Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø

Conservation and Development interventions with the Pardhi community of Central India.

This project focusedÌýon a semi-nomadic community of Central India, called the Pardhi,Ìýwho have traditionally earned their livelihood from hunting. Labelled a ‘criminal tribe’Ìýby the Colonial government, the Pardhi often come into conflict with the law,Ìýespecially over their involvement in hunting of endangered wildlife. The establishment
of national parks has led to large-scale displacement of Pardhi from their traditionalÌýhomelands. Simultaneously, little socio-economic improvement due to socialÌýostracization, lack of education and jobs has meant continued reliance on theirÌýhunting skills for sustenance.

This cross-displinary study combinedÌýcrime science andÌýanthropology to study how the Pardhis have adapted to modern-day poaching, theÌýfactors that drive it and how they engage with wildlife conservation, particularly withÌýa new youth-oriented alternative livelihoods initiative predicated on giving up the age oldÌýhunting tradition.Ìý

This research sought to produce crucial insights into how the Pardhi, a historically, sociallyÌýand economically marginalised community, are responding to attempts at inclusionÌýinto state-led wildlife conservation and development. Likewise, conservation initiatives similar to those with the Pardhi are increasingly beingÌýadopted by NGOs for other semi-nomadic hunting communties across west andÌýcentral India (such as with the Bawariya and Baheliyas in the state of Rajasthan). An overall understanding of the conservation outcomes and cultural and socio-economicÌýimpacts on target communities of such initiatives is will be an important outcome ofÌýthis project.

Image credit:ÌýPhoto by on Ìý