Final Report Evaluation Study of Tribal/Folk Arts and Culture in West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhatisgrah and Bihar Submitted to SER Division Planning Commission Govt. of India New Delhi Submitted by Gramin Vikas Seva Sanshtha Dist. 24 Parganas (North), West Bengal 700129 INDIA Executive Summary: India is marked by its rich traditional heritage of Tribal/Folk Arts and Culture. Since the days of remote past, the diversified art & cultural forms generated by the tribal and rural people of India, have continued to evince their creative magnificence. Apart from their outstanding brilliance from the perspective of aesthetics , the tribal/folk art and culture forms have played an instrumental role in reinforcing national integrity, crystallizing social solidarity, fortifying communal harmony, intensifying value-system and promoting the elements of humanism among the people of the country. However with the passage of time and advent of globalization, we have witnessed the emergence of a synthetic homogeneous macro-culture. Under the influence of such a voracious all-pervasive macro-culture the diversified heterogeneous tribal/folk culture of our country are suffering from attrition and erosion. Thus the stupendous socio-cultural exclusivity of the multifarious communities at the different nooks and corners of our country are getting endangered. Under such circumstances, the study–group Gramin Vikash Seva Sanstha formulated a project proposal on “Evaluation Study of Tribal/Folk Arts and Culture in West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhatisgrah and Bihar” and submitted this tenable proposal to the Planning Commission (Socio Economic Research Unit), Government of India. The proposal was governed by the following logic–driven objectives:- Objectives of the research project ¾ To explore and analyze the status of various forms of tribal and folk art & culture; ¾ To ascertain the influence of tribal and folk art & culture on the socio-economic conditions of the subjects covered under survey; ¾ To study the intensity of acceptance and popularity of the folk songs and folklores within the area of operation as well as the adjoining areas; ¾ To study the demographic features of the practitioners of tribal and folk art & culture within the area covered under survey; I ¾ To study the existing opportunities facilitating the preservation, promotion and dissemination of tribal and folk art & culture; ¾ To trace out the micro as well as macro socio-cultural and socio-economic factors which are hindering the promotion of tribal and folk art & culture. ¾ To examine the role of Government Schemes and Programs, Institutions in Preservation Promotion and Dissemination of all forms of Tribal and folk art & culture; ¾ To predict logical and strategic mechanism for enhancing the skill of the practitioners of traditional art & culture; ¾ To suggest tenable strategies for enshrining, promoting and propagating tribal and folk art & culture; The factual information as well as the analytical recommendations derived from the meticulously-framed incisive study was expected to help the Planning Commission in formulation of prudent programs for promotion and preservation of Tribal/ folk Arts and Culture. From this perspective the project proposal was logic-driven and justified. Being satisfied with intricacies and subtleties of the project proposal , the Planning Commission, Govt. of India assigned to “Gramin Vikas Sewa Sanstha” , a research project for conducting a study on tribal folk arts and culture in selected states of Eastern India namely, West Bengal, Bihar Orissa, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh with the primary objective of exploring the status of various forms of tribal folk arts and culture and also for suggesting suitable measures for their preservation, promotion and dissemination. The Planning commission Govt. of India approved and sanctioned the proposal for conducting the study of the aforesaid project on 12th June, 2011. The Project was approved vide letter no. 1260/09/10-11/SER dated June 8, 2011. Matrix & Methodology of the research project After the approval of the project, the top-level functionaries of Gramin Vikas Sewa Sanstha (GVSS), encapsulating the Project –Director, the Project Coordinator and the II members of the project-committee got engaged in meticulous project planning. The project planners of GVSS adopted a logical framework approach. Through the process of intensive planning they categorically determined the project-inputs, the operational maneuver, the time-frame and the monitoring mechanism of the project. The decision was taken to recruit five field –investigators and one supervisor for executing quantitative as well as qualitative research at the field level. The responsibility of executing secondary research was bestowed upon the Project Director and the Project Coordinator. It was planned that competent and knowledgeable associates of GVSS , would be deployed for the seamless execution of data- analysis and report-formulation. After the preliminary planning session, the Project Director formulated the operational – mechanism of the research-project, maintaining absolute adherence to the PERT methodology. The entire project was divided into sequentially arranged functional components like schedule construction, staff-recruitment, capacity- building program for the project –functionaries, pilot study, secondary research, primary data collection, data analysis and report writing. Specific time frame was earmarked for each functional component of the project. The probable contingency factors were plotted and appropriate strategic interventions were formulated for mitigating the contingency factors. At the next phase GVSS took initiative in mobilizing the suitable human resource (from both quantitative and qualitative perspective) required for the implementation of the Research Project. 10 field–investigators and 1 field-supervisor were selected through dispassionate interview method based on sheer objectivity. The candidates were selected on the basis on preliminary knowledge in the segments of community-development and participatory research methodology. After the recruitment of the field–staff, a training program of 3-days duration was organized to enhance their conceptual–clarity and operational competence. The field-investigators and the supervisor were made acquainted regarding the following components:- III 9 Objectives of the research project 9 Matrix & Methodology of the research project 9 Techniques of administering questionnaires & Data collection 9 Tools of participatory research 9 Contingency Management Mechanism at the field level. After the completion of the training program, efforts were made to assess the degree of skill acquisition by the trainees. Their feedback was recorded as a means of evaluating the training program. The trained field-investigators and the supervisor were sent to Bankura and Purulia of West Bengal and Mayurbhanj & Keonjhar of Orissa for executing the pilot study. Their experience in the field was meticulously recorded. The practical problems faced by them in the process of data collection were critically analyzed. Strategic mechanisms were formulated to alleviate the operational problems of the field-investigators. The Project-Director and the Project–Coordinator executed the process of Secondary Research They visited various reputed institutions like EZCC, Asiatic Society of Calcutta, National Library etc. to study the authentic books, journals and documents pertaining to the development as well as the problems of tribal/folk arts & culture in the area covered under study . Subsequently the field–investigators initiated the process of data collection through quantitative and qualitative research in the following places:- Bankura and Purulia of West Bengal Keonjhar & Mayurbhanj of Orissa East Singhbhum & West Singhbhum of Jharkhand Madhubani & Dwarbhanga of Bihar Raipur & Jashpur of Chattisgarh IV Techniques of administering questionnaires & Data collection Four gram-panchayat areas of two blocks under each of the aforesaid districts were covered under the study. Reliable and valid samples were drawn through Random Sampling method, from the total population of target individuals in the target area covered under survey. Quantitative Research was executed through the judicious deployment of the questionnaires. The data obtained from the respondents were carefully recorded. For more detailed information regarding the living pattern of target-group, GVSS asked the project functionaries to execute qualitative research. The field–investigators and the supervisor collectively deployed Focused Group Discussion as an authentic tool of participatory research. The deployment of FGD, as a tool of participatory research proved to be a worthy decision. During the process of executing FGD, the respondents ventilated detailed information regarding their living pattern. The data obtained through quantitative and qualitative research was transferred by the field supervisor to the project-director and the project-coordinator. Under their competent supervision and circumspect surveillance, the critical and intricate process of data-analysis was executed by an associate of GVSS. The data-analysis was followed by the generation of strategic interventions. First of all the fundamental causative factors that are undermining and retarding the prosperity of tribal/folk art and culture, were traced out. Subsequently the Project Director and the Project Coordinator of GVSS developed a series of community-based as