate and Total workers Cultivators Agricultural Livestock, Foresty, No of educated Labourers Fishing, Hunting vil- persons and Plantations, lages orchards and allied with activities Rev. II III Thana No. p M F P M F P M F P M F P M F 2 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3D 1. Merom- 346 245 101 581 578 3 474 471 3 69 69 daga (16.01) (26.8S) (81.58) (11.88) (125) 2. Bag- 164 123 41 399 365 34 345 313 32 27 26 chata (11.95) (29.08) (86.47) (6.77) {1(0) 3. Pakar- 534 335 199 567 524 43 474 441 33 49 44 5 danr (26.b1) (27.62) (83.60) (8.64) (3D) 4. Pithra 560 369 191 664 620 44 491 488 3 89 68 21 (48) (22.70) (26.92) (73.95) (13.40) 5. Kurung 98 66 32 285 274 11 207 200 7 78 74 4 (69) (10.25) (29.81) (72.63) (27.37) SI. Name Mining and Manufacturing, Processing, Servicing and Repairs Construction Trade and No of Quarrying Commerce vi:- Household Other than House- lages Industry hold Industry with IV V{a) V(b) VI VII Rev. Thana P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F 2 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 1. Merom- - 37 37 daga (6.37) (125) 2. Bag- 17 17 chata (4.26) (100) 3. Pakar- 28 26 2 4 4 danr (4.94) (0.70') (30) 4. Pithra 43 27 16 (48) (6.48) 5. Kurung (69) 16 51. Name Transport Storage Other Services No of vii, and Communications Non-Workers Remarks lages with VIII IX X Rev. Thana P M F P M F P M F 2 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 1. Merom- 1 1- 1,580 488 1,092 daga (0.17)' (73.11) (125) 2. Bag- 1 9 8 973 302 671 chata (0.25) (2.25) (70.92) (100) 3. Pakar- 12 9 3 1,486 453 1,033 danr (2.12) (72.38) (30) 4. Pitlira 41 37 4 1,803 574 1,229 (48) (6.17) (73.08) 5. Kurung 671 198 473 (69) (70.19) 2.3 It may be seen from the above statement that in 2.6 The sex-ratio in all these five villages is all the villages, the maximum number of workers are favourable as the number of females is higher than engaged in cultivation on their own lands. The second males and thus it is in conformity with the distric~·s·sex highest percentage of workers is that of agricultural ratio for the rural areas where 11,27,865 females were labourers working on others' fields during agriculture returned during 1971 Census as against 11,26,653 season. . males. This shows that the female birth is higher than 2.4 When the percentage of workers to total the male birth in the rural areas of the district as a population of these villages is compared with the whole. percentage of workers in the district of Ranchi, it comes below. the district and state percentages which 2.7 In the field of education, village Pakardanr are respectively 31.83 and 31.03. The percentages of appears to be at the top as 26.01 per cent population workers in Meromdega are 26.89, in Baghchata 29.08, of this village is literate. T~is is quite understandable as in Pakardanr 27.62, in Pithra 26.92 and in Kurung there are four Primary Schools in the village to provide 29.81 educational facilities to the tiny tot~. 2.5 The low percentage of workers in these villages is due to less outmigration of the villagers to other 2.8 Vill~ge Pithra, with one Primary School returned places for earning their livelihood. This is clear from 22.70 per cent literates during 1971 Census. There is analysis of the above table which shows that 93.46 per one Lower Primary and one Middle School at cent workers of Meromdega, 93.24 per cent 01 Meromdega. The village is only 10 Kms away from the Baghchata, 92.24 per cent of Pakardanr, 87.35 per Subdivisional town of Sir:ndega where there are ample cent of Pithra ant1 100 per cent workers of Kurung are faciUtie_s for education. Inspite of all these facilities in engaged in CUltivation and allied works. The remaining and around the village only 16.01 per cent people of 7 to 13 per cent of workers of these villages belong to Meromdega are literate. Literacy rate is much lower the functional groups of communities like black smiths, both at village Kurung and Baghchata. There are two weavers and the basket makers who are engaged in primary schools at Baghchata. When the literacy rates household industries and respectively supply the " of these villages are compared with those of the villages with agricultural tools and implements, cloths district and the State, it is found that except for village and baskets for use. in the family. Pakardanr, the rates are lower than the literacy rate of 17 the district (23.2 per cent) in all' the remaining four Abstracts of village made with the help of the f Table-II. 2 -Primary Census Abstract of Meromdege and the Thetaitangar Community Development Block as per 1971 Census ·81. Name Area in Number Number Total population Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe No. of the hect- of occu- of house- C.D. ares pied hold Block/ residen- Village tial houses p M F P M F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 - 1. Thethai- 62,414.18 9,935 10,305 57,495 28,473 29,022 3,958 2,015 1,943 48,127 23,648 24,479 tangar (6.68) (83.71) Block 2. Mero- 1,979.79 392 392 2,161 1,066 1,095 397 203 194 1,275 606 669 mdega (18.37) (59.00) Village . ._J' 81. Name Ute rate and Total Workers Cultivators Agricultural of the No. educated persons labourers C.D. II Block I Village p M F P M F P M F P M F '- 2 15 16 11 18 19 20 21 22- 23 24 25 26 1. Thethai- lt098 7,503 3,595 17,197 14.706 2,491 12,062 11),908 1;154 3,847 2,614 1,173 79 p9.30) (26.35) (12.39) (29.90) (70.N) (22.37) tangar Block 346 245 101 581 578 3 474 471 3 69 69 (16.01) ~.g8) (9.22) (26.89) (81.58) (11.88) 2. Mero- mdega ,18 SI. Name Uvestock, Forestry Fishing Mining and Manufacturing, Processing. Servicing anc;l .. Repairs No. of the Hunting and Plantations Quarrying C.D. Orchard and allied IV. Household Other than Househ'bld BlocK/ activities Industry J.ndustry Village III Veal (V} (b) P M F P M F P M F P M F 2 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36, 37 38 1. Thethai- 17 17 17 12 5 450 385 65 66 62 4 tangar (0.10) (0.10) (2.26) (0.3B) Block 2. Mero- 37 37 mdega (6.37) SI. Name Construction Trade and Commerce Transport Storage Other Services No. of the VI VII and Communications C.D. VIII IX Block. Village .. P M F P M F p M F P M f 2 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 1. Thethai- 6 6 105 98 7 24 24 603 520 83 tangar (0.03) (0.61) (0.14) (3.51) Block 2. Mero- 1 mdega (0.17) SI. Name No. oftha Non-Workers Remarks C.D. Block X Village p M F 2 51 52 53 54 1. Thethai- 40,29B 13,767 26,531 tangar (70.10) ,Block 2. Mero- 1,580 488 1,092 mdega (73.11) 2.10 An analysis of the above table indicates that 2.11 The distribution of members per household is the density of population in other villages of 5.6 persons for the villages of the block together and Thethaitnagar block taken together is 92 persons per 5.5 persons, per household for Meromdega. This sq. km. as against 109 persons of Meromdega. This, shows that the average size of the family in the village shows that the density of the block as a whole is lesser as well as in other villages of ~he block is more or less than the density of Meromdega village. uniform, while the sex-ratio is favourable in the case of /- 19 the tribal cQmmunities, it is adverse for the scheduled 9.22 and 12.39 per cent respectively for both the castles in all the villages of lhe block. villages and the entire rural areas of the block. 2.13 The non-working population of the village 2.12 In· the field of education, the village constitutes 73.11 per cent as against 70.10 per cent for Meromdega lags behind all the other villages of lhe the entire rural area of the Block. This is because of the block. Only 16.01 per cent persons are returned as fact that the villagers hesitate going outside the village literate in Meromdega while the rate of literacy is 19.3 in search of work. Simdega occasionally provide!; for all other villages of the block which is only 0:6 per works to the people of the village in hotels, cent less than the literacy rate for the State. When the construction of roads and buildings and other literacy rate is worked out sex-wise, it appears that establishments. The Primary Census. Abstracts of the 22.98 per cent males of Meromdega as against 26.35' village for 1961, 1971 and 1981 Censuses given below per cent males of other villages of the Block are throw light on decennial changes that have occurred in literate. Similarly, the literacy rate ~mong the females is the village. Table II. 3: Primary Census Abstracts for 1961,1971 and 1981 SI. Name Area Num- Num- Total Population Scheduled Caste Scheduled Trib~ of No. of ber of ber Village Village occu- of in pied house- hect- resi- holds ares den- tial houses P M F P M F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1. Mero- 1989.79 323 337 1822 939 883 340 173 167 1387 709 678 mdega (18.66) (18.42) (18.91) (76.13) (75.50) (76.78) (1961) 2. Mero- 1989.79 392 392 2161 1066 1095 397 203 194 1275 606 669 mdega (18.37) (19.04) (17.72) (59.00) (56.85) (61.09) (1971) 3. Mero-- 1989.79 391 452 2440 1200 1240 421 211 210 1684 820 864 mdega (17.25) '(17.58) (16.93) (69.01) (68.33) (69.68) (1981) 81. Name Literate and Total Worker Cultivators (I-IX) I No. of educated person Village p M F P M F P M F , 2 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1. Mero- 359 250 109 1049 563 486 842 459 383 mdega (19.70) (26.62) (12.34) (57.57) (59.95) (55.03) (80.27) (81.52) (78.81) (1961) I 2. Mero- 346 245 101 581 578 3 474 471 3 IlJdega (16.01) (22.98) (9.22) (26.89) (54.22) (0.27) (81.58) (81.48) (100.00) (1971) 3. Mefo:'- 513 354 159 756 670 86' 607 567 40 mdega (21.02) ~(29.50) (12.82) (30.98) (55.83) (6.93) (80.29) (84.63) (46.51) (1981) 20 \ /" \ 51. Name Agricultural Uvestock, Min-ing and Manufacturing, Processing, Servicing and Repairs No. of Labourers Forestry, Quarrying Village II Rshing, IV Household Other than Hunting and Industry Household Plantations, Industry Orchards and allied activities Veal V(b) III P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F 2 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 -35 36 37 38 1. Mero- 27 18 9 4 4 159 69 90 - mdega (257) (3.20) (1961) . (1.85) (0.38) (0.71) (15.16) (12.26) (18.52) 2. Mero- 69 69 -- 37 37 mdega (11.88) (11.94) (1971) (6.37) (6.40) 3. Mero-- 93 56 37 -_ 36 29 7 mdega (12.30) (8.36) (43.02) (1981) (4.76) (4.33) (8.14) 51. Name Construction Trade and Transport, Other Services Non-Workers No. of Commerce Storage and Village. Communications VI VII VIII IX X P M F P M F P M F P M F P M F 2 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 1. Mero- 4 4 13 9 4 773 376 397 mdega (0.38) (0.71) (1.24) (1.60) (0.82) «42.43) (40.04) (44.96) (1961) 2. Mero- 1 1 1580 488 1092 mdega (0.17) . (0.17) (73.11) (45.78) (99.73) (1971) 3. Mere- 1540 526 1014 mdega (63:11) (43.83) (81.77) (1981) SI. Name Other Workers Marginal Seeking/ Remarks No. of III, IV, V(b) Workers available for work Village and VI-IX p M F p M F P M F 2 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 1. Mero mdega (1961) 2. Mero mdega (1971) 3, Mero- 20 18 2 144 4 ~,140 14 7 7 mdega _U~1)_(~2.:::65~) __.!:(2::.:.6:!.9) __ ...!(2:.:::.33~)!.-_~(5:::.:: ..90:::::!....) _~(O:::..:::::33:!...) _...... :(L:.,11:..;:.29'::::!...) __(O~.:;:57:.!.)_/_.l:(0::.::.58=.t.) __ ...l:(0:..:.:.56:.::<),--- ___ 21 2.14 In 1961 there were 14 households sharing educational facilities provided by the Government common houses, in 1971 Census, it was revealed that agenCies and also people were more prone to reg.ular each family had its own separate houses but against in contact with the outsiders. 1981 Census 61 families returned living in cOl'Jlmon houses in the village. A change was also marked in the 2.17 During 1961 only 27 persons were ~eturned as sex-ratiolof the village. In 1961, Census, the male agricultural labourers whose number increased by two population was more than that of females, but the and a half times in 1971 and more than three and half latter outnumbered the former during both 1971 and times in 1981. This abnormal rise appears to be 1981 Censuses. 'genuine as in these lapses of times, some of the jOint 2.15 It also appears from the table that 18.61 per families of the village separated due to increase in the cent population of the village increased Elver the last population. With the division of land they had very little ten years, while the male population increased by share h the landed property and that proved too 13.53 per cent, the rise was 24.01 per cent in case of meagre for their sustenance and they had to work on females. Similarly, the decennial change from 1971 to payment on others' lands. 1981 is 12.91 per cent for the total population, 12.57 per cent for the males and 13.24 per cent for the 2.18 Similarly, under the household industries 69 female counterparts. males and 90 females were returned in 1961 Census, while in 1971 only 37 males have been shown under • 2.16 The village has lagged behind in the field of this category. In 1981 also the number of persons education _during the decade. During 1961 Census engaged in household industries was 36 only including 19.7 per cent persons were returned as literates in the 7 female workers. village whose percentage decreased to 16.01 in 1971 Census. The main reason attributable to this decline 2.19 However, it was rnoticed during the resurvey of could be the economic; hardship of the villagers which village that female participation in all the three types of was also reflected in the availability of working force in household industries in the village was quite important. the village. In 1961 Census 57.6 per cent villager.s were In blacksmithy, the females hold the heated iron rods returned as workers whereas in 1971 only 26.89 per and the males do hammering for making desired cent were reported as workers with almost nil goods. Females also assist in blowing the bellows. In representation of the female workers as only 3 females weaving, the females arrange the yarns while males do were shown as workers in 1971 Census. However, the weaving. Basket .making is done both by the males literacy rate again shows increC!sing trend during 1981 and the females alike. The following tables give Census as there were 21.02 per cent literate persons distribution of population by age, sex and relationship returned in the village. This WqS mainly_ due to more to head of households. Table II. 4(a) : Distribution of population by age, sex and relationship to the head of households where the head is male Number of persons who are related to Head of Household Age Self Wife Son Brother Son's Brother's Daughter Sister wife wife '2 3 4 5 6 7 8 . 9 0-9 74 76 10-14 35 24 15-24 3 7 31 6 14 13 22 / 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 25-44 45 45 24 2 12 3 45-59 37 35 2 2 3 60 + 12 6 Total 97 93 166 13 >29 4 114 Age Daughter's Father Mother Brother's Son's Dau!\lhter's Brother's husband son son son daughter 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 0-9 9 3 1CJ..14 3 15-24 25-44 45-59 2 60+ Total 3 12 4 Age Son's Daughter's Motper's Servant Total Remarks daughter daughter • sister (Male) 17 18 19 20 21 22 0-9 12 179 1CJ..14 3 - 68 15-24 76 25-44 134 45-59 81 / 60+ 20 ./ Total 15 558 23 Table No. II. 4(b) : Distribution of population by age, sex and relationship to head of households where head is female Age Number of persons who are related to household Total Self Husband Son Daughter Husband's sister 2 3 4 5 6 7 0-9 2 3 10-14 2 3 15-24 6 6 25-44 2 3 45-59 3 3 6Q.+ 3 3 Total 8 2 9 21 2.20 Tables above show that in 105 households brothers, 29 sons' wives, 4 brothers' wives, 114 surveyed on sample basis during resurvey in 1978, 579 daughters, 3 mothers, 12 sons' sons, 4 brothers' persons including 296 males and 283 females were daughters, 15 sons' daughters and one each sister, returned in the village. Of them 31.44 per cent daughters' husband, father, brothers' son, daughters' belonged to the age-group 0-9 years; 12.26 per cent to son, servant, daughters' daughter and mothers' sister the age-group 10-14 years; 14.16 per cent to the age as related to the head of the household were living. group 15-24 years; 23.66 per cent to the age-group 25- Similarly, in the remaining 8 households, where the 44 years, 14.51 per cent to the age-group 45-59 years heads were females, there were 2 sons, 9 daughters and only 3.97 per cent belonged to the age-group..60 one each a husband and husband's sister as related to years and more. the head were residing. Sex-wise marital status of 2.21 In 97 out of 105 households, the heads of the villagers according to their age groups can be seen households were males where 93 wives, 166 sons, 13 from the following table. Table 11.5 : Distribution of population by age, sex and marital status (survey data - 1978) - Age Never married Currently married Widowed Group p M F P M- F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 89 45 44 5-9 93 43 50 10-14 -71 40 31 15-19 34 21 13 8 2 6 ., 20-24 .'. -14 10 4 24 , 6 18 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 25-29 4 4 . 32 18 14 2 2 30-34 33 14 19 35-44 60 32 28 3 2 45-54 61 35 26 3 3 55-69 19 10 9 8 8 70 + 9 6 3 5 2 3 Total 306 164 142 246 123 123 22 5 17 f;.Qe Divorced or Total Remarks Group separated p M F P ~ F 11 12 13 14 -'5 16 17 Q-4 89 45 44 5-9 93 43 50 10-14 71 40 31 15-19 43 23 20 20-24 39 17 22 25-29 38 22 16 30-34 2 2 36 17 19 35-44 - 63 34 29 46-54 65 36 29 55-69 28 11 17 70 + 14 8 6 Total 5 4 579 296 283 2.22 It appears from the table that 52.85 per cent separated. If the distribution is oalculated sex-wise, the persons are unmarried, 42.49 per cent married, 3.80 figures show that arnoD ales, 55.41 per cent are per cent widowed and 0.86 per cent are divorced or unmarried, 41.55 ,per ~~~ Qr . 1.69 per cent ... __ ...... ~,. ~,. 25 )-~rl;?'-I\ ,.d. \\),: I .~ widowed and 1.35 per cent divorced or separated number of widows is more than three times that of the against 50.18 per cent unmarrieQ, 43.46 per cent widowers and 4 out of 5 divorcees are males. married, 6.01 per cent widowed and 0.35 per cent divorced or separated females. Among the unmarried Age at marriage persons the males outnumber females only by 22 numbers. Among the married persons, the proportion 2.23 The Table below shows the age of the first of both males and females is equal. However, the marriage of people in the village. Table No. 11.6 Age at first marriage as related to present _ge Present Average No. of males married at the age age of age of 15-17 18-19 20-24 25·29 30-34 35 + married marriage persons M F 2 3 4 5 '6 7 8 9 Upto 19 16 16 , ~24 18 20 2 25-29 20 20 5 30-34 22 23 2 3 35-44 23 20 4 5 4 :3 45-59 21 29 Z 10 4 60-64 22 18 2 65+ 20 20 2 Total 9 27 12 4 Present No. of females married at the age Remarks age of married pefsons Below1S 15-17 18-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35+ 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Upto 19 2 20-24 4 2 25-29 2 30-34 3 5 35-44 2 45-59 5 7 6 60-64" 2 65+ 2 l otal 16, 16 17 3 2 26 2.24 It is clear from the above table that one male male and 2 females between 30-34 years of ·age and 4 and 16 females were married upto 17 years of age. 9 males and one female above 35 years of age. A 10rie males and 16 females between 18: 19 years of age, 27 case of female marri,age was reported in the age below males and 17 females between 20-24 years of age, 12 15 years. Religion and community-wise distribution of males and 3 females between 25-29 years of age, one population has been dealt in the following table. Table 11.7 - Distribution of Household and Population by Religion, Caste/Tribe/Community and Sex. Religion Bhogta Dom Turi Chik Baraik House- M F House- M F House- M F House- M F holds holds holds holds 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Hinduism 12 28 27 6 25 21 6 16 14 8 21 19 Christianity 2 3 Total 12 28 27 6 25 - 21 6 16 _ 14 9 23 22 Gond Kharia Lohra Munda Gosain and Brahmin House- M F House- M F House- M F House- M F House- M F holds holds holds holds holds 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 51 47 6 20 23 2 9 6 31 82 87 2 7 8 17 51 47 31 82 87 6 20 23 2 7 8 2 9 6 Malar Mehar Total Remarks - Hol,lseholds M F Households M F Households M F 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 3f 38 2 13 33 27 71 205 185 34 91 98 2 13 33 27 -' 105 296 283 27 2.25 Of the 105 households resurveyed, tlhe majority The inability to collect money fOf bride compelled a (67.61 per cent) belong to Hindus while onl)( 32.~9 per man to remain a bachelor even after 55 years of age. cent constitute' the Christian households. ~II Kharias and Mundas are Christians along with a lone 2.27 Inter caste and child marriages are not prevalent in the, village as no boyar girl belonging to house~old of Chik Baraik. different castes and below the age of 15 years are 2.26 Generally, the girls get married before the age found married. Six males and three females are of 20 years and the boys between 20-24 years. In case leading married life even after crossing the age of 70 a girl remains unmarried after attaining 20 years of age years. it is supposed that she is either suffering from some disease or Is physically handicapped or she is not 2.28 Two females and a male respectively in the age getting desired bride price. Similarly, when a boy group of 25-29 years and 30-34 years lost their passes the age of 24 years, without a life partner, it is spouses in the prime of their youth. Among the presumed that he is too poor to pay bride price or is divoroees, a petiable case is of a female belonging to physically unfit. It was noticed during the course of the the age-group of 15-19 years and of a male falling in study. that there were 4 unmarried girls in the age the age-group of 20-24 years. The reasons for their group of 20-24 years. They ~ere not getting the separation could not be ascertained in the village at desired bride price so they remained unmarried. the time of survey. The statement given below reflects Similarly, 4 boys in the age group of 25-29 years were the distribution of households according to the place struggling hard to collect money for getting married. of birth of the head of the households. Table II. 8 : Dist~ibution of households by distance of place of birth of head of households Same Other village Same Other .States Remarks village urban area in district Orissa Manipur the same taluk but other within within within distance of taluk within distance distance distance of of of 5-9 Kms. 10 + Kms 10 + Kms 50 + Kms. 50 + Kms. 2 3 4 5 6 7 66 2 4 - 2.29 Of the 75 households selected for restudy lhe households were born at a distance of above 10 kms. distribution of households by distance of place of birth in the other taluk of the same district. One each head of head of households, 66 heads of households W(:1re of household was reported to be born in the states of born in the same village and 9 at other places localed Orissa and Manipur at the distance of 50 kms. and at the various distances from meromdega. Of these 9, more. Linguistically, religion and community-wise one head of the household was 150rn at a distance of distribution of households has been analysed in the 5-9 kms and 2 above 10 kms in the same taluk to following table. which Merorndega itself belongs. 4 heads of the Table II. 9 : Distribution of Households by Religion/Caste or Tribe and Mother-tongue of Head of Households Religion Castel No. of Households where mother Total tribe tong\le of head of household is Sadri Kharia Mundari 2 3 4 5 6 Hinduism Chik Baraik 5 5 Mehar 10 10 Opm 4 4 28 / • 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bhogta ·6 8 Brahmin or Gosain 2 2 Gond 12 12 Milar Turi 4 4 Lohra 4 4 Sub-total 50 50 Christianity KhaTia 22 22 Chik Baraik Munda 2 ~ Sub-total 22 2 25 " Grand total 51 22 2 75 2.3o/The table indicates that 51 including all 50 mother tongues as Mundari. Age, sex and religion-wise HlnOus and a lone Christian speak Sadri, 22 Christians distribution of persons studying as well as not studying speak I; Table 11.10 NUQlberof persons by age, sex and study In educational institution by religion Religion Age Total No. studyln~ No. not studying Remarks Male Female Male Female Male Female 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hinduism 5-9 22 29 11 6 11 23 10-14 23 15 6 17 14 15-19 12 6 2 10 5 20-24 10 11 10 11 25 + 59 53 59 53 Christianity 5-9 13, 6 9 3 4 3 10-14 5 9 5 8 1 15-19 6 9 4 2 2 7 20-24 2 ,{j 2 2 4 25 + 28 31 28 31 Total 180 175 37 23 143 152 29 2.31 It may be seen from the table that among the blacksmiths ana 1.67 per cent weavers, teachers and Hindus only 11.25 persons as against 28.7 per Gent clerks. among Christians are studying in the different 2.32 When the percentage of these students is institutions. The proportionate distribution of the male worked out community-wise, it is seen from the survey and female students is 15.08 and 7.02 among the data that the percentage is 14.71 among Bhogtas, Hindus and. 33.33 and 24.59 among Christians 13.79 among Doms, 13.33 among Turis, 22.22 among respectively. So far as the occupation of the head of Chik Baraiks, 3.57 among' Gonds, 26.53 among the households of these students are cq,ncerned, 66.67 Kharias, 12.5 among Lohras, 5.00 among Mundas, per cent head of the households are cultivators, 10.00 33.33 among Brahmins and 4.55 among Mehars. None per cent basket makers 3.33 per cent each is peon, is reported as student among Malar. The tabie below priest, mason and carpenter, 5.00 per cent gives age, sex and educational level-wise distribution of the village population. Table 11.11: Distribution of population by Age, Sex and Educational level Educational Total Age and Sex Level popUlation 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-34 35-49 50+ M F M F M F M F M F M F M F M F 1 2 3..__ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8 Illiterate 156 192 19 37 22 21 13 11 8 15 30 33 33 44 31 31 Uterate (without educational level) 46 24 24 13 10 8 5 5 Primary 13 2 7 3 3 Middle & Middle trained 33 17 2 5 6 8 4 8 8 2 3 2 Matric & Matrie trained Graduate and above Graduate trained 3 4 2 Total 251 239 43 50 40 31 23 20 17 22 39 35 50 48 39 33 2.33 The table above shows that out of 490 persons, 2.34 Of 28.97 per cent literates, 7.55 per cent are up only 142 are literate showing 28.97 per cent literacy in to 9 years of age, 5.71 per cent between age.group of the village. Of them, 14.28 per "i'ent are literate without 10-14 years, 3.88 per cent between the age-group of educational standard, 3.06 per cent have read up to 15-19 years, 3.27 per cent between age group of 20-24 the primary .l?tandard, 10.20 per cent up to Middle years and 2.24 per cent have crossed the age of 24 standard and only 1.42 per c~nt- of the villagers have years but are below 34 years. Similarly, 4.29 per cent continued their studies beyond the Middle Scheol. literate persons are of 35 to 49 years of age and 2.04 30 / per cent are above 50 years of age. distribution of population by broad age group, sex, religion, community·and educational level. 2.35 The table prescribed below indicates the Table 11.12 Distribution of Population by broad age-group,sex, religion, caste or tribe or community and educational·level Religion Castel Educational Level Tribe/ Broad Total Illiterate without Primary Middle Matrie Remarks Community age·group educational level M F M F M F M F M F M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Hinduism Bhogta 5-14 9 10 4 9 4 15·59 14 12 11 12 1 2 60t 1 Brahmin 5-14 3 1 3 15·59 3 2 2 l- OOt 2 Chik 5·14 9 7 4 6 4 Baraik 15·59 9 7 5 6 2 60t 1 1 OomjNaik 5-14 4 5 2 3 2 15-59 17 12 15 11 1 2 60t 1 2 2 Gond 5-14 13 16 11 15 2 15·59 25' 23 20 22 2 3 60+ 3 2 2 2 Lohra 5·14 5 9 4 7 2 15-59 10 10 9 10 60+ 2 2 Malar 5-14 15-59 60+ Mahar 5-14 10 9 6 9 4 15-59 17 11 11 11 1 5 60t 2 3 2 3 Tori 5-14 4 2 3 1 15-59 10 8 9 8 60+ 31 Religion Castel Broad Educational Level Tribe/ age-group Community Total Illiterate without Primary Middle Matric Remarks educational level M F M F M F M F M '-F M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 '10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Chri Chik 5-j4 stia Baraik nily 15-59 2 60+ Kha 5-14 23 19 7 8 14 9 2 1 ria 15·59 44 51 21 34 3 3 4 14 10 2 4 60+ 352 5 Munda 5-14 3 2 2 2 15-59 3 3 2 60+ Total 251 239 156 192 46 24 13 2 33 17 3 4 2.36 It seems that percentage of literacy is very high per cent Lohras, 19.2 per cent Mehars, 12.50 per cent among Christians In comparison to the Hindus in the Turis, 60.00 per cent Christian Chik Baraiks, 46.8 per village. 50 per cent Christians as against 18.6 per cent cent Kharias and 83.3 per cent Mundas are returned Hindus are literate. When this percentage is worked literat~ in Meromdega. However, no Malars are found out community-wise, 19.5 per cent Bhogtas, 58.3 per literate. So far as the educational score of the villagers cent Brahmins, 33.3 per cent Hindu Chik Baraiks, is concerned, the table furnished below reflects the 17.07 per cent Doms/Naiks, 12.2 per cent Gonds, 11.1 clear picture. Tabl~ 11.13 Distribution of Caste/Tribe/Community by average educational score per head Caste/Tribe/ Average per head educational score Remarks Community Total Male Female 2 3 4 5 1. Bhogta 0.26 0.48 0.04 2. Brahmin 0.75 0.75 0.75 3. Chik Baraik 0.58 0.75 0.39 4. Dom/Naik 0.24 0.32 0.16 5. Gond 0.17 0.27 0.07 6. Kharia 0.79 0.93 0.65 7. Lohra 0.17 0.24 0.11 8. Malar 0.00 0.00 0.00 9. 'Mehar 0.29 0.52 0.00 10. Munda 1.33 1.67 1.00 11. Turi 0.17 0.21 0.10 Total 0.45 0.59 0.31 32 2.37 It is seen that this score is 0.45 for the village again Mundas top the list' followed by the Kharias, the as a whole, 0.26 for Bhogtas, 0.75 for Brahmins,. 0.58 Brahmins and the Chik Baraiks. However, the third for Chik Baraiks, 0.24 for DomsjNaiks, 0.17 each for position Is secured by the Mehar males. In the female Gonds, Lohras and Turis, 0.79 for Kharias, 0.29 for educational score Kharias have lost the battle with the Mehars, 1.33 for Mundas and nil for Malars. The Brahmins and retain the third position while in fourth Mundas top the list of the educational score followed number come the Chik Baraiks. The course and age- by the Kharias and the Brahmins. The Chlk Baraiks wise distribution of the village students can be seen in hoJd the fourth position. Similarly, a peep into the sex- the following statements. wise educational score reveals that among males Table II. 14 Distribution of students by course level/class and age. Course level/ Age No. 01 students Remarks class group P M F l' 2 3 4 5 Primary 5-9 29 20 9 10-14 13 6 7 15-19 20 T Middle 5-9 10-14 6 5 15-19 3 J 20 + Secondary (Science) 5-9 10-14 15-19 3 3 20 + (Arts) 5-9 10-14 15-19 20+ Post Secondary (Arts) 5-9 10-14 15-19 20 + Total 60 37 23 33 2.38 It would appear from the above table that there arts course. Similarly. of 2. students reading In post _are 60 students in the village as surveyed on sample secondary institution both are in Arts. Community-wise basis In 75 households. Of them the maximum number defaulting heads of the households in sending their 43 are in the primary schools and 9 are in Middle children to schools has been dealt in the table standard. Of 6 persons reading in the Secondary furriished below. schools, 5 are Science students and 1 has opted for Table II. 15 Households defaulting in enrolling Ichoolgolng children by caste/tribe or community of head 0' households Caste or No. of households No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of having children tribe or hou$8- ~ouse house hOuse house community of school going holds holds holds holds holds of head of age (5·14) with with having WIth both with both households only only both male mal. and female male and female Male Female Male male female & female children children only only Female children children children of school of school both of school ohlchool of ~chools gOing age going age going age going age going age and falling and failing and failtng and failing and failing to send cnly to send only to send to send to send male children female children ~hem to them to both to to school to school sohool sohool school 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1. Shagta 2 3 3 2 2. Brahmin 3. Chik Baraik 2 2 4. Oom 5. Gond 2 2 4 2 2. 4 6. Kharia 5 4 5 2 7. Lohra 3 8. Malar 9. Mehar 3 2 3 10. Munda 2 11. Turi 2 Total 17 13 24 10 9 13 2 3 2.39' Of 75 households selected for studying the children were reported. 10 out of 17 households school going children, 1Thad only male school going having only male school going children are defaulters children, 13 only female school going children and in in sending them to schools; 9 out of 13 with female 24 hous.eholds both inale and female school going school going children are defaulters in sending them 34 to schools and 13 out of 24 households with both male schools. Default consistency In enrolling children to and female children of schoQI going age were school according to educational level of the heads of defaulters in sending them to schools, 2 fail in sending' households has been shown in the table below. only their male children and 3 only female children to Tllble No. II. 16 Household. default consistency by sex In enrolling children In school a. related to educational level ca.te or tribe or community of heads of household. Caste/Tribe/ No. of house- No. of households having Remarks Community holds with default consistency by both male sex where edu9ational and female evel of head of household is children of school 11Ii- Literate Middle going age terate without educational level 2 3 4 5, 6 1. Bhogta 2 2 2. Brahmin 3. Chik Baraik 2 4. Dom :5. Gond 4 2 6. Kharia 5 7. Lohra 3 8. Mahar 3 3 9. Munda 2 10. Turi Total 24 9 3 2.40 The above table speaks that of 13 households educational level and 1 head of household was middle. with both male and female school going children and Reason for non-enrolment of children in schools by the are defaulters in sending them to schools, heads of 9 heads of households has been highlighted in the households were illiterate, 3 literate without' following tabje as per their occupation. 35 Table II. 17 Reason for non-enrolement of Children in school by occupation of head of households Occupation of Number of households Number of households Number of households the head of where there are male where there are where there are both the households and female children both male and male and female children of (N.C.O.2 of school going female children and school going age and are both not sent to digit) age (5-14) mal~ children are sent to school school for and not female children for Male Female Both children poverty eare- children oare- children children male not lessness not lessness only only and intere- of inte- of female Children sted parents rested father 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1. Basketry 2 .' 2 (94) 2. Weaving (75) 3. CultivatIon 11 9 16 5 3 (61) 4. Carpentary (81) 5. Teaoher Primary School (15) 6. Patronge (19) 7. Wood Selling (66) 8. Peon in Blo9k Office (35) 9. Rajmistri (Mason) (95) 10. Blacksmithy 3 (83) 11. Mtlnshi (Clerk) (35) Total 17 13 24 8 4 2 36 Number of house holds where Number of households Number of households there are both male and where there are only male where there are only female children of school children of school going age female children of going age but only female and they are not sent 10 school going age and children are sent to school school because of they are not sent to and not male children for school because of Cattle Ch11dren Children Careless Fear of Children not Fear of Poverty grazing not not ness of canning interested canning interested interested father 10 11 12. 13 14 15 16 17 4 2 5 7 2 7· 2.41 It is seen that out of 13 defaulting households. age. in 7 households the children were not interesteO. a ascribed their childrens' interest as the reason for in 2 parents were not careful and in one case the child non-enrolment. 1 was too poor to send his children to was afraid of canning by the teachers. And of 9 the school and the remaining 4 were not careful hous8Jholds with·only female children of school going towards their children for education. Similarly, 2 out of age. in 7 households children themselves were not 3 households failing to send only their female children interested to go to school. in one household parents to school, ascribed their childrens' interest as a r~ason themselves were not careful towards the education of for default in sending them to school a~d in one case their wards and one household was too poor to meet the parents were- not careful in this regard. In 2 the expenses cif education of its wards. households where only female children were sent to school and not males. the reasons ascribed were Population Control measures, attitude and disinterest of the male children in one case and practices looking after the animals in the other. Similarly, of 10 2.42 The following table depiCts the knowledge of households with only male children of school going villagers about the family planning scheme. 37 Table II. 18 Knowledge about family planning measures as related to education, religion, caste/tribe/community of Informant No. aware of Not aware Rel1gion/ E:ducational Total Possl- Family Caste/Tribe/ status of bility Planning community of informant of pre- measures informant ventlon of, birth 2 3 4 5 6 Hinduism 1. 8hogta Illiterate 4 3 .,' 2, Brahmin illiterate Literate Upto Matric 3, Chik Baralk Literate Upto Matric 2 2 4. Oom Illiterate 2 2 5. Gond Illiterate 4 ~ 1 3 Literate Upto Matric 2 2 6. Lohra Illiterate 2 2 7. Malar Illiterate 8. Mehar Illiterate 5 " 9. Turl Illiterate Literate Upto Matric ChrJetianity 10. Chik Baraik Illiterate 11. Kharia Illiterate 8 6 6 2 "'; liteiate Upto Matric 3 2 2 12. Munda Literate Upto Matric 2 2 2 Total 40 15 15 25 38 2.43 The table reveals that of 40 households welfare scheme. A Shogta was reportedly selectEKJ to study awareness of family planning vasectomised in 1977. The Centre had distributed 17 measures, only 15 households reported to be aware of packets of Nirodh in 1975, 31 packets In 1976, 9 the family planning devices and know the possibilities packets in 1977 and 14 packets in 1978 among the of prevention of birth by using them. Regarding people of Meromdega. desirable number of children, one household desired 2 sons and one daughter, 3 households desired 2 sons 2.45 Group discussions revealed that some of the and 2 daughters, 2 households 3 sons and one local dais perform the termination of undesired daughter and for 34 households the number is pregnancies by applying indigenous methods using unlimited. herbs and roots. fhis knowl.edge is kept secret and passed on only to their successors. In case pregnancy 2.44 Though family planning is not unheard of, it was still in existence even after taking indigenous has yet to make an appreciable dent on the minds of medicine, the pregnant woman seeks the help of these the people. Only a few couples have taken to any of its dais for abortion. methods. As per report received from the family welfare sub-centre at Ghutbahar, only 27 Vasectomy Birth statistics Operations were done in the village. Three years later 2.46 The table furnished below shows distribution of 45 males were vasectomised in 1976.46 females were currently married women by age, religion and number also operated in thQ sam9 year under the family of children born during the last year. Table II. 19 Currently married women by age, religion and number to whom children were born during the last year, 1971 Age Hinduism Christianity Unspecified Total Number Total Number Total Number No. to whom No. to whom No. to whom children . children children were born were born were born 2 3 4 5 6 7 Len than 1a , 13-17 21 3 4 2 18·22 58 6 30 4 23-27 37 3 35 6 28·32 45 7 23 2 " 33·37 38 5 11 38-42 33 2 1e 43·47 11 4 48 + 52 50 iotsl 296 28 ..,. 175 17 39 2.47 It appears from the above table that out of 472 any child during the last year. This shows that 9.45 per currently married women in the village, children were cent Hindu women and 9.72 per cent Christian women born only to 45 women in a year. Out of 296 Hindu gave birth to children in one year at Meromdega. The women, children were born to 28 as against 17 following table shows age and education-wise Christian women out of 175. The religion of one distribution of the currently married women and woman was not specified and also she had not begot children born to them. '- Table II. 20 Currently married women by age, literacy and educational level and number to whom children were born during the last year, 1971. Age Total No. to Married women with educational level No. whom IlIi· Literate Primary Middle children terate (without were educa· born tional level) IY'II (9) W B W 9 W B w 8 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Less than 13 13·17 25 5 24 5 18·22 89 10 74 8 9 6 23·27 72 9 62 8 5 5 28·32 I/f 68 9 62 9 4 2 33·37 49 6 48 6 38·42 51 3 48 2 2 43·47 15 15 48 + .102 2 99 2 3 Total 472 45 433 41 24 3 15 2.48 41 out of A5 child 'bearing women are illiterate, speaking and for 12 their mot'her tongue is returned as 3 read up to the primary standard while 1 woman was Kharia. Orlya and Mundari languages are returned as middle passed. This shows that only 9 per .cent mother tongues for 1 and 3 child bearing women curre,ntly married women giving birth 'to children are respectively. Number of child bearing women educated. So far as the'languages spoken by these 45 belonging to the Scheduled Castes can be seen from chil_d bearing women are concerned, 33 are Hindi the following table. 40 ... Table II. 21 Currently mar'i~ women by age, Scheduled CaSM and number .to whom children were born during the last year, 1971 Age group All Scheduled Number belonging to Total No. Remarks Castes Oom Shogta of Turi Total No. to Total No. to Total No. to No. whom No. whom No. whom children children children were born were born were born during during during the the last the last last year vear year 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 Less than 13 13-17 7 3 4 18-22 15 12 3 23-27 9 3 - 3 28-32 13 4 3 9 3 33-37 12 3 10 3 38-42 13 5 6 2 43-47 3 2 48 + 15 4 4 7 Total 87 10 20 50 9 17 2.49 It appears that of 87 currently married Dams and 18 for the Bhogtas. Though 17 currently Scheduled Caste women, only 10 gave birth to married women among Turis., were reported but none children in the last year. Thus the percentage oj the could beget child in the last year. Similarly, child child bearing women among Scheduled Castes comes bearing women belonging to the Scheduled Tribes to 11.5 only. The caste-wise percentages were. 5 for have been snown in the following table. Table II. 22 Currently married women by age, Scheduled Tribe and number to whom.children "",ere born during the last year 1971. Age·group All Scheduled Tribes Chik Baraik Gond Total No. to Total No. to Total No. to whom No. whom No. whom No. children children children were were were' born born born during during .during the last the last the last year year year 2 3 4 5 6 7 Less than 13 13-17 13 5 2 5 18·22 65 8 4 2 24 23-27 54 8 17 :: 28-32 46 4 17 33-37 30 2 3 14 38-42 30 6 7 43-47 9 5 48 + ·7 10 17 Total 324 29 27 3 106 6 42 2.50 29 out of 324 currently married women among the Kharias in the village. 3 currently married women the Scheduled Tribes·had ~iven birth to the children in belonging to Munda tribe could not give birth to a child the last year indicating their percentage as 8.92. The in the last year .. The main activities of the child bearing tribe-wise percentages were 11.11 each for the Chik women have been discussed in the following table. Baraiks and Lohras; 5.66 for the Gonds and 10.58 for Table 11.23 Currently married women by Age, main activity and number to whom children were born during last year, 1971. Married women who Married women who Age-group are non-workers are workers Total No. to whom Total No. to whom No. the children No. children were born were born during the during the last year last year 2 3 4 5 _Less than 13 13-17 25 5 18-22 89 10 23-27 72 9 28-32 68 9 33-37 49 6 38-42 51 3 43-47 15 48 + 102 2 Total 472 45 2.51 It appear that all 45 currently married women Vaidyas, who cure these ailments with roots, leaves giving birth to children during the last year are non and herQS procured from the jungles. Ojhas are also workers and engaged in the household duties. consulted in certain-eases. They are supposed to cure the diseases through their occult power and by Disease and treatment, sanitation and hygienic offering sacrifices in the name of malevolent spirits and habits ghosts causing illness. Goats, fowls and intoxicants. are offered for the propitiation of these spirits. Cause 2.52 The villagers are susceptible to various of death, time when occurred and treatment done for diseases for which they normally consult the- local male d~aths have been given in the following table. 43 Table 11.24 Cause of death (,s locally believed), particulars of diagnosis and treatment and time of death (Male) by Religion/Caste/Tribe of the head of the households Religion, Castel Number of deaths during No. of deaths during Tribe/Community less than 10 years where the 10 years + of Head of deceased was male who died of households Cause-Fever Cause-Tetnus Cause-High Fever with cough and was treated and was treated & cold and by person of by person of was treated by persons of Vaidya No Vaidya No No treatment treatment treatment 2 3 4 5 6 Hinduism Bhogta Brahmin --- Chik Baraik Oom 2 Gond 2 2 Lohra Malar Mehar 2 Turi Christianity Chik Baraik Kharia 2 Munda Total 8 5 2 5 I 2.53 The table shows 20 male deaths within 10 treated by the local Vaidyas and 11 died without any years duration and one male death beyond 10 years in treatment. Cause of death, time when occurred and the village. Of them 14 were due to high fever and treatment done for female deaths can be assessed cough ana 7 were caused due to Tetanus. 10 were from the table furnished below. 44 Table II. 25 Cause of death Religiom/Caste/ Number of death Number of death Tribe/Community during less than 10 during 10 + years of the head of years where the deceased where the deceased the households was a female who died of was a female who died of Fever Tetanus Small Fever Complication of with & was pox and with pregnancy and cough & treated was treated was treated cold and was by person by person by person of treated by of ot person of Vaidya Doctor No No No ~ Vaidya No No treatment treatr"ent treatl"Qent treatment ----treatment 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hindu/sm Bhogta Brahmin Chik Baraik Dom Gond Lohra Malar Mehar furl 2 Chistianity Chik Baraik Kharia 2 Munda Total 4 2 4 5 2.54 It is seen that 12 female deaths occurred within any treatment. 16 were the patients of high fever with 10 years' duration and 7 beyond 10 years. 9 were acute coldness, 1 each was suffering from tetanus and under the treatment of local Vaidyas, 2 consulted the small.pox and'the remaining 1, died while delivering a Allopathic doctors and the remaining 8 died without child. 45 2.55 During the survey of the village, a local Vaidya Meromdega generally visit the dispensaries at of above seventy years of age was contacted. He was Simdega. Thethaitangar and Ghutbahar according to very much renowned in the locality for the treatment the_exigencies and their con'leniences. and' cure of even the most serious diseases. The most common and prevalent diseases in the locality are 2.56 As per informations gathered from the health fever, dysentery, eyesore, cough, cold, rheumatism, sub-centre at Ghutbahar!,., 266 persons of Meromdega bodyache and skin diseases for which treatment by took advantage of the Centre during 1976, 126 persons the local Vaidyas is always preferred. Headache is in 1977, 51 persons in 1978 and 291 persons in the cured by massaging old mahua oil on the forehead, year 1979. However, village-wise list of the patients while for fever certain roots are prescribed by the was not readily available with the Subdivisional • Vaidyas. Roots of Bhanwarmali (a creeper) is ground hospital at Simdega and the State dispensary at with black pepper and given to the patient. Bodyache Thethaitangar. But a comparative study of the patients is cured by massaging of body by ground roots of visiting the State Dispensary of Thethaitangar from Cawa timber, Khakhasi, Koreya and ratankora plants. 1973 to 1978 will give a clear picture of the l1]edical To cure dysentery, the villagers take old fruits of bel awareness of the local people and their attitude and some roots .given by the local Vaidyas. Eye sore is towards the acceptance of medical' aids from the cured by applying milky fluid of kataila plant. To cure Government dispensaries. 'This will also disclose how skin diseases they prepare ointment after grinding the their deeply rootec:Jt superstitions regarding ghosts and burnt wheat corns with karanj oil. The paste so evil spirits are gradually vanishing and how they have prepared is applied locally. For simple skin diseases begun to understand that ailments are causes due to only the karanj oil is supposed.to be efficacious. In germs, food deffciency, ill-health and environinental case the ailments are not controlled by the local insanitation. The following statement showing the Vaidya and Ojhas, the patients are taken to medical treatment of patients (old and new) at Thethaitangar centres and hospitals located nearby. People of State Dispensary from 1973 to 1978 is given below: Table II. 26 Old and new patients monthly treated in the years Months 1978 1977 1!F6 1975 1974 1973. New Old New Old New Old New Old New Old New Old 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Jan. 213 7 202 14 222 12 17 98 12 50 Feb. 302 7 232 21 291 10 55 5 97 31 69 13 Mar. 307 11 226 30 182 28 40 85 23 125 80 Apr. 315 28 224 14 233 19 53 183 49 120 26 May 300 30 251 18 204 27 146 27 170 21 204 52 June 318 20 256 12 233 14 157 34 151 28 148 28 July / A36 12 280 26 247 19 176 32 132 30 156 27 Aug. 455 29 335 45 381 41 278 85 116 9 170 56 Sept. 443 44 257 16 276 20 184 30 77 24 173 39 46 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10' 11 12 13 Oct. 437 66 311 15 293 17 185 32 72 11 202 45 Nov. 406 38 317 4 220 4 153 30 52 14 128 43 Dec. 301 33 273 10 278 19 178 14 88 14 115 22 Total 4233 325 3164 225 3060 230 1622 290 1321 266 1660 431 2.57 It may be seen from the above table that the Migration number of patients went on increasing year after year 2.59 As has already been stated in chapter I, the from 1973 to 1978 except in 1974 when there was a lull scope of in-migration is very little in the village and in the attendance of patients. The reasons for ,this low also the chances of out-migration are freezing day by attendance of the patients were, however, rot pointed day due to amendments in the IqwS an.d by-laws of the out by the staff of the dispensary. Tea Garden Associations to give maximum benefit to the wards of their own employees. As averred by the villagers, fresh recruitment of labourers in the tea gardens is now_rarely done as it is opposed by the 2.58 The sanitation in the village and also the members of the unions. Thus, the scope of out hygieniC? condition of people was not· satisfactory migration for the illiterates is now narrowing down and because of unplanned housing pattern, narrow streets, only a few literates go outside in services like nursing windowless houses, proximity to the pigsties and in hospitals, teaching in schools and religious cattle shedes and lack of pure water to drink. preachers in the missionaries. CHAPTER - III ECONOMY 1.Economic resources: of supply of finished iron goods by factories. The skill of village Lohras now generally remains confined to 3.1 The main economic resource of village make small tools such as axe, Sickle and ploughshare. Meromdega is agriculture coupled with their animal Their main professional work is now to sharpen the wealth since time immemorial. Though the greater ploughshares and other agricultural tools and portion of the village lands comprising tanr is not very implements for which they are paid in kind according fertile, the low lands yield comparatively better and the to the number of ploughs kept by the farmers. So, villagers-mostly depend upon their own products only. even Lohras are compelled to take up agriculture to The details will be dealt while analysing agriculture. supplement their income. Similarly, goats, pigs and' fowls reared by many of them contribute to some extent in maintenance of the 3,4 Similarly, though basketry is the monopolised village economy in balance. Their cattle wealth is trade for Doms Turis of the village, yet they are restricted to the indigenous breed only. The other not re3ping a good harvest from their trade due to hike resOUrces of village economy include household in the price of bamboos. Even for them there is no industries such as weaving, blacksmithy and basketry other alternative except to work as agricultural which are practised by a handful of people belonging labourers to keep their lives and souls together. Thus, to some particular communities as part time jobs. So agriculture plays a very significant role in shaping the is the importance of village agriculture that persons economic conditions of the villagers. already engaged in these household industries have to work in the fields during agricultural season as 3.5 The cultivable lands of the village include both agricultural labourers to support their economy as the tam (upland) and don (low land). These lands have their traditional professions are not advan.ced enough further been subdivided into three classes according to provide them with bread and butter for the whole to the degree of their fertility. The statement below year. gives the details of the village lands distributed into various categories: 3.2 Due to easy availability of mill-made cloths even Table III. 1: Distribution of lands in the remote ,of rural areas, the local weavers have practically abandoned their traditional profession of Types of land Acres Percentage to the weaving. They, however, prepare only_a few varieties totpllands of some traditional cloths essentially required during Upland Class I 39.46 0.80 , marriages, Some rough varieties of cloths like Chadar, (Tanri Class" 610.07 12.81 Picha uri and napkins are also prepared by them Class III 972.20 19.77 occa,sionally. Thus, tile Jncome from their traditional Sub·total 1,621.73 32,98 occupation is so meagre that they are forced to take Lowland Class I 405.69 8.25 (Don) Class" 346.75 7.05 up the /works connected I with agricultural operations 307,27 for eking out their living. Class III 6.25 Sub·total 1,059.71 21.50 3.3 The tfaditional household industry of Jungles 2,235,5_0 ·45.47 blacksmithy has also received sev£lre jolt on ac~ount Grand Total 4,916,94 100,00 48 The above statement shows that 45.5 per cent)ands farmers using modern technique, chemical fertilisers of the village cover jungles and shrubs from where the and pesticides grow much higher quantity of cereal in villagers bring fuel-wood, roots, herbs, leaves, wood their lands. for manufacturing agricultural tools and implements and for the construction of their houses. The major Ownership of resources: parts of lands constituting 54.5 per cent of lands are 3.9 Out of 30 households surveyed on sample subdivided into two major grounps viz., tanr and don basis, only 3 are landless and the remaining 27 which respectively share 33 and 21.5 per cent. The households have some fractions of land to cultivate. uplands are about one and a half times more than the Gond, Bhogta, Kharia and Munda are better off so far low lands. The maximum portion approximately 20% ownership of land is concerned. Other communities are of class III type which are lesser fertile. Low lands own only a few hectares of lands in negligible constituting 21.5 per cent of the land of the village are fragmentations. fertile and give greater yields to the sons of the soil. 39.46 acres of class I tanr lands are equally productive 3.10 Cultivation on lands in the village is settled with where maize, ground nuts and vegetables are the tenants belonging to the different communities enormously grown. No change in the land holdings is who have full right on their lands. They pay annual land reported in the village. Even in family partition holding revenue to the Government for lands under their wise distribution is preferred and fragmentation is possession. But they have no right to dispose of their avoided. lands. The bulk of the land is cultivated directly by the owners and only a few persons leave it out to other 3.6 The village low lands are exclusively used for villagers on share cropping basis. The yields are paddy cultivation while the uplands are put under equally shared by-- the owners and the lease holders. cultivation of gora, gondli, marua, maize, sweet potato Besides, their individual rights on the settled lands, the and ground .nuts. Vegetables are grown in the bari villagers have common right on the forests, pastures lands throughout the year whereas certain summer and lands covered by dancing arena, village streets varieties of vegetables are grown in the low lands and the Sarnas where worShip is done. The k>rest is where water from wells is easily available. 'used for the procurement of fuel-woods, roots, leaves and fruits. But the villagers usually obtain woods for Land use pattern: purposes of house construction and manufacturing 3.7 The land use pattern of the different villages agricultural tools from their individual trees with the located at different distances but within the area of permission of the President of the Forest Protection influence of Simdega town is the same. In all these Force. The President of the Protection Force is villages the uplands are invariably used for house responsible for protecting the village forests from the construction and are cultivated for growing rough intruders. To collect fraits from the trees of the corns like gora, gondli, maize and marua. Vegetables common forest the viJiagers get possession according are also grown in the homestead lands after fenCing to their first arrival. This practice is adopted in them with hedges or earthen walls as a protective collection of mahua flowers also. A person who mec:sures against the stray animals. reaches I}ear a particular tree first, becomes the owner of that tree for that..day. None else is allowed to pick 3.8 Similarly, low lands are put under paddy up its flowers. Next day some other person may cultivation. However, vegetables are also occasionally become the day's owner oLthat tree When he reaches grown provided irrigational facility is available. After the there first. drought ot 1967, people have started growing wheat also in the low lands. Irrigational facilities are quite 3.11 Woods for house construction anq essential for production of wheat. Thus, the methods manufacture of agricultural tools and implements are at cultivation are alike in the entire areas. However, per not procured from the village jungle. They are obtained acre yield varies and depends on the fertility of the soil from individual plots in which case almost all persons as also economic status of the farmers. Prosperous are in possession at some trees. Trees ot the settled 49 lands are cut with the permission of the President of of basket making. Similarly, no Chik Baraik or Mehar the village Forest Protection Force. This force also had accepted basketry abandoning his hereditary issues permits for selling trees if situation so warrants. occupation of weaving. The agricultural communities But the villagers pointed out during the course of also had not shifted to other occupation for earning investigation that this Force was loosing its hold day their livelihood. In case the traditional occupations fail by day due to non-co-operation of the villagers. As a to provide them even with the bare necessities of life, result, the individual as well as the common forests of only then would they seek alternative resources or the village are being exploited. temporarily work as agricultural labourers or wage earners in construction or even in the hotels al 3.12 Nothing has been done in connection with the Simdega town. tenancy reform except that the villagers are debarred from disposing 'of their lands without the- permission 3.15 While studying the village, it was found that the from the concerned authority. During the revisit of the single household of Malar had left their traditional village in 1978, re-survey work for the ceiling of land occupation of blacksmithy and for the most of the time was in progress. The village Karmachari reported that he used to engage himself as agricultural labourer and 30 acres of Government lands had been settled with occasionally catches fish and sell them to purchase 19 persons of the village for cultivation. some rough grains. Occasionally, he also manufactured fishing hooks for the subsistence of his Primary and Secondary Occupations: family. 3.13 Comparative analysis of data on primary and Detailed .discussion of the Occupation: secondary occupations between 1961, 1971 and 1981 Censuses has already been done in Chapter-II which 3.16 Agriculture--The importance of agriculture in the village economy is reflected in the high percentage revealed that the rate of female partidpation in these of population having been engaged in cultivation and two sectors was quite less in 1971 as compared to agricultural operations. Out of 581 total workers in the 1961. It is so because there is a change in the village during 1971 Census, as many as 543 were definition of worker in both the censuses. Similar returned as under 'Cultivation and agricultural labourer confusion appears to have arisen in the treatment of group'. This shows that more than 93 per cent of the female workers engaged in the household industries working population was engaged in the agricultural during 1971. As It had already been discussed in the occupations. opening of the chapter that agriculture is the main economic activity in the village. Persons owning lands 3.17 The soils of the village have been divided into work in their fields while persons having five categories namely, sandy, loamy, black, red and proportionately lesser lands off and on help them as mixed with stones. They are respectively called agricultural labourers. Small scale industries like baluahi, doras, nagra, lal and pakhal in the local basketry, blacksmithy and weaving also add language. Except loamy and black soils which are considerably in the village economy along with cattle found in the low lands, sandy, red and pakhal soils are wealth. However, in the 1981 Census, the number of found in the uplands. The fertility of soils varies female workers reported to be 86 as against 9nly 3 in according to their types. Loamy and black soils are 1971 Census. comparatively much fertile and as such they are pul ~... under cultivation regularly. Other types of soils are Occupational mobility: kept fallow for a year or more according to their 3.14 A group discussion with the educated persons capacity of production. The statement below reflects of the village revealed that occupational mobility was the ownership of various agricultural tools and generally not favoured. No Turi or Dam had adopted implements in the village for various agricultural weaving profession leaving his/traditional occupation operations. 50 Table 111.2: Important tools and implements fo! agriculture/horticulture as related to educational level of Head of household , Educational No.of No.of households using Rer'larks level house- Plough Kudal Leveller Yoke Sickle Pumping holds (Spade) Set 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Illiterate 27 25 27 21 25 27 Literate upto Primary 7 7 7 6 7 7 Matric or Higher Secondary Non-technical diploma Total 35 33 35 27 33 35 3.18 It is seen that small and che~p agricultural 5. Patta (Leveller)- It is also made of wood and used tools like sickles and spades are possessed by all the for levelling up the ploughed fields prior to households in the village. Sickles are owned even by - transplantation or _sowing of seeds. the landless households as occasionally they have to work in other fields as agricultural labourers to 6. Joti- Made of rope, San hemp or bark of trees it is supplement their economy. Plough & Yokes are used to tie the bullocks' neck with the yoke. owned by 94 per cent households and levellers by 77.10 per cent of them. Pumping set was only one in 7. Nangli- It is yet another string of leather or plastic the village owned by a Kharia. to tie the plough including Sanr with yoke. 3.19 The agricultural tools and implements used in 8. Rambha- It is an iron rod with its end flatened and the village are old and traditional. New improved tools sharpened to make holes in the ground to erect hidges have not been used by any of them because their for fencing the plots. draught animals are too small to pull the improved tools. The agricultural implements used in the village 9. Kori (spade)- It is made of rron and fitted with are:- wooden handle. It is used to spade fields or to cut 1. Hal(plough)-Triangular in shape, it is made of edges or thorny plants in the fields. wood procured from the village jungles. It is used to 10. Darom (Sickle)- It is made of iron with various make furrows in the land at the time of ploughing. sharp teeth. It is used for harvesting only. A small Plough share is fixed in its front portion which makes wooden tiandle is fitted in the butt. furrows in the land at the time of ploughing. 2. Phal(Ploughshare)- It is .made of iron by the 11. Tangi (Axe)- Made of iron, it -is used to cut village Lohra woods and clear bushes from fields. 3. Sanr - It is a wooden. log about seven feet long. It 3.20 Except the implements made of iron, all other connects plough with the yoke at the time of ploughing agricultural tools are made by the individuals. Iron fields. tools are invariably prepared by the village Lohras who charge 30 pailas paddy per plough annually. 4. Juath - It is made of wood and used to yoke the r Sometimes, iron tools are also purchased from the bullocks for ploughing fields. local markets but are sharpened by the village Lohras 51 only. Wooden implements are also available in the help from the neighbours. The idea of seasonal local markets but in their obscl4re shapes. The final agricultural operations can be had from the following shape has to be given by the purchaser himself. A zinsbar report of the village prepared for the years person not knowing the art of making ploughs takes 1972-73 to 1976-77:- Table III. 3: Z1nsbar Report of Meromdega Years Crops raised Agahni Garma Bhadai Rabi Irriga- Un-Irriga- Irriga- Un-Irriga- Irriga- Un-Irriga - Irriga. Un-grriga- ted ted ated ted ted ted ted ted Hectare Hectare Hectare Hectare Hectare Hectare Hectare Hectare 1972-73 0.75 564.93 3.01 0.04 260.21 3.01 1973-74 0.15 486.83 3.01 292.99 244.83 0.09 1974-75 575.05 3.01 296.23 12.71 1975-76 588.81 0.30 3.01 328.20 40.20 6.07 1976-77 605.81 3.01 355.71 39.82 9.95 3.21 As it appears from the above table, three maturity till the month of Agahan when they become seasonal crops are raised in the village. These are (i) ready for harvest. Agahni (ii) Shadai and (iii) Rabi. While Agahni crops are raised in large areas, the Shadai and Rabi crops 3.23 Since the Agahni crops are raised in the low are raised in comparatively much less areas. Rabi lands, they seldom require irrigation. Production of production has recently been introduced in the village. these crops depends on rain water as these are sown As raising the Rabi crops requires assured irrigation, and nourished during rainy season. In 1972-73 and all persons cannot afford production of this crop 1973-74, some plots were sown under irrigated zones. because of non-availability of irrigational facility. These plots were used for cultivation of potatoes which Garma production is almost nil as only the fixed areas were grown on up and slopy lands to avoid excessive of 3.01 hectares covered under gardens, have been rain water. But they occasionally required irrigation shown under this crop. In five year-'s duration, only owing to much gap in thE? recurrence of rain. 0.30 hectares of land have been put under garma cultivation in the year 1975-76 which is insignificant for 3.24 Seeds of Bhadai crops are also sown with the the village economy. paddy seeds in the month of Jyestha, but the crops are harvested in the month of Shado. Only Buna 3.22 Agahni crops are harvE~sted in the month of method is applied for Shadaj crops. Sut in case of Agahan. Under this crop, only paddy is grown in the Marua, the seedlings are prepared like that of paddy don as well as tam class III lands. The seeds 10r and transplanted in uplands when the fields are Agahni crops are sown in the month of Jyestha. There completely wet with rain water. For other crops, seeds are two methods of cultivating the Agahni crops. In the are sown and crops are harvested in the month of first method which is called ropa and is commonly Shado. Like Agahni crops, Shadai crops are also not used, seeds are sown in the month of Jyestha after the to be irrigated. Rain water is suffi~ient for their I first spell of rain. After 20-22 days the seedlings are production. uprooted and transplanted in, water-fed ploughed fields. In:'the second method known as boona, the 3.25 Rabi crops are sown after the Agahni crops are seeds are sown in the monfh of Jyestha and left for harvested in the month of Agahan and Paush. Rabi. 52 crops are harvested in the month of Phalgun/Chait. or from other sources is easily available. The table Irrigation is essential for the Rabi crops. The crops are below gives production, consumption and marketing raised in the Jow lands where water from well or river of various grains by the villagers. Table Ill, 4 Crops Production, Consumption and Marketing by Religion and Caste or Tribe or Community ~------Religion Total No.of Crops NO.of Yield Consu· R Hinduism Gossain Gond !'i 5 1) Paddy 5 98 2) Pulse .?.. 4 Lohra 2 2 1) Paddy 2 45 Yield 8'hou· 2) Marua 1 consumed seholds 3) Urid 2 in the are house· land· Turi 2 1) Paddy 4 hold less itself Bhogta 4 4 1) Paddy 4 251 2) Pulse 3 9-10 3) Gondli 2 6 41 Marua 2 5 Chick Baraik 3 1) Paddy 10 2) Urid 2 Brahmin 1) Paddy 46 Mehar 3 1) Paddy 8 2) Pulse Naik 2 1) Paddy 3 2} Pulse 0.12 Malar Christianity Munda 2 2 1) Paddy 2 60.00 2) Pulse 2 1.75 31 Oil seeds 2.50 4) Gondil . 200 5) Vegetable 1 2.50 6) Marua 5.00' 53 Religion Total No.of Crops No.of Yield Consu Remarks and Caste no.of house- culti- house- per mption or Tribe house- holds vated holds cultiva- per cul or Commu- holds having culti- ling tivating nity agri- vating house- house- cultural hold hold or horti- (in cultu- maund) ralland 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kharia 9 9 1) Paddy 9 275.00 2) Pulse 4 21.00 3) Oil seeds 2 5.00 5.00 4) Marua 3.26 The above table shows that villagers produce with prior obseNation of some traditional rites to paddy, pulse, marua, urid, gondli and rarely oil seeds. ensure good results. Before sowing first seeds, they Maximum portion of the product is consumed in the will worship their family deities Le., their ancestral souls village itself and only a few portion is marketed not as and sacrifice fowls to appease the spirits. The blood of a surplus but 10 buy some necessary items of their fowl is mixed with seeds and then sown in the fields daily use Le. cloth, salt, kerosene oil, spices and other keeping them necessarily in new basket small in size condiments. Occasionally, rice is sold by poor farmer which is locally called 'Nechua'. to purchase coarse grains like maize and marua. No intermediary agency is allowed to interfere in their 3.30 Similarly, when the seedlings are ready for trade and each individual deals directly with the transplantation, the fields where the first operation is to customers. be done, are worshipped and thereafter 3.27 Regarding operation of land, it was reported transplantation is started. This worship is performed by that the villagers plough, replough and cross-plough the houselady. Prior to that, festival named Kadleta is their lands after haNesting of Rabi and Agahni crops celebrated by the village Pahan in the village Sarna on provided the fields are moisturous. In case the fields behalf of the entire village. Similar oblations are also are without moisture, these are left un-ploughed, with performed by the heads of the family before the first spell of rain these are ploughed. This practice commencement of weeding operation in the cropped saves manpower in weeding operations because after fields. This operation is carried on mainly for the ploughing all kinds of roots, leaves and grasses are Bhadai and Agahni crops. The maize crops require destroyed in the sun rays. Moreover, these ploughed two-three weedings. The first operation takes place lands require less ploughing at the time of sowing when the plants grow 4"-5" in height, the second is seeds_ Some plots which ..are free from roots and required after 22-25 days and thereafter the last grasses are only levelled up for sowing seeds. weeding operation is done after 15 days. The Marua plants require generally one weeding. 3.28 As has already been mentioned earlier Boona and Ropa methods of cultivation are in vogue, the 3.31 The paddy is weeded after thirty days of its second method known as Ropa, is applied only in transplantation: This time-gap is allowed to strengthen those ·fields which are ploughed in water. This method the roots of the paddy so that they may not be cannot be applied in di-Y fields. But Boona method is _uprooted with the extra growths at the ,time of the applied'in both dry and watered fields. When seeds are weeding operation. The crops of ground nut and sown in the watered fields after the onset of monsoon, potatoes are weeded at the time of applying soils to the method is lOyally termed as Lewa. their roots. The following table shows the annual cycle of operations connected with the CUltivation at 3.29 Almost all operations of cultivation are started ~eromdega. 54 Table III. 5: Annual cycle of cultivation. Name of Operational month for Yield per crops acre in Ploughing Sowing Weeding Harvesting Thrashing maunds 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gora+ ~, gangai Oct.-May June July Sept. Sept. 8-10 Gondli -do- May Aug. Aug. 4-5 Marua -do- July Aug. Aug-Sept. Oct 5-6 Kurthi Aug-Sept. Sept. Nov. Nov. 4-5 Makai (Maize) May-June June July Aug-Sept 10-15 Jetangi Aug. Sept. Jan. Jan. 2-3 Sakarkand June July Aug-Sept. Oct-Nov. 25-30 Groundnut -do- June- -do- -do- 10-12 July Paddy Jan.Feb. -do- -do- do- Dec. 10-25 Urid -do- July- -do- Oct-Nov. 4-5 Aug. Wheat Nov-Dec. Dec Mar-Apr. April 15-20 3.32 Rain is the main input for the agriculture in the rain for days together, the villagers erect an inversely village as there is no permanent source of irrigation ,fitted plough on the earth by which it is believed that there. But at the same time excessive rainfall ruins the the rain will stop. low land crops. The villagers have to confront with both the events from time to time. As it appears from the above table, the. yield of Gondli and Marva has 3.34 Compost and chemical fertilizers are another been reported less as compared with 1961 report. Rain essential inputs for high yields. The use of the former is is the main factor for this lesser production. In case quite satisfactory in the village as each and every there is no sufficient rain the agricultural activities household spreads the compost in his fields. but the remain suspended. So, in order to get rain, the use of the latter is restricted only to..(1 few ~armers of unmarried boys and girls fetch first water from the the village. Though the Community Development village danri and pour it in the root of Jitia (peepal) tree Block has arranged demonstrations for the use of which is pretipped by the village pahan by encircling chemical fertilizers, people of the village show unmultiplied threads in the trunk of the tre~. .The reluctance in their use. This can be evidenced from Christian population of the village arranges a special records of the Bank of rndia at Simdega. In 1976, six prayer in the village Church to get rain. persons of the village had taken a loan of rupees 2,696.99 for the purcAase of chemical fertilizers. 19 3.33 The continuous and heavy rain also hinders tones of chemiCal fertilisers were also supplied to the sufficiently the agricultural works. If there is incessant villagers by the Block Development Officer of 55 Thethaitangar. Use of improved seeds is uncommon. and black cat in their Khalihan (thrashing floor) where People utilise the local seeds stored for the purpose. harvested crops are stor~d for thrashing. An interesting incidence connected with this was narrated 3.35 Various types of diseases often destroy a large by Soleman Kullu of the village. Soleman had stored part of the crops. But the people seldom use the his harvested wheat in the upland in the vicinity of his modern pesticides. They cure the diseases through cropped fields away from his house. On the first night their own indigenous methods. Sometimes, they burn when he went to sleep there to guard the Khalihan he straws on the sides or corners of the affected fields at felt sinking at midnight and conjectured a pressure of night to destroy the insects while others keep gondli heavy load on his person while asleep. When he straws on the way through which water enters the awoke there was none. He consulted the Ojha who affected fields. This filtered water thr-ough the straw is advised him to bury monkey's bones in the Khaliflan supposed to cure the crop diseases. Small branches which he did. From the next day there was no of kend and bhelwa trees are also planted in the disturbance at all, rather he got comparatively higher cropped fields to save the standing crops from yie1d in that year. diseases. 3.37 Sexual acts and taking of meals are strictly 3.36 At the time of harvesting paddy, Pahan also forbidden in the Kha/ihan. Also the menstruant lady propi~iates the village deity by offering puja 'in the dares not enter the Khalihan. Such acts are supposed Sarna. A few blades of corns of the ghost-affected to incur the wrath of the malevolent spirits resulting in fields are first hanged through the nearby tree and damage to the harvested crops. Religion and after that harvesting is started. If this is not done, it is community wise distribution of persons as per their presumed that the reapers will get' their fingers cut size of holdings engaging manpower during while harvesting the crops. Similarly, while thrashing agricultural operations can be assessed from the the crops, they do not forget to bury bones of monkey follbwing table. Table III. 6: Manpower engaged In agricultural Operations by Religion and Caste or Tribe or Community and size of holding Religion and Size No. of No.of households where agricultural Remarks Caste or group of house- operations are carried on by Tribe or holding holds Family Family Hired Community (Hectares) owning workers workers workers land alone and hired alone' (Hectares) workers 2 3 4 '5 6 7 Hinduism 1. Gond 4.00" 5 3 2 2. Lohra 1.6-3.4 2 2 3. Turi .8-1·6 4. Bhogta 4.00+ 4 4 5. Chik Baraik .8-1.6 6. Brahmin .8-1.6 7. Mehar ·8-1.6 8. Nalk .8-1.6 Christianity 1.Munda 2.4·4.00 2 2 2.Kharia , 4.00+ 9 6 3 Total 27 21 6 56 3.38 The table shows that out of 27 persons holding just like bounded labours who are kept for certain fixed agricultural lands, 21 themselves operate in their lands period on certain fixed payment. They can be for agricultural operations while 6 families hired terminated according to the terms and conditions laid agricultural labour off and on. All these six persons down prior to their employment. except one Brahmin have comparatively much lands in the village. 3.43 Reciprocal help during agricultural operations is frequently sought by the villagers. If a person is 3.39 Both male and female labourers equally available for work, he would not deny assisting his co participate in the agricultural operations. Uprooting of villagers. They lend their cattle also for ploughing seedlings and their transplantation are mostly done by purposes. This type of help is generally reciprocal but the female folk whereas male members plough the in certain cases this is accepted on hired basis at the fields and carry the bUAdles of seedlings to the fields of rates prevalent in the village. operations. Sowing of seeds and repairing of the edges of fields are also done by the males. Weeding 3.44 The village lacks assured irrigational facilities. operations and harvesting of crops are done by both Only limited areas are watered by digging wells or sexes, but in no case will a woman plough the lands. It from the Chinda river where water is stored by raising is rather tabooed for the women. At the time of edges of sands and stones. But after the completion 01 thrashing crops, the female folks also help their males Chinda Reservoir Scheme at Kelaghagh, the village will in driving the animals and winnowing the corns. Even get a permanent source of irrigation to water some the children are, sometimes, seen helping their ~Iders portions of its LC!nd. It will provide irrigational facilities in agricultural operations. They generally take care of to scarcity area where the rainfall is erratic and the minor children either at home or even at the place uncertain. This reservoir will serve three purposes viz., of operations where the elders are working on the (i) Supply of drinking water to Simdega town (ii) Lift fields. They also tend the animals when they are freed irrigation through pump canal and (iii) Flow irrigation from yoking. through gravity canal. This reservoir will irrigate 5,756 acres of land of the locality after commissioning 01 3.40 No new type of technique has been introduced reservoir. The catchment area of this bundh is 35.27 or adopted by the villagers. The same old and square miles and the length of the right and left bank traditional methods of cultivation are still prevalent in gravity canals is respectively 452 and 445.54 chains. the village. The village Meromdega will get irrigational water from the left bank of the reservoir. 3.41 It is a common practice in the village to carry out cultivation by the family workers themselves. Even 3.45 Practically no cash crop is grown in the village during the peak period of agricultural operations, they by any community. Their attitude towards horticulture do not hire labourers and work for themselves to save is also not encouraging. Although the Block the money. However, a few of them employ labourers Development Officer at Thethaitangar had made an from the village in case of urgency. These persons attempt to supply the villagers some horticultural comparatively possess much lands and have few plants on 75% subsidised rates in the years 1973, 1974 family workers to meet the actual requirement. No and 1975, but they did not derive r~quired benefits outside labourer is available in the village. from the scheme. A large number of horticultural plants were given to the Meromdega Panchayat, but 3.42 Hired labourers are engaged for only a few cared to grow them properly as they transplantation, weeding operations and carrying required great care and proper vigil in the beginning. compost to the fields. A person who needs permanent The statement below shows kinds and number 01 hired labours, keeps dhangar for assistance in his horticultural plants distributed to the Meromdega household and agricultural works. The dhangars are Panchayat in the years between 1973-75. 57 Table 111.7 Type. of horticultural plants distributed in the village Pancha,.yat Name of the Year of distribution' Total horticultural plants 1973 1974 1975 2 3 4 5 1. Guava 40 37 150 227 2, Kagji lemon 30 63 150 243 3. Mango 3 50 30 83 4. Lichi 30 30 30 90 5. Orange 32 30 62 6. Coconut 5 2 7 7. Papaya 120 120 8. Jack fruit 5 5 9. Banana 5 5 Total 113 217 512 842 3.46 Initially, the horticultural plants were received During some festivals, the villagers also set out for by the village level workers for each Panchayat of lbeir hunt and prey small rabits and birds from the village halkas who later on distributed the plants to the forest. Every day some females bring leaves from villagers under their jurisdiction. It is seen from the these forests and sell them to the hotels and shop above statement that though demand of horticultural owners at Simdega after making cups from these plants went on increasing year by year but at the same leaves. The forest is open for all persons of the village time proper care to save the decreased resulting into from where they can bring woods for their use. Some heavy destruction of several plants as was seen during trees are found in their individual's plots in which the field survey. common people are not permitted to take woods. Forestry: 3.47 It has already been mentioned earlier that 3.49 After reverification, it was found that the village approximately 45% Le, 2235.50 out of 4,916.94 acres forest includes 810 acres or 353.25 hectares of of the total lands of the village are c_9vered with forest reserved forest from where also, villagers are free to and as such the village economy is considerably obtain fire-woods. The reserved forest is a quasi influenced by it. In addition to procuring woods for commercial coppice with standard system of rotation fuel, house construction and manufacturing of 40 V.e~ts. Hence each coupe is consisted of the area agricultural tools, roots, fruits, tubers and leaves for of 8.83 hectares. The rocks of the track are quartzite food, a considerable quantity of the forest products and laterite and th,e slope of hills is gentle, Irregular are fl)arketed by the l villagers to purchase sundry feelings were done by the villagers in the past. things of their daily use. Scientific management started after the forest came under 'the Government control. The reserved forest 3.48 Forest also provides a permanent pasture for was notified under section 29(3) of the Indian Forest their animals whom they never offer stall-feeding. Act in September, 1955. 58 3.50 The work of coupe clearance had already been found in either toli. of the village at the time of survey. started in this forest since 1967-68. By 'March, 1979, 12 However, a piglet of an Australian breed was noticed in out of 40 coupes had been cleared off. The the house of a Christian Kharia at Girjatoli. On enquiry, predominant species of the ~orest are Sal trees with it was revealed that a bull pig of the neighbouring their common associates of asan, dhota, kend etc. But village had strayed to his house one night and had on the hill tops miscellaneous species were found. The crossed the female pig of his pigsty. The piglet was the undergrowth consisted of putri, heri and dhawai. Salai off spring of that very pig. was localised in one patch. 3.53 The villagers do not care much for their 3.51 Illicit feelings were also reported and the animals' and birds. They do not make arrangements of accused persons also were reportedly penalised by fodders for them. The animals have to subsist on the concerned authority. Certain cases were amicably whatever they can graze in the fallow lands and the settled. for~st with the result that their quality is poor and they cause reluctance towards the adoption of improved Animal husbandry and poultry rearing: implements of ploughing as they require greater power. Their animals of indigenous breed are unable 3.52 Animal husbandry is also an important activity to pull on with these improved agricultural tools. The of the p~ople in Meromdega as almost all the families following figures collected from the Block Office, aJ who possess land rear cows, buffaloes and goats of Thethaitangar give a vivid picture of the cattle strength indigenous breeds; No animal of improved breed was of M'eromdega. Ta~ie III. 8: Cattle wealth reared In the village Uvestock Approximate Aver/l.ge price Nature of use Fodder used including number poultry birds 2 3 4 5 Cow 639 Rs.2oo-450 Cultivation Straws in lean period Ox including bull 674 Rs.2oo-450 -do- -do· Pig 221 RS.125-250 -"Meat Goat 751 Rs.50-150 ·do- Poultry birds 1,824 Rs.5-15 ·do- He-buffalo 138 Rs.450-600 Cultivation Straws She-buffalo 48 Rs.300-4oo -do- Sheep 59 RS.75-150 Meat Horse Rs.225 Draught 3.54 COWS and she-buffaloes are not at all milked. counterparts. Their milk is consumed by their calves They are kept for ploughing lands Cfnd are yoked only and not used for human consumption, they take together with the he-buffaloes and oxen as they are tea even without milk. It will appear from the above more active and swift in comparison to their male table that only the yoking anlmals are given some 59 fodder during the lean periods when grass is not direct purchase from the local weekly markets and available in the fields and the jungles. Other cattle Simdega town according to their needs. Everyday survive on grazing. Their animals pose no probl.em to some people from the village visit the town with them with only exception that occasionally they bundles of firewoods, leaves or leaf-cups and sell them sustain some ailments which are mostly cured locally. in the town to purchase some odd things of their use. No change is seen in the prospect of animal husbandry in the village since 1981 Census. 3.59 During the lean period when the agricultural 3.55 Pigs, goats, sheep and poultry birds are kept operations cease temporarily, some of the villagers for meat and sacrifice during festivities. Occasionally, earn some money by way of trading in the weekly they are also brought to the local weekly markets for markets. They have not to invest their capital for'ltlls sale to meet the family expenditure. Eggs are also trade. They bring tea and sugar frOm some shops and generally sold for money. Milk of goats is also not sell them in the markets. The unused quantity' of tea consumed. Sheep are sheared from time to time. Their and sugar is returned to the ,shops from wnere they are hair are also sold. brought and payment is made for the quantity consumed'in the markets. This makes some addition 3.56 The animals are susceptible to various to their income. diseases which are cured mostly through local and indigenous treatment by the Vaidyas, who are adept in their profession. Occasionally, they am also brought to 3.60 Meromdega as well as the entire villages of the the veterinary hospital at Thethaitangar and Simdega. neighbourhood are rich in the availability of Mahua The common animal diseases are black quarter, trees. During the season they collect enough flowers. rinderpest, pox and foot and mouth disease. A total Some quantity is kept for personal use but most of it is number of 642 animals were vaccinated against' G.T. sold in the local weekly markets. Two or three persons of the village brew mahua liquor stealthly and sell them during 1979 and 120 animals against black quarter in the same year in the artificial insemination centre at in the market places. Sometimes they hawk it in th~ neighbouring villages. Pandripani. Three he-buffaloes, 70 calves and 11 goats of the village were castrated in this centre in two years of existence of the centre. As reported 37 cows were 3.61 This type of trade is also done by some artificially inseminated during those periods. persons of the village who are engaged in lhe household industries, viz., blacksmithy, basketry and Fishing: weaving, Iron goods manufactured by Lohras, 3.57 Fishing is done as part-time work during the bamboo baskets, mats and winnowing fans prepared monsoon season when the low lands idon) are filled by"Turis and Dome and cloth woven by Mehars and with rain water and there is natural supply of small fish Chik Baraiks are sold in the local weekly markets. The catch is so small that it is always consumed rather than sold in the market. Local varieties of fish are 3.62 Bhogta females parch rice, grams and sell found in the fields and tanks. But one Kharia of Girja them in local markets. They also prepare flattened rice tali has reared improved breeds nf fish but (hat also for sale. But none of the Bhogtas was returned full time was for his household consumption. worker in this trade. They practise this trade in thefr Trade and Commerce: leisure hours. Some times their ladies are also found hawking the parctied and pressed rice in the 3.58 No household in the village is engaged neighbouiing villages. The following table shows trade exclusively in trade and commerce. The villagers make and commeice practised in the village. 60 Table III. 9: Trade and Commerce by description, religion and Caste/Tribe/Community of head of households and volume of transaction. Description of Total no. No. of households engaged in Trade & Commerce trade and of house- commerce hold Hinduism Gond Lohra Turi Bhogta Chik baraik House- Volume House- Volume House· Volume House· Volume House- Volume holds of tr- holds of trans· holds of trans· holds of trans· holds of trans· engaged an sac- engaged action in enga· action in enga- action in enga- action in tion in money ged money ged money ged money money value value value value value 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kirana Shop 3 700.00 Tea stall Parched rice 1,600.00 Selling of forest product 3 264.00 Cloth selling 3 3,334.00 Manihari shops Iron tools & implements 1,700.00 Basket selling 2 2 2,500.00 61 Description of Brahmin Mehar Naik Munda Kharia trade and commerce House- Volume House- Volume House- Volume House- Volume House Volume holds of tra- holds of tra- holds of tra- holds of tran- holds of tran- eng- nsaction enga- nsaction enga- nsaction engaged saction engaged saction aged in money ged in money ged in money in money in money value value value value value 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Kirana Shop 2 2,800.00 Tea stall 1,500.00 Parched rice Selling of 2 526.00 forest product Cloth selling 2 6,666.00 Manihari shops 6,500.00 Iron tools & implements Basket selling 3.63 Trade and commerce practised in the village of 8 households engaged in the 'village indw;tries. 4 by the different communities belonging to Hindus and including 3 Mehars and 1 Chik Baraik are weavers 3 Christian religions. Out of 15 households partly dealing including 2 Turis and 1 DomjNaik are basket makers with the trade and business, 11 are. Hindus and 4 and a lone household of Lohra practises ironsmithy. Christians. Their community wise distribution is Kharia 3.66 All the three household industries are very old 3,2 each of Gond, Dam (Naik), M,ehar and. Turi and in the village and are being run since its settlement. one each of Bhogta, Chik Baraik, Lohra and Munda. One household of Malar was also engaged in 3.64 Question of change in the channel and blacksmithy during 1961 when the village was first organisation of the marketing of agricultural products surveyed. But in 1978, the family had left the does not arise as there is no surplus stuff in the village profession because of the death of the old artisan and to bring for sale to the markets. However, some of outmigration of the younger one who had borrowed them bring some amount to sell in the local weekly the traditional skills. Two brothers found during the markets which is necessitated- due to their dire needs revisit in 1978, were not adept in their profession. They of money. With this amount they purchase salt, were unable to manufacture ghutra (a special type of kerosene oil, cloth, spices and other condiments lime container) and survived througll wage earnings, which they do not grow themselves. and income drawn from preparing baskets. Industry: 3.67 No change in the types df industries was seen 3.65 No big or medium scale industry is found in the in the village. All their tools, techniques of operation, village. Only three types of household industries are levels of skill and the ethnic background of workers run by the different cOj11munities of the village. were same as they were found approximately two Blacksmithy is done by Lohras, weavlng by Mehars decades back in 1961 survey. None of them have and Chik Baraiks and basketry by Turis and Dams. Out undertaken a specialised training for their industries. 62 / However, a Mehar has undergone training for weaving 3.71 Mehars and Chik Baraiks are engaged in the cloth on looms, but as the loom was not available to weaving industry. This industry is also run only by the him, his skill could not be utilised. family workers and there is no scope for hired 3.68 Blacksmithy is done by Lohras only. They labourers. The tools required for this industry are also manufacture mostly the agricultural tools and cheap and scanty. They keep kargha to weave cloth, implements for the villagers. They keep very few tools racha to arrange threads for weaving, dongi (shuttle) for their industry. The main" tools are sarasi (tongs) to fill up threads for the preparation of cloth and tasra which is used in holding the hot irons, hathaura to arrange filling threads for dongi. (hammer) for hammering the iron for processing it into 3.72 The threads are not spun at the house. They desired shapes, chheni to cut iron and reti (file) to are purchased from Simdega town. The other raw smoothen the finished goods. Chapua (bellows) is material needed for :-:yeaving is starch which is used for furnace. prepared at the house itself by separating gruels from boiled rice. Starching the threads and the weaving 3.69 Iron is generally supplied by the customers, of are done generally by the male weavers while otherwise Lohras themselves purchase it from arrangement of threads is done by the females. markets. Their main work is to process the iron to make agricultural implements for which they are paid 3.73 Only coarse chadars, napkins and some in kinds at the rate of 30 pailas paddy per plough per ceremonial cloths are woven by the village weavers. year, but they get full price of their articles other than. Due to easy availability of mill made cloths, the market agricultural tools. Sometimes they also manufacture of locally manufactured cloth is going downward. In goods for markets in their spare times. They have to - the past, when the villagers themselves grew cotton purchase coal from the market. Off and on they also and spun threads, this industry was very beneficial. But prepare charcoal at their houses from the woods at present it has to compete with the mill cloth with the brought from the village jungles. Lohras do not result that the weavers have to struggle very hard to engage' hired labourers. Only family workers are keep their bo<;lies and souls together. They are engaged in this industry. Both males and females work compelled to adhere to some subsidiary works like in the industry. Basketry is done by Turis and Dams. working in fields during agricultural operation or taking This industry also requires very scanty tools. They use up some daily wage of earning job. tangi (axe) for cutting bamboo from groves, Chhuri Other occupation: (knife), to make splinters from bamboo for making baskets etc. Basketry is entirely done for supply to the 3.74 In addition to their main work of cultivation and local weekly markets. Sometimes baskets etc. are also industry, some of the villagers do secondary works in made on orders. Both kinds of raw materials, viz., road construction, house construction and in hotels to bamboo and colours are purchased from outside. meet their daily expenditure. Since the Subdivisional town at Simdega is close to the village, every day Bamboos are purchased from the neighbouring '. villages while hawking with the finished goods and some casual labourers of Meromdega get some colours are brought from Simdega town. In some construction works inside the town while others prefer cases, the customers also supply bamboo and the goinO with trucks to load "and unload goods. There are finished goods are equally distributed. Half goods are a few more who get employment in the hotels and given to the customers while the remaining half are shops at Simdega. retained by the makers in token of their wage. 3.75 A large number of the villagers work in the 3.70 No hired worker is engaged in this industry. Chinda dam where construction of a dam is going on Both male and female workers jointly run the industry. for the last few years. As mentioned earlier. some of The common products are big and small baskets, fans, the villagers also collect fire woods and fruits from the winnowing fans, bamboo boxes, bamboo mats and village jungles and bring t,hem for sale in the township dola for the protection of new plants. Dams prepare of Simdega. some special articles which are required at the time at Family budget: marriage of Hindus. Turis also manufacture huge baskets to store paddy. These are made on orders. 3.76 Though agriculture is the permanent source 01 63 / income for the maximum number of families in the income groups were purposely selected to assess the village, a few households also earn their livelihood various sources of their income and the following table from household industries and other sources. During shows the exact position. restudy of t~e village, 35 households of different Table ,,1.10 Distribution of Households with reference to income group, Occupation and Caste/Tribe/Community. Income Group Households belonging to CastejTribe Community with their occupations Total Malar Lohra Gond Bhogta Chik Baraik Mehar number Agri- Black- Culti- Trade Fore- Culti- Agri- Weav- Culti- Cult1- Weaving of cultural smithy vation and stry vation Cultural ing vation vatiol: house- Labour Corn- Labour holds merce 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Below Rs. 1,000 Rs. 1,001 to 2,000 5 2 Rs.2,001 to 3,500 20 2 Rs. 3,501 to 5,000 5 3 Rs.5,001 + 4 Total 35 4 3 2 Income G'roup ruri Brahmin Naik/Dom Kharia Munda Remarks Agri- Forestry Service Agri- Trade Basketry I Culti- Trade Culti- cultural and cultural and vation and vation Labour Basketry Labour Commerce commerce 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Below Rs. 1,000 Rs. 1.001 to 2.000 Rs,2.001 to 3,500 2 3 3 2 As. 3.501 to 5.000 AS.5,OO1 + 3 Total 2 6 3 2 3,77 The table indicates !hat out of 35 households. 3.500.14.29 per; cent each in the income group of Rs. 57 per cent fall in the income group of 5s. 2,001 to 1,001 to 2,000 and Rs. 3,501 to 5,000.11.43 per cent 64 are having their annual income above rupees 5,000 enough from their traditional pr )fessions generally and there is only one family where income is below Rs. resort to other means for supporting themselves and 1,000 annually. their family members. This is normally done by the petty farmers who have less land and more f::.mily members to feed. Landless farmers and those persons 3.78 The various sources of income as reported b-y who do not run household industries earn by way of the villagers are the cultivation, household industry working as agricultural laboure~s in the fields of the and wage labour. People have to strive for them villagers during the seasons of operation. The extent of according to their means and availability. As it has expenditure in the village can be assessed from the already been described earlier, persons not getting table below:-- Table'III.11: Distribution of houleholds by Income-group and nature of expenditure. REMARKS. Income No. of No. of households by income group and nature of expenditure group house food & cloths Medicine Educa- Light & House Pursuit Recreation holds drink in in res in res tion in fule in repairs of profe- in respect respect pect of pectof respect respect in res ssion in of total of total total total of total of total pect of respect of expenditure expendi· expen expendi expen .expendi- total ex total ex- (in per cent) ture (in diture ture (in diture ture (in pendit penditure per cent (in per per cent) (in per per cent) ure (in (in per cent) cent) per cent) cent) 50-70 n~ Less 10- Less than Less Less Less Less 5- Less % 90% than 20% 5% than than than than 10% than 10% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Less than As. 1,rxYJ/- As. 1,001 to 2,rxYJ/- 5 5 5 5 3 5 As. 2,001 to 3,500/- 20 17 3 18 2 13 10 20 19 As. 3,500 to 5,rxYJ 5 4 4 4 5 3 2 As. 5,rxYJ/- and _ 1 above 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 Total 35 30 5 31 4 21 15 35 4 29 6 ------~---~ 3.79 The above table shows that there are certain these items for 14.4 per cent was between 71-90 per items on which expenditure becomes essential for cent Similarly, on Clothing nearly 90 per c'ent each anc;l every person. These items are the f06d, households expend less than 5 per cent of their annual cloth, light and fuel and the persuit of the profession. income. Approximately, 83 per cent househblds So, none can avoid expenditure on these items. 85.6 ,expend less than 5 per cent of their income on the per cent households expend 50-70 per cent of their persuit of their respective professions. Expenditure on income on food and drinking while the expenditure on other items is optional and a man is free to spend on 65 these items. of cost by way of dancing and singing tribal songs in the village akhara specially built for this purpose. 3.80 As it is s~en. 14 out of 35 households do not Though drink is a must during these occasions but this spend on medicines and cure their ailments without has become a part and parcel of their food and as incurring any cost with the local herbs and leaves such has been dealt under food. available in the village jungles in sufficient quantity. Only 15 out of 3S'households spend some amount on Indebtedness: the education of their family members while only 4 3.81 The village economy is such that v_illagers are households needed repair works for their houses forced by the circumstances to arrange for extra during the period of study of the village. It was money and thus they Incur loans. The following table reported interestingly that there was one family in the indicates the indebted households in the village by village who had spent some money on recreation by their occupation and purpose for which loans are way of visiting other places. Normally, .this is done free taken. Tabl. III. 12: Number of households In debt by occupation of 1I1e head of households, purpose and Income group Number of Total No. of No. of households in debt for Remarks households No. of house, byoccupa- house- holds Daugh. Pur- Bus· Pur. Pur- Pur- tion of holds indeb- ter's chase in· ch~ cha- cha- head of in debt ted in marri- of ess ase se se of the house- the age catt- of of Black- hold, income Ie Agrl. wea· smithy group tools ving tools of Ra.500 and tools more 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cultivation 8 8 4 Weaving 2 2 2 81acksmithy Total 11 11 4 2 2 3.82 It would appear from the above table that of 11 The villagers have to take loan from time to time to indebted households, a- belong to cultivators, 2 meet their urgent needs. Even for loans they have to weavers and 1 blacksmith and all- are having their explore various sources and run from pillar to post. annual income above As. 500/-, 1 houseMld has There is less problem for small amount qf loans ;:Is Incurred loan to meet the expense of daughter's these are generally taken from the co-villagers and are marriage, 4 to purchase animals for ploughing lands, 2 repaid shortly with interest. But for the huge amount of each to -substantiate deficit in their profession and loan one has to approach the big ma,hajans and the pure,hase of weaving tools and 1 each for purchase of money lenders who charge heavy rate of interest. agricultural and blacksmithy Jools. For 5 households Government institutions are also contacted for loans. the rate of interest is 12· per cent, for 3' it ~s 13 per cent Money taken from the private money lenders i!: and for other- 2 it is 14 per cent. One hpusehold has generally paid in time with due interest, but thE contacted relatives to get loan without interest. government loans are repaid after a long time anrj lha too after constant persuation and rem inders, 3.83 Economically, the village is not well placed. 3.84 In this connection, it was gathered from the '66 Development Block Office at Thethaitangar that 97 The maximum amount of Rs. 300 only c~n be persons of village Meromdega had incurred loan from recommended as loan for a person seeking financial the HMeromdega Multipurpose Co-operative Society help. For higher amount, approval of the Director at Ltd." which bore Registration No. 116, Slmdega, dated Ranchi is essential. A total amount of rupees 1,143 13.9.1922. There were 204 members enrolled with the only was due to seven persons of village Meromdega. society. 3.91 As reported by the villa§ers, loans were 3.85 The total amount loaned to these 97 persons generally taken to purchase animals and chemical was Rs. 36,905.62, Of this, Rs. 2,527 j- was repaid upto fertilisers for agriculture. Sometimes loans were also the year 1977. The audit note of this society prepared sought to meet some aCCidental events like death and on 31.6.80 said· that in spite of being economically sudden illness in the familx. Sometimes social customs sound, the society was incurring losses due to non- also compelled people to incur loans. During marriage, . payment of the interest by the loanees. The auditor if the family was not in a position to pay the bride had suggested quick repayment of the interest money ,Price, it had to arrange for money by way of taking and minimising the expenditure on tours and coolies. loans from the local people. The society, has been classified as 'C' class society. 3.86 33 villagers were granted taquav; loan from the 3.92 Loans for consumption are generally avoided. Thethaitangar Block in the year 1972. The total Food is arranged by working as labourers. "{)ff and on demand of dues amounted to Rs. 2,217.05 by March loans it'l kinds are taken to meet the family expenditure 1978 of which only Rs. 1,906.36 were repaid by 28 which are repaid shortly either in terms of labour or persons. Among the 5 defaulters, the total amount of - after working in otlJ.er's houses. dues was rupees 310.69 Unemployment and Under-employment 3.87 An affluent farmer belonging to Kharia community was granted an agricultural loan of rupees 3.93 No case of under-employment was reported in 3,433.88 which, by end of the year 1976, was raised to the village. Employed persons were pleased with their rupees 7,587.63 including interest. The loanee had assignments and there was no hankering. On enquiry managed to return only Rs. 100/- The remaining a few teachers of the village narrated that they had got amount was lying due to him. their apPointment according to their qualifications 'and abiiitles ..Simiiarly, the family members of a chik Baraik 3.88' Six persons of the village had jointly taken a who have a CommiSSioned Officer in the State of Bihar sum of rupees 2,696.99 towards fertiliser loan from the were very much pleased with the assignment of that Bank of India located at Simdega in the year 1976. The man. The problem of unemployment was in existence principal loan with its interest was repaid in the same in the village, but it was not too severe, because the year after the harvest of the crops for which loan was illiterate working force got daily engagement in the incurred. They were jointly to pay rupees one hundred sundry works such as on truc~s, in hotels and shops at and fifty only as interest money. Simdega. A large number of people got work in tile 3.89 Besides tll-ese, there is one unit of 'Catholic Chinda Dam project which was under construction Mission Co-operatiye Credit Society' at Meromdega during the_study of the village. Closure of employment with its office at Shyamtoli, Simdega for the Christian opportunities in the tea gardens actually posed members of the Catholic mission. The headquarters 01 problem to some marginal farmers and landless this society is located at Ranchi and Is functioning persons, but the road constructions and the project of there since 1909. There are various circles of the Chinda reservoir have solved the problem to a large society and the Shyamtoli Circle is one of them. Again extent. 'there are 43 units of the Shyamtoli circle Society and 3.94 A few literates of the village had shown their the Meromdega unit is one of them. inclination for employment in the Government service. 3.90 The Meromdega unit was started in the year They had already enrolled their names in the regional 1911 with only 18 members. This position was intact -' employment exchange office, Ranchi and were trying upto the year 1929, but presently there are 47 to get appointment earlier: The following table shows members of the Society. Loan is sanctioned by the position of unemployed persons se,eking employment Loan Managing Committee consisted of 7 members. in the village. 67 1 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Chlk Baraik Com Gond 2 2 Kharla 2 4 2 2 Lohra "- Malar Mehar 3 Munda 3 Turl Total 3 10 8 3.95 The table shows that 10 persons including 8- belongs to the age group 15-19 and 20-34 years. A males and 2 females in the village were in need of single man of above 45 years of age was also in need employment. Of them, 5 persons accounting 50 per of employment. Age, sex and community-wise cent were between the age of 15-19 years and 4 distribution of workers and non-workers has been perions accounting 40 per cent were in the age-group highlighted in the following table. 20-34 years. One of each female seeking employment Tabl. 111.14 Distribution of workers and non-workers by sex, or tribe or Community and broad age-group Caste/Tribe/ 0-14 15059 Community Worker NO!l-worker Worker Non-worker p M F P M F P M F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. Bhogt. 27 13 14 15 14 11 11 2. Brahmin 7 4 3 3 3 2 2 3.Chik 2 2 22 10 12 8 8 11 2 9 Baralk 4.00m 14 7 7 16 16- 13 12 69 Caste/Tribe/ 0-14 13-59 Community Worker Non-worker Worker Non-worker p M F P M F P M F P M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5. Gond 44 22 22 26 25 24 2 22 6. Kharia 66 35 31 48 41 7 51 4 47 7. Lohra 20 7 13 11 11 10 10 8. Malar 1 9. Mehar 27 14 13 15 14 13 3 10 10. Munda 8 4 4 3 3 3 3 11. Turi 12 6 6 15 10 5 3 3 Total 5 5 248 123 125 161 146 15 142 12 130 Caste/Tribe/ 60+ Worker Remarks Community Non-worker p M F P M F 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 1. Bhogta 2. Brahmin 2 ~ Chik Baraik 4. DCIlm 2 2 5.Gond 2 6. Kharia 3 2 7. Lohra 8. Malar 9. Mehar 3 2 2 2 10. Mur')da 11. Tilri Total 10 8 2 13 2 11 70 3.96 There are 30.4 per cent workers and 69.6 per 60 and above. Similarly, the female non-workers are cent non-workers in the village. The percentage of almost equitably distributed in the age group 0-14 and workers are respectively 2.84, 91.48 and 5.68 in the 15-59 represented respectively by 125 and 130. In the age-group 0-14, 1~.59 and 60 and above years as age group 60 and above only 11 female non-workers against 81.53, 35.24 and 3.23 non-workers in the same returned in the village. The employment depth 01 age-groups. However, 15 female workers returned Meromdega can be seen in the table given below. from the age group 15-59 and only 2 in the age group Table 111.15: Distribution of Households by Employment depth Number of Number of households by size and number of, adults having number of workers noted in col.I REMARKS workers All Adults Size in the House- 1-3 4-6 7-9 10+ households holds 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 (One) 65 65 18(18) 35(35) 12(12) 2 (Two) 21 42 2(4) 14(28) 5(10) 3 (Three) 11 30 3(8)* 7(19)** 1(3)* ,*' minor worker in the age group 0-14 4. (Four) 5 18 2(7)* 1(~)* 2(8) **2 minor workers in the age group 0-14 5. (Five) 2 10 1(5) 1(5) 6. (Sbc) 6 1(6) Total 105 171 20(22) 54(78) 26(49) 5(22) .3.97 The table shol"Vs that 61.90 per cent consisted of ~-3 and above 10 members; 45.45 per households returned only one worker in the family, 20 cen1 from families consisting· of 4-6 members per cent two workers, 10.48 per cent three workers, and lastly 29.55 per cent workers belong to families 4.77 per cent four workers, 1.90 per cent five workers consisting of 7-9 members. The table furnished and 0.95 per cent six workers in t~e family. Of 176 below shows unemployment depth~ in the village. workers" 12.50 per cent each hails from families T... III. 16: Distribution of Households by Unemployment depth. Number of Number of households !>y size and number of non-workers noted in 001.1 REMARKS non workers in the households All house holds Adults Size 1-3 4-6 7-9 ... 10+ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1.(Ooe) 52 52 13(13) 31 (31) 8(8) 2.(Two) 23 46 5(10) 13(26) 3(6) 2(4) No non-workers reported in 12 households 3.(Three) 16 48 2(6) 10(3) 3(9) 1(3) 4. (Four) 4 1(4) 5.(Five) 5 1(5~ Nil 12 12 Total 105 155 20(29) 54(87) 26(23) 5(16) 3.98 It is indicated in the table that 49.52 per cent wealth during 1963 to 1977 for the different reasons. A households have one. non-worker, 21.90 per cent two Gond as he was unable to cultivate his land had leased non:workers, 15.24 per cent three non-workers and 0.95 out 0.20 hectares of land on share cropping basis. He per cent each four and five non-workers in Jhe family. will get half of the yield. A Dom/Naik had mortgaged However in 11.44 per cent households, no non 0.40 hectares of his land to meet the expense of the workers have been reported. Of 155 non-workers. marriage of his son and so a Turi mortgaged his 0.40 18.71 per cent reported from families coming of 1-3 hectares of land to settle his daughter's marriage. Both members. 56.13 per cent coming oj 4-6 [l1embers, will get their lands returned after repayment of the 14.84 per cent coming of 7-9 members and 10~~per amount of mortgage within the time prescribed in the cent from family of above 10 members. deed. A Lohra had to sell 1.20 hectares of his land to finalise a dispute over his land. Transter of wealth: 3.99 Though the transfer of. immovable property has 3.101 The Gram-Sewak of the Meromdega Gram been prohibited among the- tribals under the Panchayat, who is a Kumhar by caste has purchased Chotanagpur Tenancy Act. a few cases of transfer of sixteen acres of land at Kahupani. a toli of Meromdega wealth had been reported in the village aft~r seeking from a Bhogta. Though he is living in his village which permission from the Government. is contiguous to Meromdega, his lanq at Kahupani is controlled by some persons. of the same to Ii on the 3.100 The survey reveals that altogether 4 basis of "Share cropping system" Similarly, a Chik households including I household each of Gond. Barai1< of Bar toli has purchased a few acres of land Naik/Dom, Lohra and Tur; have transferred their from the villagers. 72 CHAPTER-IV SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE House Type: cavities are made on all the four c,orners of the proposed plot of land and four leaf-cups containing 4.1 House types are the best indicators for the counted number of fine rice are kept in each of the cultural and the material status of their occupants. In four cavities at night without being noticed by others. other words, they are the first hand impression that an The number of rice grains is again counted in the outsider makes about their inmates when he visits the following morning. If the number of rice grains is intact, village. Despite the uniformity in the use of material in the place is supposed to be auspicious for wall and roof, the difference between living of common constructing a new house, otherwise other plots 01 and affluent families is easily evident in the first sight of lands are tested in the same manner. Persons having the houses. All the houses in the village are kutcha proficiency in the art of testing lands by the except one at Bartoli and the second at Girja tali which mathematic~1 calculations are also consulted by some are pucca. Thr former belongs to a Chik Baraik while of the villagers. the latter has been built by a Kharia immigrant to this village. 4.4 Almost all houses in the village are Katcha having mud walls and tiled roofs. Tiles are prepared 4.2 Material used for the construction of houses is locally by the villagers themselves with wooden obtained from the village forest according to the frames. The rain water does not affect their mud walls needs. Almost all the houses are constructed of mud because it does not cogulate in the streets due to walls with no plinth. The roofs consisting of slopy nature of lands. A huge quantity of water is underframe of sal logs formed into a lattice with absorbed by the sandy soil also. perceptible slopes having been covered with semi-circular country made tiles locally named as 4.5 Only two pucca houses were seen in the village 'Khapra'. Straw is seldom used as a roof cover in the during the resurvey in 1978. One house belonged to a village. Even tiles prepared by the potters on wheels Chik Baraik at Bartoli while the second had been are rarely used by the people. Potter's tiles are smaller constructed at Girja tali by a Kharia lady rec,ently in size and at the same time costlier too. Due to easy migrated to their village after marrying a non-tribal availability of leaves and twigs to burn the raw tiles, engineer of 'Ranchi. Both these pucca houses were they prefer to make them themselves at their homes. built with concrete and cement and had lintelled roofs. Being manually made on the frames the tiles are Windows were also provided in the rooms. comparatively thicker than those made by potters and are also more durable. Mud has been reported as the 4.6 Katcha houses are not provided with windows. predominant material for floor and wall of all 40 Air and light penetrate into the rooms through the households as also tiles as predominant material of space left vacant in between the walls and the roofs. roof for them all. 33 are using woods for their' ceilings The villagers generally build separate cattle sheds for and 7 bamboos for it. their animals, but keep poultry birds with them in their residential structures. 4.3 Before constructing a new house the villagers test the proposed lands by certain indigerfuus 4.7 Those who can not afford to provide separate methods commonly prevalent in the locality. Small sheds for their cattle,,,keep them in their residential / 73 houses but a separate arrangement has necessarily to 4.9 The houses are maintained properly and kept be made for pig keeping. Goats are also kept with neat and clean by pasting mud on the walls frequently. cows and bullocks. Muds of different colours are used for plastering the walls. Lower parts are plastered generally with black muds prepare0 after mixing with burnt straws and animal dung. This colour is supposed to be 4.8 As mentioned earlier, the selection for a new site white-ants proof. The upper portions of the walls are is dane after testing the place with some local generally plastered withwhite muds locally available in methods and getting oneself fully satisfied. Proximity sufficient quantity. The floors of houses are generally \ to the agricultural plots, free from water logging and Plastered with the mixture of mud and the dung of easy availability of drinking water are also given due animals. The following table shows relation of houses consideration while selecting the new sites for the of the selected households with adjoining houses in construction of houses. the village. Table No. IV : 1 Relation of houses of selected households with adjoining Houses In space by religion caste/Tribe/Community of head of households Religion/Caste/ Number of No. of separate 1\10. of separate Remarks Tribe/community Ihouseholds houses with houses of head of compound without households compound No. of Problem No. of Problem houses faced houses faced 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hinduism 1. Bhogta 4 2 2 2. Brahmin 2 3. Chik Baraik 2 4.00m 2 2 5. Gond 6 4 2 6. Lohra 2 2 7. Malar 8. Mehar 5 3 2 9. Turi 2 2 74 2 3 4 5 6 7 Christianity 1. Chik Baraik 2. Kharia 11 9 2 3. Munda 2 Total 40 26 4.10 It appears that out of 40 households selected manufactured by themselves or made by hired on sample basis, 26 are with compound· walls and the labourers from the village or the neighbourhood. remaining 14 without the boundary walls. People were living cordially without facing any sort of problem from 4.12 The villagers have not started providing privies their neighbourhood. All the houses were on ground and bathrooms within the residential premises: While floor. On an average, approximately 5.78 persons were this does result in economy at the time of house forming a household. Of them 37 out of 40 households construction, it is indicative of lack of appreciation of were living in the village since birth and 3 households - the commonly ac~epted minimum facilities in a house. came here 20 years earlier. For 5 per cent households, Both the males and the females go outside for the per capita floor space is 6-9 Sq. metres, for 12.5 attending to nature's call. Also they do not provide per cent it is 10-15 sq. metres and for the remaining bathrooms inside their houses. No provision is made 82.5 per cent households it is more than 16 sq. metres. for windows to avoid the risk of the penetration of wild animals as well as the malevolent spirits inside the house. 52.5 per cent households are having their separate kitchen, 5 per cent their separate drinking 4.11 Generally, the houses are small and water facilities and 7.5 per cent have separate washing inexpensive. On enquiry it was revealed that the cost water facilities. One Kharia out of 40 households was of constructing a room of mud walls and tiled-roof living in a rented house as he is a migrant in the was nearly Rs. 450/- in all. A standard house in the village. He is a teacher in the village school. The village consisted of two rooms and an enclosed following table prepared from 40 households selected verandah. The mud walls, in majority of the cases are on the basis of purposive-sampling gives classification constructed by the owners themselves or with the by number of members, number of rooms occupied reciprocal help from villagers. Sal logs are procured and religion and caste or tribe or community of the free of cost from the local jungles and tiles are either head of the household; ... Table IV.2 Households classified by number of Members, Number of Rooms Occupied and Religion and Caste or Tribe or Community of Head of Households Religion and Number Total Total Households with Caste/Tribe/ of Number number one room Community of house- of rooms of Number Number of head of house holds members of house members holds studied M F holds M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hinduism Bhogta 4 14 10 12 Brahmin 2 9 6 3 5 Chik Baraik 2 7 5 5 75 Total HouseRolds.with ReligiOn and Number Total number one room CastejTribe/ of Number of rooms Community of house- of holds members head of house- Number Number of studied holds of house meOlbers holds M F M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Oem 2 9 5 5 Gond 6 19 16 14 7 9 Lohra 2 7 9 2 2 Malar 2 2 Mehar 5 11 14 -13 Turi 2 5 5 5 2 2 Christianity Chik Baraik 2 3 2 Kharia 11 28 29 21 4 9 6 Munda 2 7 8 4 Total 40 120 111 88 9 24 19 Households with Religion and Households with tv(o Households with four rooms Caste/Tribe/ rooms three rooms Community of Number Number Number Number Number Number head of house house of of of of of holds holds members house members house members holds holds M F M F M F 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Bhogta 4 3 2 6 2 4 5 Brahmin 4 5 Chik Baraik 4 2 3 3 Oem 3 4 6 Gond 3 11 9 3 3 4 3 Lohra Malar 2 / 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Mehar 2 2 4 3 9 10 Turi 3 3 Christianity Chik Baraik 2 3 Kharia 5 12 12 3 7 4 4 Munda 2 7 8 Total 18 51 51 9 30 26 4 15 15 4.13 It appears from the above table that 22.5 per were more particular in their sartorial choice than the cent families are living in on~ roomed houses and 45 elders. So also were the Christians who attended the per cent families possess houses with two rooms. church in neat and clean garments. Young boys prefer Three roomed houses are again possessed by 22.5 to wear the trousers. or half pants and shirts. Similarly, per cent families while the remaining 10 per cent the girls use sari!. petticoat and blause. But the poor families in the village have four rooms in their labourers employed in various odd jobs wear a simple possession. In other words, on an average 4.8 persons piece of' cloth passing between the legs and tied to per room are accommodating themselves in 22.5 per waist. But the women of this class generally wear sari, cent families and 2.8 persons per room in 45 per cent petticoat and blouse. The old women drape families. The other 22.5 per cent houses accommodate themselves only Vfith saris mad'e of coarse cloth on an average 2.1 persons per room and in the last 10 without the combination of petticoats and blouses. per cent families one room has been built for the accommodation of two persons only. 4.16 Some of the educated and well placed persons wear costly shirts, trousers and bell-bottom pants of Dress and O!naments: synthetic yarns. During marriage they wear coloured 4.14 On enquiry it was known that in the past, clothes. villagers grew cotton, spun yarn, dyed them and the Mehars and the Chik Baraiks used to weave the cloth for their use and in the return of wages, the weavers 4.17 Shoes, which were lesser in use during 1961, got corns. This was in vogue for a long time in the past have now found some way in this village. Some of the in Meromdega village, but the practice became extinct people were seen wearing plastic chappals and shoes slowly and gradually since the First World War when specially when they set out for weekly markets or mill made cloth was sold ir:t the urban centres of Simdega town or vi~it their relatives. Umbrellas made Chotanagpur and also in the mobile weekly markets of leaves are lOOSing their importance. Now the which were held in the vicinity of Meromdega. villagers generally use umbrellas made 'Of cloth during P.esently, only some customary cloths like 'pariya and rainy season and also in summer days when they work pichauri' which are required at the time of marriage in the fields or cover long distances together to visit a ceremonies are prepared by the weaver's bazar or a weekly market or their relations. Blankets communities. Rough Chadars and napkins woven by and thick Chadars are used only by the affluent these weavers are, however, still capturing the vi[lagers during winter season. Others protect markets. themselves with whatever scanty cloths they have with them ..Use of fire in winter is very common among 4.15 The dress varies according to the age and persons having scanty clothes for their rescue against social functions. It was observed that the youngers cold. / 77 4.18 Ornaments are not very popular in the villag~. 4.21 Small baskets which are prepared by the Even during 1961 the use of the ornaments was not village Turis and Dams are kept in all households for very common in the village as only 13 per cent of the their daily use. Dhenki used for de husking of paddy is households had reported that they were using some kept only by those families who are comparatively rich ornaments. During 1978 when the village was farmers. Small and marginal farmers who do not grow re-surveyed, the use of the ornaments was reported larger quantity of paddy use mortars and pestles. to be nil in the village. Some young girls were seen Dhenki, which is in common use for dehusking paddy wearing aluminium earrings and necklaces which were to prepare rice is a piece of wood nearly seven feet in che~p. But the use of glass bangles was common length and is fixed by means of an axil to two small among the young ladies. The popularity of tattooing poles rooted into the ground. The axil is fixed in such a has now disappeared·as none of the young people are way that the wood piece is divided into two unequal in favour of getting themselves tattooed. The use of parts. The bigger part which is nearly two-third of the carpaC which was very common and cheap ornament log, has another small piece of heavy wood fixed to its for the tribal ladies some 10-15 years ago is now extreme and at about right angle facing the ground. An restricted to only the old ladies. The increasing ir-on part is fitted with the small heavy wood which economic hardship seems to have checked the ways dehusks the paddy when operated. The smaller end is of fashion of the poor tribals who have to struggle hard pressed down by leg to pull the bigger part up and on for their existence. The young girls satisfy their the release of the pressure the bigger part is allowed to cravin·gs. for ornaments by using the cheap aluminium strike hard into a small circular cavity made on the hairpins, Qosepins and nose tops available in the local ground which is full of paddy. With a conti'nuous markets. They never forget to plug a bunch of flowers operations the paddy is dehusked into rice. To in the hair of their heads while going outside. maintain balance. the operators who in majority of cases are women, catch a rope hanging from the roof Household Goods or peg specially installed for the same. To avoid monotony and fatigue. occasionally the operators sing 4.19 No difference was noticed in the possession of while dehusking the paddy. household goods between 1961 and 1978. Cent per cent families in the village keep earthen pitchers to store water even today. These pitchers were also used 4.22 Food is served in thalis Le. the metal plates for the storage of water during 1961. The poor families having wide rims. They are circular in shape with even today cook their food in the pots made of clay. A moderately high rims to prevent food to spill out at the few have replaced them by aluminiu'mwares which are time of eating. They are made of bell-metal or bronze. though cosW proved to be cheaper in the long rurl. Thalis made of brass are not in common use. Lotas The growing use of plastic goods has also affected the meant for keeping water at the time of taking meal are villagers of Meromdega and they have purchased also made of bell metal or bronze and so are the plastic tumblers and mugs for their daily use. Utensils tumblers. of stainless steel (specially tumtilers and small bowls) are also possessed by folir or five families who are in 4.23 But these household goods are not found in all touch with the urban people. of the households. Those who cannot afford take their meals in the leaf cups prepared at home by the women 4.20 Khatias (string cots) are found in nearly 80-85 folks. Similarly. many use Iota and tumbler made of per cent of households and similarly mats prepared aluminium. Axe to cut woods and sickle to reap crops from date leaves are owned by the 50 per cent are owned by all but the agricultural tools are families. Khatias are used for sleeping whereas !he possessed only by the cultivators' families. mats are used both for sleeping as well as drying the boiled paddy or other seeds in the sun. Normally, both 4.24 Luxury goods are rarely found to a limited are made 9Y the villagers themselves. However, those households in the village. 5 households are owning who do not know the making"purchase from the local wrist watches, cine a transistor set and 11 are having market. bicycles. Wrist watch and radio or transistor are found \ \ 78 / only in those families where some members are in vegetables and leaves are avilable, the larger portions service. Cycles are kept mostly by the student or those of them are sold in the local markets to purchase salt, who have to do odd jobs for the up keep of their condiments and spices. Roots procured from jungles families. Sewing machines have been reported to be and also produced in their homestead lands are also owned by three f....lmilies in this village. Hurricane consumed with the rice. Tender leaves of putkal, lanterns are also owned by a few only. Most of them Koinar, kusum and chakor are consumed during the use dhibri (unshaded lamp) to light their houses. season. Some people dry these leaves in the sun rays Petromax is also possessed by four families. Two and store them for use in the days of scarcity. In the households were reported to have cameras also. name of oil, they consume surguja and dar; (oil Tables and chairs are also limited to selected few extracted from the kernels of the mahua fruits). persons, the family members of whom are in service. A Mehar at Meromdega also possesses gun. Fishing 4.28 Fruits do not find 'place in the diet of the hooks and nets are also kept by those families which villagers as regular items of food. However, some are interested in the game of fishing off and on. They seasonal fruits like Mango, Jamun, Jackfruit, Plum, kumani, Bel, Tamarind, Piar, and Sarai (sal fruits) are also keep a most common fishing implement I during rainy season. It is made of bamboo splinters consumed. Mahua is also consumed but its flowers and is utilised for fishing in the agricultural fields where are more used by the villagers than the fruits itself. water passes from upper plots to the lower ones.. All Flowers of Mahua are consumed in various ways. the households are using wood as fuel to prepare their Fresh flowers are consumed in the form of Soghra and meals and kerosene oil for lighting purposes. in the form of latha after fully drying them in the sun. - The dried flowers are kept for future use also. They Food and Drink also distil wine from the dried flowers and consume it as an intoxicant. It is also available in the weekl~ 4.25 The village Meromdega lies in a predominant markets on cash payment. rice belt and as such rice is the staple food for the people. Since, rice is prepared by dehusking boiled 4.29 Though the villagers are non-vegetarians, their paddy at home, the nutritive elements in the rice are .. daily diet does not comprise mutton or chicken. The largely preserved. No family is addicted to the special dishes are prepared only on the occasion 01 consumption of alWa rice. Rice is also consumed as festivals, social ceremonies and visit by relatives or intoxicant after getting it fermented, with adl11ixutre 01 guests. Flesh of goats and chicken is eaten by all the herbal tablets known as 'Ranu' obtained locally from communities residing in the village but pork is not the weekly markets. This preparation is locally termed consumed by Gonds, Mehar, Bhogta and Brahmins. as Hanria (rice beer). The Hanria is also prepared from gondli (millet), marua and gora rice. 4.30 Milk and milk products do not constitute a part of the diet of the villagers. It is mainly because of the 4.26 Though rice is the stapie food, it is generally fact that the local breeds of cows and buffaloes are supplemented by some coarse grains like maize, poor and yield very Jittle milk which is not sufficient gondli and marua which are produced in the village up even for their calves. Paucity of proper feeding and lands. Although rice is grown comparatively on a large nourishment result into the dryness of the milch cattle scale, the villagers, particularly the poor families prefer in the village. Moreover, the villagers yoke them to the to live on coarse grains for two obvious reasons. plough for ploughing their lands with tbe belief that Firstly, rice fetched a good price in the market, hence cows and she-buffaloes are more active than the oxen a good percentage of rice is bartered for the coarse and the he-buffaloes. Due to this, sufficient milk is not grains and secondly, the rice, being easily digestible is available to them. Similarly, sugar is also not used not preferred by the working class people. widely in the village. A few households take tea as their habit without milk but with sugar. They have a habit of 4.27 The people do not take a balanced diet. Green consuming the raw liquor. But when they take tea in vegetables and pulses are rarely included in their the tea stalls or hotels in the towns and the markets, menu in a required quantity. Though seasonal they consume tea mixed with milk. 79 \ / 4.31 The food-habit of the villagers is the same as it Household Composition was reported to be in the year 1961 when the village was first surveyed. No change has been reported either in the technique of preparation of food or in the way of its consumption. The same methods of 4.32 No substantial change has been marked in the preparation of food and drink are still in vogue. But a household composition in the resurvey of the village very small variation in the habit of food was reported after a lapse of 18 years of time. The nuclear families by 5-6 households who had started growing wheat were in predominance during 1961, This position was after the drought of 1967. These people also .consume unchanged even in 1978 when the village was breads in addition to the rice. Some of them reported restudied. The table below deals with the distribution to have formed a habit to take wheat at least in one of households according to the number of persons in meal. the families and the age of their heads. Table No. IV.3 Distribution of households by number of members and age of head of households Age of Number of households having members Remarks head of Single 2 3 4 5 6-7 8-9 10-12 13& Total- households above 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Below 20 20-29 2 4 3 2 12 30-39 3 7 6 6 24 40-49 5 8 7 25 50-59 2 4 4 8 7 2 28 60 & above 2 2 2 4 2 15 Total 3 8 16 19 28 17 4 105 4.33 The above table shows that out of 105 sample of the households is concerned, it was found that one households, three were single membered, eight had head of the household was below the age of 20 years, two members, nine were with three members, in 16 12 were between the age of 20-29 years, 24 in the age households there were four members and in 19, five group of 30-39 yeak 25 in the age-group of 40-49 members were living under the same roofs. There were years, 28 in the age group of 50-59 years and 15 heads 28 sl!_ch households where 6-7 persons were living of the households had crossed the ·age of 60 years. together, in 17, 8-9 persons were living, in four, 10-12 The table below shows the distribution ot households persons were living and there was a lone household by composition of sex, age and migration status of where more than 13/persons were living under a single members. head of the household. So far as the age of the heads , 80 • Table No.IV.4 Distribution of household.by Migration Status and place of birth of head of household and composition by sex and Age Status of members Migration status No. of households where composition by sex and age of member is and place of birth of head of households Adult, Adult Adult Adult Adult Total Remarks male male female/ male fema- and and females & le& female female only minor minor and male male minor &or &or male/ 0 female female female 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A. Non-migrant (Born in the 56 7 66 same village) B. Migrant: 1. Born outside the village in the 3 C.D. Block II. Born within the District in C.D. Block (i) Kurdeg (ii) Simdega (iii) Kolebira (iv) Jaldega III. Born in other District of the State IV. Born in other states (i) Orissa (ii) Manipur Total: 60 7 4 3 75 Percentage 80% 9.33% 5.33% 1.33% 4% 99.99% 81 " 4.34 The table above shows that 80 per cent minor males and females and 4 Per cent of adult fe households are composed of adult males, females males and minor males and females in the family. The with minor male and female children, 9.33 per cent of a following table gives distribution of households by na adult males and females, 5.33 per cent of adult males ture of relation of members of the head of households and females only, 1.33 per cent of adult males and and the migration status. Table IV.S Distribution of Households by nature of Relation of members to head of househlds and Migration Status of head of Households Nature of relation of members to head Number of households Remarks of households where migration - status of head of hosueholds is NonMlgrant 2 3 4 Self 2 Self, Spouse 3 3 Self, Spouse, unmarried Son and daughter 38 2 4 Self, spouse, married son and son's\"vife with 11 or without unmarried Sons and daughters 5 Self(male) unmarried Son/Daughter 6 Self (female), unmarried son/daughter 4 7 Self, spouse with or without unmarried 2 son/daughter and widowed mother 8 Self (male), unmarried brother/sister 9 Self, spouse, married brothers, brother's wife with unmarried son/daughter and or widowed mother 3 10 Self, unmarried brother/sister and widowed mother 11 Self, spouse, unmarried brother/sister, son and widowed mother 12 Self, spouse, unmarried soon/daughter with father and mother 13 Self, married Sons and Son's wife with! without sons and daughters 14 Self, spouse, widowed son and 50n's . son/daughter 15 Self (unmarried) and widowed mother Total 66 9 82 4.35 The above table studies distribution of sons and sons' wives with or without unmarried sons households by nature of relation of members to head and daughters are residing, in 1 n~>n-migrant of households and migration status of head of household, a male with his unmarried wards living, in households. In I each of migrant and non-migrant one household a female non-migrant and in 4 migrant households only a single man is living, in 3 non households a female with her unmarried wards is migrant self with spouse are living, in 38 non-migrant living. The following table prepared from 105 sample and 2 migrant households, self, spouse and their households gives the community-wise distribution of unmarried sons and daughters are jiving, in 11 non the type of households in the village. migrant households self and spouse with their married Table No. IV.S Distribution of households by community of the head of the households and their types Community Types of households Nuclear Supple- Single Supple- Uneal Supple- Uneal Others mented person mented joint mented collateral nuclear collateral lineal joint joint joint 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Shogta 6 2 4 Oem 2 2 2 Turi 5 Chik Baraik 6 2 Gond 11 4 2 Kharia 16 4 8 Lohra 3 Munda Brahmin Malar Mehar 9 Total En" 3 14 4 20 4.36 The table above shows that nearly 58 per cent family plus one or more unmarried, separated or households consisted of nuclear families, i.e. a coupre widowed relatives of the parents other than their with or without unmarried children, one per cent unmarried Children are living and 2.9. per cent families household supplemented. nuclear family, i.e. a nuclear comprising single person hosueholds. /" 83 4.37 Of 105 households, one each constitutes 4.42 Certain edible items ar.e prohibited for pregnant supplemented collateral joint family (two or more ladies. They are forbidden to eat heads of the hunted m~rried couples between whom thare is no sibling animals and spicy vegetables. They also observe bond-usually a brother, brother relationship plus some taboos during pregnancy. They avoid killing unmarried children and unmarried, divorced or even serpents and scorpions and do not see eclipses. widowed relatives) and the supplemented lineal joint some ladies are even not allowed to come out side the family (two couples between whom there is a lineal link houses in their advanced stage of pregnancy. Their usually between parents and married son pius poor economic conditions do not permit to give unmarried, divorced or widowed relatives who do not special and nutritious food to the pregnant ladies and belong to either of the lineally linked nuclear ~amilies). they share the same food which are prepared for the family members. 15 male and 12 female issues are 4.38 Approximately, 3.9 per cent famIlies in the born to the non-migrant households and 1 male to a village constitute lineal collateral joint families (three or migrant household in the village. In 16 male and 12 more couples linked lineally and collaterally) and female births, mothers are not allowed to eat fish till ~- nearly 13 per cent are lineal joint families consisting of one month of delivery but they were relieved of hard two couples between whom there is a lineal link, works till one month of delivery and were served with usually between parents and marrried son, sometimes rice and vegetables till one month. In 10 births, between P?rents and married daughter. Nearly 19 per father's sisters performed some rituals and in one case cent households are of other than above mentioned mother's brother came forward for this job. In 6 types of families. 'Under Other types' of households cases, dhai (Maid servant were paid remuneration for come those households where dha.[lgars and servants attending delivery and in one case drum-beater was are living with the family members. Predominance of remunerated. In 9 births, breast feeding was sufficed nuclear families in the village reveals that the joint for newly-born babies, but in 13 births they were families are breaking day by day. served with some liquid diets. In 14 cases, no care was taken for the new babies but in 4 cases they were kept Net work of Social Relation inside the houses for 21 days and in other 4 cases regular oil massagin.g was applied to them. For the' 4.39 No Change has been reported in the village remaining births nothing specific was returned by the regarding beliefs and practices concerning birth, villagers. marriage and death of people. The position in the year 1978 was same as it was noted in the year 1961 when 4.43 In the past, such women were not relieved 01 the village was first surveyed. heavy work. Instances were cited in the village when a baby was born to a lady while cutting firewood in the Birth jungle and she came back home safely with baby in her lap and the bundle of wood on her head. But now 4.40 Blessings of ancestral spirits and benevolent a-days,_ the impact of education has changed their bongas being the cause of pregnancy are the belief of ways and outlook. Women in advanced stage 01 past now. After the spread of education and regular pregnancy are generally relieved of such types 01 contacts with the non-tribals the- villagers now work. understand that conception is cuased by the union of couples and also on their medical fitness. 4.44 Delivery takes place usually In a separate room but in case the family has only one room, it takes place 4.41 But after conception they propitiate their in the partitioned corner of the same room. Delivery is ancestral spirlts and the family bongas to ward off attended generally by the women of Dom and Turi suspe,cted evils overcasting their shadow over the communities. Among Gonds, Kharias and Lohras the pregnant women. In case of some troubles, the local elderly ladies of the community also attend to the ojhas and Vaidyas are consulted. Some also rush to delivery cases. Payment is made to the Dhai attending the hospitals and medical sub-centres for relief and the parturient ladies: But incase the dhai belongs to cure. the same family question of payment does not arise. 84 / 4.45 Birth of a child entails pollution of the family But this was more for the allurement of money which which is removed after the performance of some they got after operations, rather than planning the size purificatory rites after sixth or twelvth day of delivery. of their families. The villagers consider children to be a On this occasion the mother takes ceremonial bath heavenly blessings but in some cases children after paring off her nails and the male members get become wholly undersirable. Unmarried and unfaithful their head and beard shaved by the barbers. Hair of women are always eager to prevent conception head of the newly born child are also removed with the because of the fear that it might expose them to social help of milk of the mother and thrown into a bamboo approbrium. groves in a belief that the off-springs of the newly born baby will also increase luxuriently like bamboos in 4.49 Formerly and_even today in many cases, illegal future. Gonds reported that they do not allow the pregnancies are terminated by the local dhais who are p'arturient women to enter their kitchen for one and a well adept in their profession. The modern methods 01 half months but other community reported that after terminating unwanted pregnancies are known and the performance of purificatory rites their women can adopted by only a few educated persons, But during cook food. Though bride price is in vogue among the 1961 family planning devices were not known to the tribals, a male birth is preferred to a female birth only villagers. because male issue will help them in old age whilEYthe female will go to live in their inlaw's home. Marriage 4.50 The rites and customs relating to marriage are 4.46 Period of lactation continues for 2-3 years in also unchanged in the -village. Like in the past even general cases but it perforce ceases when a lady has today, most of the marriages are performed with conceived soon after delivery. Solid food is given to consent of the parents. Even in the case of love the newly born baby after 6-7 months. Newly born marriage, final approval is given by the parents. children are named ceremonially. A bowl full of clean and transparent water is kept on the ground after 4.51 Among all communities in the village, except washing it properly with mud and cowdung paste. A the Brahmins and Gosains, initiative for marriage is few grains of arwa rice are brought and they are taken by the bridegrooms side and they have to pay coloured with turmeric. A grain of rice representing the bride-price according to their conventions, when a boy baby is dropped in the bowl full of transparent water. attains marriageable age, his parents start a search for The grain should float on the surface of water~ If it does a bride either themselves or by appointing some not, the second grain representing the baby is middleman, The person concerned goes to the dropped. After this ,a particular name is proposed to bride's father and ~xpresses his desire for the be given and grain of rice is dropped in the bowl in matrimonial relationship. After the necessary details token of it. If two grains meet, the name is approved, about the groom have been ascertained, the bride's otherwise the process is repeated until the desired tally father usually reserves his reply so as to consult his is achieved. But this custom of name giving is not family members about the proposal. Subsequently, a followed by the Christians. Their children are baptised message is sent to the groom's father signifying in the church and names are given by the father of the consent or refusal. In case the consent is received, a church. date is fixed for 'a reciprocal visit'" to the house of 4.47 The old custom of carrying the babies is still groom by the father of the bride to ascertain his found in the village. Infants and toddlers are generally whereabouts. In case of refusal, either a fresh attempt not carried in laps but on backs tied by means of a is made by the groom's parents or they look for other cloth leaving mothers free to attend to theJr usual bride, This ~eciprocal visits are repeated more than chores. Even the elderly children carry their younger. once to know each other well. Specially among bretheren on their backs in a similar manner. Kharias these visits are very complex. They observe /otapani, chotka gotia and barka gotia before the final 4.48 As mentioned earlier some devices of family performance of marriage ceremony. Heavy planning had been adopted by some of the villagers. expenditure is involved in these reciprocal visits as the / 85 guests are entertainea with rice, meat and rice bear. which payment was received, one belongs to Bhogta Mehars reported that they' also had to spend much for who received between Rs. 100-300 and where such rites. marriage was solemnised within 5 years. One Dom/Naik received Rs. 100-300 whose marriage was 4.52 Earlier among Kharias six pairs of oxen and a performed 5-9 years ago, one Brahmin who performed few saris in addition to rice, rice bear, pulses and oil the marriage 10-19 yea(s earlier received payment were paid as bride price. Now-a-days this has been above Rs. 300/- and one more Brahmin family where minimised to a pair of oxen and a sari only. If a family marriage was performed 20-30 years earlier received has no cattle wealth, it will pay only Rs. 60/- per bull. below Rs. 100/-. There is one Lohra family who But among other communities no such reduction had received above Rs.300 in marriage of male of his been reported. On the contrary, some of them family where marriage was performed 20-30 years complained that recently bride price had increased earlier. In all these 5 marriages of males, payment was much in comparison to the past. received in kinds also. The following table deals with 4.53 It is reported that 5 marriages of males for the marriage payment given by the villagers. Table IV. 7 Amount of marriage payment given by households in case of marriage of male by Religion/Caste/Tribe and time of marriage Religion and Number of households which gave in cash value during marriage of male held at CastelTribe Less than 5 years 5-9 years Below 100- Below 100- Rs. fflO 300 301 + Rs 100 300 301 + 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hinduism Bhogta 2 Brahmin Chik Baraik Dom Gond 2 Lohra Malar Mehar Turi Christianity Chik Baraik / Kharia 2 2 2 Munda Total 3 6 3 3 86 ,; I Religion and 10-19 years 20-39 years 40 + years. Total Caste Tribe Below 100- Below 100- Below 100- Rs.l00 300 301 + Rs. 100 300 301 + Rs. 100 300 301 + 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Bhogta 4 Brahmi(l Chik Baraik Dom 2 Gond 4 Lohra Malar Mehar 2 Turi 2 Christianity Chik Baraik Khana 8 Munda 2 Total 3 3 4 3 28 4.54 As bride price is in vogue in the village the accompaniment of barat gene'rally in the evening so above Table shows that bride price was given in case that he reaches the bride's home at night. Musical of 28 marriages. Of 9 marriages solemnised within 5 drums and crackers are also used by the barat party. years, 3 gave Rs. 100-300 and 6 more than Rs. 300/-. Both male and female folks form the barat party. Of 6 marriages solemnised 5-9 years earlier, 3 gave Rs. 100-300 and other 3 more than Rs. 300/- Of other 4.56 Marriage takes place generally on the following 6 marriages which were solemnised 10-19 years ago, 3 day during the day time. A marva (marriage canopy) is gave Rs. 100-300 and other 3 above Rs. 300/ constructed at the house of the bride for the similarly, of 7 marriages performed 20-39 years ago, 4 performance of the -marriage. This canopy protects gave Rs. 100-300 and 3 more than Rs. 300/- as bride them from the heat of the sun. Bgrat party is price. Of these 28 male marriages, in 7 marriages generously entertained by the bride's father. Besides payment was given in cash and in 21 marriages it was food, cou.ntry liquor is freely used. and dancing and in kinds. singing continue till the barat party is bade farewell. Aher the marriage is over, the bride is brought to the 4.55 Actual date of marriage is fixed with the groom's house and there also some rites are consent of both the parties. Marriage in most of the observed. cases, is solemnised at the hous'e of the bride. Bridegroom riding on a 'jahaj' (planquin) carried by 4.57 Marriage. by capture has now become a story Kharias, Dams or Ghasis, goes to the bride's home in of the past but cases of marriage by elopment still de 87 / take place in the village. In this type of marriage, the party seeking divorce is severely taken to task by the boy and girl who fell in love, elope together outside the kinsmen. If a husband wants to divorce his wife village where they live together for some period. When without a social ground, he may do so but he will have they return home after a long time they are ritua11y to forfeit his claim on the return of bride-price. But if married after paying a nominal fine in terms 01 wife wants to get rid of her husband without communal commensality to the caste-members. But substantial reasons, she will have, necessarily, to such types of marriages are also disappearing day by repay the bride-price. day. 4.61 It is reported that in 21 marriages services of 4.58 Widow remarriage in form of saga; is also Brahmins were required and in 7 marriages, barbers prevalent. After death of the elder brother, younger were employed. Turi was called in two cases. In 11 brother generally keeps his elder brother's. widow as marriages, the priest of the church came forward to his wife although he is already married. But the widow officiate the marriage ceremonies. So far as the is free to select some other person as her life remuneration paid to the officiating person is companion. Instances of marriage by exchange are concerned, the Brahmin and the Church priest were also common. In such marriages husband's sister is jointly given below Rs. 10 in 3 marriages, Rs. 10-15 in married to the wife's brother. The bride-price in 17 marriages" Rs. 16-20 in other 3 marriages, Rs. widow marriage and in marriage by exchange is 21-50 in 9 marriages and above·Rs. 50 in 1 marriage. minimised to a large extent as per choice of the Similarly, the Barber was given below Rs. 10 in 3 parties. marriages, Rs. 10-20 in 2 marriages and above Rs. 21 in other 2 marriages. In two marriages, a Turi was remunerated below rupees 10 in lieu of his services. 4.59 A m~n is free to marry more than one woman. Barrenness of first wife or physical inability to bear a 4.62 So far as the procurement of ritual objects for child are the most common grounds for marrying a the marriage is concerned, it is reported that in 32 second time. But intercaste marriage is not allowed by marriages it was obtained from Bhogtas, in -27 any community in the village. If such a case, marriages it was obtained from Mehars and in 33 perchance, happens the couple is ostracized socially marriages it was obtained from Kumhars. The Bhogtas but the weaker section among the two accepts them supplied parched rice, Mehars customary cloths and after imposing a fine. In case a Gond marries a Kharia the Kumhars earthern pots used at the time 01 girt, the Gond will lose his social status but the Kharias marriage. So far as the categories of participants in may give them their social status after payment of fine marriage feast are concerned, it was gathered thaI imposed by the community panchayat and they will generally caste members are invited. In some cases live as Kharias not Gonds as Gonds consider the neighbours are also served with marriage feast. themselves to be superior to the former socially. 4.63 So far as the roles played by the relations in 4.60 Clan exogamy is generally a rule of marriage. the marriages are concerned, it was reported that out No person of the same clan will be socially allowed for of 33 marriages performed, the expected special role, matrimonial alliance. But one christian Kharia of Le., bathing the couple and making them cross the G;rjatoli got married his daughter in his own clan. stream in the laps is played by the sister and the When enquired, he said that both the boy and the girl brother-in-law. The sister helps in bathing where as had fallen in love and sought permission from the the in-laws take them in laps acrossing the river or society for their matrimonial alliance. Village elders stream while going for the marriage and returning after considered their case sympathetically but many the marriage. opposed their union. IHowever, after long persuation, permission was given for their marriage after payment Death of a nominal fine by the father of the girl. Seeking divorce by -either party is also socially permitted but 4.64 Death is very mournful event for people. After the reason for divorce must be-very genuine, otherwise the occurrence of such events not only the castemen 88 / but the entire village irrespective of caste and creed ther~ are 5 cases of infant death that occured to assemble at the house of the deceased to console the babies below 3 years of age and in all cases dead aggrieved family. bodies were buried. For 2, the mourning period was ten days, for other 2, three days and for 1, the period 4.65 All the communities in the village bury their of mourning was not fixed. Similarly, it was reported deads. Cremation is occasionally done. The dead that 1 death occurred to a person of 4-14 years of age body is carried to the graveyard on the cot wrapped in and the corpse was buried and the period of mourning new un-coloured cloth. Every community has its own was for 10 days. 3 deaths were reported from person separate grave yard where they bury the dead body. of 15-59 years of age where 1 corpse was buried and While engraving the corpse cot is left out. Only dead 2 were burnt and period_of mourning was 10 days for body is laid down in the pit in such a way that it does all. 8 deaths occurred among persons of over 60 years not touch the soil. Similarly, it is saved from up side. of age and all were. buried. In 8 cases period of While filling the pit, wooden planks are given above the mourning was 10 days and in 2, it was nat fixed. corpse so that soils may not touch it. Religion, Leisure and Recreation: 4.66 Formerly, Gonds and Kharias used to bury each and every belonging of the dead in the grave pit. 4.69 People of Meromdega are subdivided into two But now-a-days this system has totally been dropped religious groups viz., Hindus and Christians with the because in certain cases the grave pit had been predominance of the former group. 269 out of 439 reopened by some social evils to take away the costly households are feHowing Hinduism. This position was utensils from it. But a few coins are dropped in the also intact during 1961 when the village was first mouth of the deceased before laying down into the surveyed. In that year 217 out of 337 households were grave even today. His sticks or even some cheap Hindus. aluminium utensils are some times also buried with the 4.70 Except the Kharia community, Mundas and a dead. lone household of Chik Baraik, other communities in the village were Hindus during 1978. Persons who 4.67 Death brings pollution in the family. It is have returned sarna religion also form the gamut of averted by performing dash karma by each member of Hindu religion. Among Christians, there are twa sects. the community. It is observed on the 10th day after One section of people is the follower of Roman death but in case of poor family it is finished on the 3rd Catholic Church while the second section has faith in or 5th day itself. Those persons who cannot afford to the German missionary. For bath the sections, their arrange feast in a large scale, they entertain only a few respective churches are located at Girja tali where the)' members of the community for their purification. On assemble on every sunday for mass prayer. the other hand, those who can afford invite all community members on the feast and serve them 4.71 The Hindus have virtually no place of worShip delicious dishes. in the vill~ge except the sarnas located at various places where the pahan offers puja during festive 4.68 Persons losing their lives in accident or by occasions. The common people have to_,..do nothing in some unnatural events are not buried in the common these sarnas but they pay only contribution for pujas. graveyard. They are supposed to become evil spirits The individuals worShip their ancestral spirits and after death and as such they are buried outsicle the propitiate them thoroughly before starting irrigational village boundary. Their spirits are not propitiated work. Sacrifices ahd pujas are also done during ,during festivals and ceremonies. Also women dying festivals and ceremonies generally by the heads d due to complications of pregnancy, are buried outside families. Some offer water in the Tu/si plant and a few the village area. Children and even unmarried people others to the sun God. are buried in separate graveyard after their death. They are generally laid down in the earth under some juicy 4.72 The sarnas in village are Khunt Sarna located trees like banyan, mahua or gular. As reported to. at Burha-Bandh hill where a' he-buffalo is sacrificed 89 after every 12 years by the Gonds. Sheep is also ups spend their time leisurely while the youngsters sacrificed there. Flesh of sheep is shared by them, but keep themselves busy in some sort of activities. he-buffalo is taken away by Doms. Heads of the sacrificed animals are burnt there in the sarna. Guml 4.74 Gossiping is, generally, the most common Sarna located in the west of Meromdega proper is pastime. When persons in their forties and fifties meet, worshipped annually by the entire village by sacrificing they discuss village politics, changing values of life chickens, black she-goat and black sheep. Flesh of particularly among the youths, the prospect of these animals is distributed as prasad among the agriculture harvest in the coming season, plan for people. Pat Sarna located in the west of Meromdega is marriages of their sons and daughters, growing also worshipped by -sacrificing brown goats and economic hardship of their families, gains of their foes sheep. Sarhul Sarna is located in the South-west of and friends and similar other matters of personal 'Meromdega where worship is done on the occasion 01 interest. The wheel. of gossip grinds round village famous Sarhul Puja in the month of Chait with the politics, social, cultural and economic titbits of mutual arrival of spring season when sal flowers blossom very interest of regional importance. Among Hindus, 2 luxuriently in the jungles. mal,es in the age group 15-19, one female in the age group of 20-24, 5 males in the age group of 25-34, 2 4.73 Some Hindus of the vilage also visit the males and 1 female in age group of 35-44, 3 males in Jaganath temple at Ranchi and Shiva temple at Ram the age group of 45-59 and 1 above 60 years of age Rekha when mela is held there. They also nod their have returned gossip as their leisure time activities, 1 heads befofe deities in various temples at Simdega male in the age group 35-44 spent his leisure time in when they happen to- come there. Owing to gardening and another male in the age group 15-19 is multifarious nature of household works and found of fishing in his leisure period. agricultural operations, much of the time of the villagers is spent in fruitful and productive 4.75 Similarly, among christians, 1 each male in the engagements. Women generally go to the nearby age group of 35-44 and 45-59 has returned his forests to collect leaves, roots and woods. Their male leisure time activity as gossiping, 2 males in the age counterparts repair houses before and after rains, group 25-34 and 1 each in the age group of 35-44 keep their agricultural implements in working orders and 45-59 as hockey playing. The table below shows and also look after their domestic animals. Tjle grown- the leisure time activities of the people in Meromdega. Table IV. 8 Leisure time activity as related to occupation.Age and Sex Description of AQe and Se~ Occupation Leisure time_ 14 and Below 15-19 20-24 activity p M F p M F p M F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Agriculture Gossiping Hockey playing Fishing Agricultural No activity 2 2 labour G6ssiping Teacher No activity Gardening 90 \ / 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Bamboo Gossiping Products No activity Business Gossiping No activity Priest No activity Service Gossiping No activity 2 2 3 3 Black-smith Gossiping Labourer Gossiping No activity Weaving Gossiping Total 6 6 7 6 Occupation Age and Sex 25-34 35-44 45-59 60 + P M F P M F P M F P M F 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Agriculture 2 2 Agricultural 4 4 2 2 4 4 4 4 labour 1 Teacher Bamboo Produ~ts 2 2 Business Priest Service 2 2 Black-smith 91 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Labourer 3 3 Weaving 2 2 Total 13 13 10 9 11 11 6 6 4.76 It would be seen from the above table that social values. Even during agricultural season, half day among persons returned gossips as their-leisure time work is stopped for visiting the local markets. The activities, 1 is an agriculturist, 1 agricultural labour. 4 schools are also closed in the afternoon on market basket makers, 1 businessman, 1 blacksmith, 1 service days. The elderly persons go to hats for the sale of holder, 5 labourers and 3 are weavers. 4 persons who agricultural commodities and purchase of household returned hockey playing as their leisure time activities requirements like salt, cloth, kerosene oil, condiments, and 1 fishing, all are agriculturists. Gardening as etc. Besides, they exchange views and ideas with leisure time activity is practised by a teacher only. other villagers assembled there. This helps them to keep a watch over their social morales. 4.77 But the young persons generally talk about unsympathetic social control" the unpalatable 4.80 The young ones visit the hats for recreation command of their elderly persons and the way to defy and merrymaking. Sometimes the unmarried boys and them secretly, the new love songs they have heard girls also select their life--partners there. Normally, and learnt recently, the plans for their visit to local they are dressed up in their best colourful attires on markets, Simdega town and other local fairs with their this occasion,. Young girls adorn their hair with flowers. belles to whom they have been attracted to recently. Sometime programmes for community Panchayati are Their gossips include unpalatable social taboos, love also settled in these local markets. Some messages of songs and sex. Young boys and girls reading in social importance are also communicated among people attending hat. schools talk about their parents, teachers, studies and play things that their friends have required. They seldom keep quiet their discussion/arguments which 4.81 Friends and relatives are also visited during occasionally lead to remporary fight. leisure hours. Negotiation for marriage is done only during this period. For recreation and entertainment. 4.78 The elderly married women talk about their villagers arrange community dance in the village hearth and household affairs and behaviour of their akhara where they sing songs and dance till they are husbands and children. Impact of the growing . fully exhausted. Both males and females take part in economic hardship of their persons is also discussed merry-making and community danCing. Besides by them. Topics on health and ailment are also dealt these, various types of local games are also played for in. Sercery and witchcraft~ they never miss to discuss recreation. The young boys and elderly persons play in their meetings. Generally, in course of their gossip the game of cards. The common games of male they sit one after another and search out lice and nits children are Khati, Chhur, Chhika-Chhur, Atta, from their long hair. But sometimes, as revealed in Chauath, Guchu while female children Like course C?f an enquiry, their sweet gossips culminate in rupee-rupee, fum-fuker (hide and seek) Kharka verbal fight hurling fiI;hy abuses on each other and fuker, Chuha-billi, tokna _goti, foka-goti, Dhullka, figtit among themselves som~times leading to physical Mujhko-sakhin and makrajaf. assault. 4.82 It was found during the resurvey of the village 4.79 The best use of the spgre time is to visit local that the school children both boys and girls were markets which are of great economic import~nce and playing all these games In various groups during their 92 tiffin hours. The cow-boys play guli-danda and agahan1 paddy in a belief that these would yield more Kabaddi while tending their animals in the forests or output and also ensure safety against pests. open fields. The villagers celebrate several festivals and ceremonies on different occasions through out the 4.87 Jitia This festival is observed only by the year to keep themselves happy and strengthen their mothers for a long span of life to their children. They socia1 bond. Some of the important festivals observed worship Jitia (peepal) tree and observe fast for !:)y the villagers are as follows: twenty-four hours. 4.88 Sohrai This is celebrated in the month of Kartik 4.83 Phagua: This is celebrated in the month of on the last day of dark night. It is observed in the phalgun in the night of full moon. The village pahan honour of Goddess Lakshmi. Houses are cleansed watches the performance. Collection is made by the and plastered with mud and cowdung. Animals are villagers. A semar branch is installed at high land and washed and anointed with oil and vermilion and given covered with straw. ·The branch is ignited by pahan cooked rice to eat. Some even eat with their animals. and fowls are sacrificed and distributed among the Earthen lamps are lighted to mark the festival. The participants. Songs and dances ensure to the cowboys are given new clothes by their masters accompaniment of rice bear. Next day people play during the festival. with coloured water and powder. 4.89 Yatra festival and Ind parb are not celebrated in 4.84 Sarhul: This is celebrated in the month of chait. the village but the villagers go to witness the same in People raise subscription for the sacrificial offers of the neighbouring places where they are celebrated. A fowls and goats. Pahan offers worship in the Sarna jani shikar (female hunting) is organised only by the with sal flowers and sacrifices fowls and goats. Meat is village ladies after every twelve years to commemorate cooked with rice and distributed to the villagers. The their past valour and strength when their ancestral holy water and sal flowers are distributed door to door ladies had confronted with their foes and had won the as a token of blessings from God. Each household battle. In this mock hunting, they dress themselves in accosts pahan and his men with reverence and offer male dress and set out for mock hunting in the them some corns. The houselady washes the feet 01 neighbouring village with axes, bows and arrows. The pahan with water. This festival ushers in starting date of female hunting is announced in advance so agricultural operations. that the neighbouring villagers may be alert and hide their beasts in side their houses because it is customary to kill whatever hunt they get in the village 4.85 Karma: Karma festival is observed in the month streets and in the open. However, a small hunt, viz., a of Bhado on the 11th day in the second fortnight. This piglet or a few fowls or a goat is left outside by the puja is supposed to be the harbinger of wealth and villagers which is hunt by the female hunters. They visit prosperity for the persons who celebrate it. It is several villages in a day and by the evening return with observed by installing Karam branch on the ground. their hunt. Heads of hunts are cooked outside the Branch is brought by the unmarried boys and girls village oear a pond or stream which are eaten by them. who observe complete fasting on these ~ays. The The remaining ..flesh is distributed among the elderly villager narrates the story of Karma-raja. participants and brought to their hou:es. Songs and dances continue for the whole night and the following day branch is thrown away into the 4.90 The Christians of the village have their own stream. chains of festivals like Easter, X-mas and Good Friday which they observe with great pomp and luxury. 4.86 Nawakhani This is celebrated in the month 01 Bhado after the harvest of gora paddy. This is a family Influential and prestigious persons: festival and the ancestral souls are' propitiated with preparation of new gora rice and sacrifice of fowls. 4.91 Influence and the prestige of a man is judged Bhelwa branches are fixed in the fields covered with by his dee~s16r the society. Generally a social worker, 93 economically elevated person who helps others in for solving the social problems. His cheerful need and the educated persons and the Vaidyas appearance and helping attitude attract even the command respect in the society. Taking these in view outsiders whom he never wants to see begged up in it can be said th'i\t Sarbashri Soloman Kullu of Girja this affairs. During the study of the village, he was tali, Daud Kerketta of Bar tali, Pius Kerketta and the always with the investigators and invariably headmaster of village middle school, Phirangi Mehar encouraging the villagers for acceding correct and and Ramdayal Mehar of Meromdega propers fruitful response. Dharmapatar Kharia of Kahupani tali and Garbhu Bhogta of Kasbahar tali are the most influencial and 4.97 Shri Garbhu Bhogta is the sarpanch 01 prestigious persons in the village. statutory gram panchayat and commands considerable respect both from castemen as well as 4.92 Shri Soloman Kullu is a retired Kharia teacher from others. Due to his nature and fruitful services in his seventies. He was a famous hockey player in his which he renders to the villagers, he won the youth and had played many games with the Britishers panchayat election. His name is taken with honour in for which he was venerated several times by them. the Bhogta society. Besides these persons, there are a Now-a-days he is an active member of Kharia few more persons in the village whose services for the community panchayat as well as pargana Panchayat. villagers are not less important than those of the above He is called upon to solve any social problems in the mentioned persons. Village Pahan and the village village as well as outside the village. Vaidya are among them. 4.93 Shri Daud Kerketta isanother Kharia teacher in Functioning of Administrative and Developmental the village middle school. He is a good social worker Organisations: and takes active part in the protection of forest from intruders. 4.98 The statutory gram panchayat consisting 01 villages Tapudega, Pandripani and Meromdega with its 4.94 Shri Pius Kerketta, the headmaster of the Headquarters at Meromdega is both the administrative village middle school, though he is an outsider, and development organisation for the village. Th[s commands a great respect in the village. His words panchayat listens to the disputes of the villagers and carry values and weightage. In some social problems also looks after every developmental schemes he is equally consulted. He is very much famous chalkedout by the Community Development Block for among young as well as old persons. Meromdega. All the schemes are routed through the statutory panchayat. Similarly, the police station 4.95 Shri Phirangi Mehar is the w~althfest farmer of Meromedga. He is also an active member of Mehar located at Thethaitangar is the nearest administrative unit to see the law and order problems in the village. community Panchayat. He is consulted on every dispute. He is also the ex-mukhiya of Meromdega gram panchayat. Shri Ramdayal Mehar is da/pati of the 4.99 Cases of minor disputes and social conflicts village statutory panchayat and the president 01 are generally decided by the community panchayat Meromedga Yuvak Sangh. He keeps watchful eyes on and rarely they are brought to the notice of the the village forest and organises Chhau dance for Jhe statutory panchayat. Police station is kept informed of entertainment of the villagers. dacoity, murder and other serious crimes of similar 4.96 Shri Dharmapatar Kharia is also an affluent nature. This situation holds good in the neighbouring farmer who helps the villagers from time to time in villages also. The following statement collec~ed from urgency. He also sits in the Community Panchayat Hall Thethaitangar police staibn indicates the real position: 94 Table IV.9 Crime statement of Thethaitangar Police Station Year Nature of Crime Murder Dacoity Robbery Burglary Theft Riot Total 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1972 3 3 6 13 1973 6 4 15 27 1974 2 2 8 12 2 27 1975 2 4 5 13 3 27 1976 4 3 4 7 2 2 22 1977 5 6 2 4 3 20 Total 19 15 12 31 51 8 136 4.100 It may be seen in the above table that the Functions of the traditional Panchayat: maximum number of cases reported in the police 4.103 The traditional panchayats are the community station in a year is 27 while the number of minimum is panchayats that exist among all the major 13. Altogether 136 cases have been reported to the communities of the village. Kharias, Gonds, Mehars, police station in 72 months. This shows that on an Chik Baraiks and T.uris have their own community average even less than 2 cases have been reported in Panchayats in addition to the village statutory a month. This is a good indicator of the normal panchayat. The main aim of these panchayats is to condition of law and order in the locality. maintain the social harmony among the people. All social problems are dealt by the 4.101 On an enquiry it was found that only four community--panchayats. If it becomes necessary, cases from village Meromdega had been reported to they also formulate certain rules to control the society. the Police Station in 72 months. Of these 4,2 cases of murder had been reported in the year 1973 and 3rd in 4.104 The Kharias have such panchayat on the the year 1976, The fourth crime related to a dacoity pargana basis. Entire village is populated by the occurred in the year 1977. Kharias w,ho hgve jointly formed this panchayat. Every year a meeting is organised in which members of each 4.102 Of the two cases of murder in 1973 one was village participate. related to a love affair. A girl was murdered by her lover after she became pregnant. The second murder Voluntary Organisation: case was connected with dispute elver ancestral property. The third case of murder occurred in 1976 4.105 There are two such organisations in the also related to love affairs. The fourth mLJrder took village. The first organisation named as 'Meromdega place while a dacoity was being committed at Girja tali Yuval< Sangh' is running in the village since long under in the year 1977. The dacoits entered the house aod the presidentship of Ramdayal Mehar. The secretary 01 severely beat the inmates and took away cloths and the 'Sangh' /is Sandhu Narain Naik and treasurer is utensils from several houses of the tali. Gajadhar Mehar. The~e are altogether twenty members 95 / I of the organisation. The purpose of the organisation is Christians with equal zeal. During marriage to guard the village' from outside forces, save the ceremonies, people belonging to other communities jungles from illegal cuttings, keep the village neat and are also invited. Those who cannot share the clean and do recreational jobs for the amusement 01 commensalityare given uncooked grains to cook their the villagers. The 'Sangh' has staged several dramas own food. Similarly, in the village akharas, the dancing on various occasions which were enjoyed by a large group consists of people coming from all communities number of people from the village as well as the of the hamlet. neighbourhood. Recently this organisation has started 'Chhau dance' which is appreciated very much by the 4.110 Organisation of the peasantry, workers and local people. other socio-economic classes does not exist in the village. The workers are free to search work on their 4.106 The second organisation is known as 'Kisan own. But sometimes, the daily worker engaged in road Club' which has recently started promoting interest of construction or in the construction of house, invites villagers towards games specially hockey which is very others for work if the work is available. Sometimes, much common among the tribals of the area. It has contractors come directly to the village and take away beer. functioning since 1970. People of the labourers with them but there is no permanent neighbouril')g villages, Tukupani, Kasdega and Girja organisation to make available the labourers for tali are also the members of this club. Altogether there various works. are 1-10 members of this club including one president, one vice president, one set:retary and five executive 4.111 There is no political party in the village but the members. The secretary belongs to Girja tali, a hamlet villagers are politically conscious. They are cent per of village Meromdega. cent guided by their social leaders. Enquiry reveals that the villagers were in the know of the names of the 4.107 To finance the club, subscriptions are raised Congress Party, the Jansangh, the Jharkhand Party from the members and also from the villagers. In 1977 and Janta Party. Educated People were also aware of this club won a shield defeating the 'Simdega Urdu some other political parties. But they were not aware Club' in football match: The shield was carried from of the policies of various political parties. door to door in the village and Rs. 1200.00 were collected in no time. The club had also staged ~ drama 4.112 In comparison to Hindus, the Christians were in the year 1975 for the entertainment of the vmagers. politically more conscious. The pracharak's decision is supposed to be supreme. They, generally, have full Faction and Clique: faith in his decision. 4.108 The Village Meromdega is inhabited by people of multi-ethnic groups. Each community is 4.113 During the State Assembly or Parliamentary sub-divided into sev.eral exogamous clans, i.e. election they are mostly guided by their leaders. The marriages between persons of same clan are socially villagers cast their votes after taking a decision in tabooed. In spite of being divided into various ethnic group meeting. Except a few holding diHerent views, groups, no communal conflict has ever been reported the villagers generally take unanimous decision from· the village. Some minor conflicts occ,asionally regarding the use. of their fundamental rights in the take place due to enmity between individuals and not elections of the Members of Legislative Assembly or owing to bad blood between the two communities. the Parliament. Mukhiyas are also elected in similar Against outside aggression entire village forms one fashion. unit irrespectiVe of communal groupings to light it out. 4.114 For the elections, the villagers generally want 4.109 During the festivities, the entire village. a unanimous selection of the candidates. This can be celebrates the ceremonial occasions. Even religion evidenced from the election of panchayat in the year, does not .come in their way. The Christians are found 1978. Exce:Jt the Sarpanch, all the members of the joining Hindus in their festivals and reciprocally the Panchayat Executive and administration side including Hindus participate in the ceremonies celebrated by the the Mukhiya were elected without contest. The election , was conducted only for the post of Sarpanch when Some of them were found using some utensils 01 there were two contestants in the field. stainless steel. Barring a few poor 'villagers, none prefers to take his' meal in the leaf cups now-a-days. Range of conta::t with outside world: 4.117 It is the result of their contact with the outsiders that villagers have started using plastic 4.115 After expansion of roads and other shoes and other plastic goods. Some of the villagers communication facilities, opening of Community were reported to have gone up to Bhutan in the east Development Block and other establishments, the and up to the Punjab in the west. Similarly, in the villagers have now some facilities to visit the places 01 north, a few have crossed the river Ganges and in the their choice. Outside their village they come in contact' south some of them have visited Madras. Persons ,. with non-tribal people and therefore, get an employed in the military sewices have gone even opportunity to see their ways at life and standard of beyond the country borders. living which 'subsequently prompt them to change their pattern of living. With increasing mobility of the people 4.11 B Some of the villagers keep radio sets for and their association with other people outside their keeping themselves aware of the day-to-day village, the villagers of Meromdega are generally happenings in our country. They take interest in the adopting new ways of life. developments taking place in Delhi and the State Capital. They are ready to suggest certain plans for the 4.116 They have changed their dressing pattern, benefit of the villagers. They are fully aware of the fact food habits and also standard of living. The oTd that the continuous soil erosion and defforestation of traditional dress is rarely seen in the village. Cloths the area by illegal cutting of forest trees will put them in made by the village weavers are used only for great trouble and as such they want adequate steps to ceremonial occasions. Formerly, they were not taking be taken in this regard. They also plead for the _tea and wheat. But now-a-days wheat has become a permanent solution of the problem of irrigation in the staple food for some people. There are some villagers hilly areas. They also plead for further spread of who are habituated to tea. Their earthenwares have education among them and greater employment largely been replaced by the cheap aluminiumwares. opportunities. 97 CHAPTER-V CONCLUSION 5.1 Meromdega, distinctly a forest village is district or Bihar State. There is one Primary and one inhabited by thirteen communities. While Gonds and Middle School in the village but these facilities do not Kharias who claim to be the original settlers are the appear to have been fully utilised as the literacy rate dominating ones, Mehars, Bhogtas, Chik Baraiks remains at 16 per cent. Christian missionaries have Lohras, Turis and Doms have sizeable number of done sufficiently good work in the field of education population in the village. The Kharias are spread in and it is the Christian Kharias who are topping in the maximum number of to/is followed by Lohras who level of education. The'housing conditions have also reside in six out of fourteen clusters. Socia-ethnic not under-gone any appreciable change. The fabric of the village remains almost unchanged and so villagers, irrespective of their caste or class, continue is the occupational mobility. It is only in very rare and to take shelter in' katcha houses with their walls compelling circumstances that the villagers take up the erected by mud and other parts built by material work outside their traditional-- and ancestral. profession. collected from the forest. They do not have provisions for privies and bathrooms either in houses or within the 5.2 The village does not have much to offer to premises of their dwellings. outsiders. This is perhaps one of the main reasons that no large or medium scal,e industry has been set up in 5.4 While Christian population assembles in two the village. Even the three old household industries churches for prayers, the Hindus worship in 'Sarnas' viz., blacksmithy, weaving and basketry are on decline. which are marked by a grove of old trees. The latter These are carried on respectively by the Lohras, the also worship the souls of their ancestors in their own Mehars, the Chik Baraiks, the Turis and the Dams. houses to keep themselves safe from evil and Growing industrialisation in the nearby areas has . m31evolent spirits. endangered the existence of these industries. With the supply of finished iron-ware and goqds and 5.5 Construction of Kelaghagh dam on Chinda river mill-made cloths by the factories, the activities of the and certain other developments after the drought 01 Lohras are now restricted to only sharpening of the 1967 have made some impact on the standard of living ploughshares and other agricultural tools and of some people. The village is assured of dependable implements and those of the Mehars and the Chik sources of water. This has helped villagers to start Baraiks to weaving cloth or clothes only for special or growing wheat and to change cropping pattern to ceremonial occasions. Rising cost of raw bamboos some extent. The villagers use composts but avoid has discouraged the Doms and the Turis to continue chemicals for high yield of crops. Similarly, pesticides their one time monopolised basket making Industry. are also not commonly used. Diminution of these industries has compelled even the patrons to bank upon agricultural and other allied 5.6 Frequent visits to Simdegat. town which is only J activities for e,king out their living. 10 Kms. away from Meromdega and outings on various occasions such as bazars, me/as, hats, 5.3 There has been no nqticeable change in the festivals and other festivities allow the villagers to agrq-forest based economy of the village .. Annual come in contaCt with the outsiders. These occasional growth rate of populati9n has been 1.8 per cent which int~r courses have had demonstrable effects on the is much below when compared with that of Ranchi villagers particularly the youths. As a result, tea is now 98 commonly taken. Although rice remains their main 5.10 Meromdega has been free from any diet, wheat products are also liked. Better placed socio-political turmoil. It is to the credit of the people persons among the villagers have discarded earthen that inspite of their being of multi-ethnic origin, they wares and i~ad prefer cheap aluminium utensils. have been maintaining complete communal harmony. Most of thePh even do not like taking meals in leaf There have been no communal riots or group clashes cups. The youths among boys prefer wearing trousers, in the village .. Some minor quarrels do take place shorts and shirts while the girls like skirts, saris, between individuals but cla.shes between groups or petticoats and blouses. The old poor people, however, communities are not heard of. Moreover, people, still content themselves with a piece of cloth for irrespective of their caste or. religion, whole heartedly covering their bodies. participate in various ceremonies and festivities. The village also does not have any organisation either of 5.7 Shoes which were in less use till 1961 have now peasants, workers or other socio-economic class. found way into the village. Plastic shoes and chappals Neither is there hold of any political party in the village. are used when people set out for destinations outside During the elections, the villagers are guided by their their village or to attend ceremonies. Leaf umbrellas social leaders. Christian population of the village is have given way to cloth umbrellas. Ornaments are still more politically conscious than its Hindu counterparts. not favoured by many villagers. I-iowever, in some Panchayat elections are generally held unanimously, cases young girls were found wearing earri~gs, for the villagers think that contest would lead to necklace, hairpins, nosepins, nose-tops, etc, all made creation of bad blooe among the aspirants. of cheap metals. On the other hand tarpat which used to be very common and cheap ornament for the tribals 5.11 Because of their illiteracy and poor economic . some 10-15 years ago is now used only by old conditions, the villagers are not very conscious of their women. Practice of tattooing has almost completely socio-economic rights. On political front many of disappeared. them simply know the names of one or two prominent national or regional political parties. Hardly does any of them know or understand their policies. 5.8 While the glitter does tempt many villagers, particularly the youth to adopt new ways of live, 5.12 Meromdega with its rural charact~r has more economic hardship and rising cost of living have than sixty percent tribal population. Female birth rate proved to be a major deterrent in that direction. has been higher and as such, the village is served Similarly, older people desiring to sustain their more by females than males., Literacy rate is only 16.01 traditional ways of living, have to dispense with certain per cent and even this much has been achieved, ancestral rites and activities on account of growing thanks to the good work done by the Christian economic; burden. Missionaries. The Christian missionaries have also' handsomely contributed to the village economy by 5.9 Similarly, while nearness of Simdega has digging weHs, setting up co-operative societies, brought about some changes in the outlook and constructing churches:- etc. Workers ratio to total consumption habits of the villagers, it has not allowed population Le. 26.89 per cent which is much low when the village economy to prosper. There is no pucca compared to the neighbouring villages. More than 93 road within the village although it is connected with per cent of the workers population is engaged in one metalled road. Financial institutions have yet to agricultural pursuits. Growth of population being just make some dent on the village life. If on the ohe hand, 1.8 per cent annum has not been a problem for the industrialisation in the nearby areas has made some village. inroads upon the life of the villagers, on the other hand, it has crippled the traditi9nal household 5.13 The village remains to be economically industries of the village. To cap it, all inflationary backward having nQ attraction for outsiders as there is pressure has further subdued the village economy. As no place of tourist interest or of any cultural or a result, the village still retains its basic rural features. religious importance in it. / \ 99 MAPS & PHOTOGRAPHS - ,', ...).."., ." 't'" C :> o '" CO o N ~ ) V A H a v ~ MEROMDEGA VILLAGE (RANCHI DISTRICT) ..... ,/'&'...... ,.. 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I \ ,.('1"\ :'eee (j) \. MALAR 0 \ fe eaSe \, \ \ •. ~~~.: \ KAYSTHA" \ ®: :::~ \ GOSAIN • ® I) I .... eaaa \ VILLAGE BOUNDARY-_ .. - ~! ··.aee ! NAWA TOLl,' KASHBA~,J TOI.I! ~o \~\.t>~G" . / : ee . HAND PIPE f- .~ : " .e® \ f t, ee ee> , WelL NOT TO SCALE ( I • a eeser., "'. I I .' ~ , I <:><:>.o;a\!l". , \ CANAL \ I 0(P0<:>'" r>" ~ i \ t\ IAHU PANI TOU 1ll - j STREAM .. I... ••••••••• / PUCCA ROAD (®; I) •••••••...... __ / /' KUTCH" ROAD --:::::;....--.. _.. _.. _ .. _ .. _ .. _._ .. - .. _...... -'.,,;'" VILLAGE PATH ~~o'" s,tlt>~G" SEMARKUDAR ...... -~_.< GRAVE:YARIY A Chik Baraik family in fornt of his house. Panchayat Bhawan located at the main village Meromdega. -l. House belonging to Mehar at Meromdega proper. The front view of a pucca house belonging to a Chik Baraik at Bartoli. J I d The village Middle School located at Bartoli. Won< pface of a turi. Mark the dressing pattern of an old ture. ,.• : '''l~ ! ~ ., .., .' .( ~:- .. "~fl'" ~~~~r • t~, '''''I. 'M~ .,.1<0."'''' ~r ' Seedlings of paddy are being uprooted for.retransplantation. A chik Baraik at his loom. The loom is installed in the enclosed varamdah. The village Lohra at his furnace. Indigenous bellows has been replaced by modern wheel. A Turi couple busy with basket making. Herd of cattle being driven for grazing into the field. , 1r _- . ~ - "!' ~~ *!' ...... w .. .. Agricultural tools locally used. Pumping set is also used for irrigation. \ The Sarbul Sarna-marked by the cluster of trees. A close up of kharia grave yard at Bartoli. It is located just by the side of the village Middle School. The inner view of a kitchen belonging to kharia. A grolJP of village women. Mark the difference in the dressing pattern. A profile of an old Ture. A close.up of village lane. The plinths of the walls are used for sitting. ,__ . -l'. I" ¥~ _ l\: , _. 2881'3