BIO-CULTURAL COMMUNITY PROTOCOLS - Portal do Professor

APPENDIX
The meaning of the Raika Bio-cultural Protocol
for Livelihoods and Biodiversity Conservation
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson 1
The Raika (or Rebari) are the largest group of pastoralists in Western
India and their roots can indirectly be traced back to Afghanistan.
There is historical and folkloric evidence that the Rebari filtered into
what is now Rajasthan and Gujarat in the turmoil and displacement
that accompanied the Muslim incursions to the Thar Desert in the period
from the 12th to the 17th centuries. The Maru Raika and Godwar Raika
currently live across Rajasthan and several other groups live in Gujarat
and across the border in the Tharparkar area of Pakistan. Especially in
Rajasthan, their identity is closed linked to the camel and they were
appointed by the Maharajahs of Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur,
and other kingdoms to take care of their camel breeding herds.
This relationship lasted until India obtained Independence in 1947.
Looking at the larger social context in which Raika society is
embedded, it is evident that they have a medium position
in the caste-system - on a par with agricultural communities
- and are not resource poor. As livestock is a self-replenishing
resource they have always been able to generate cash by
selling a few animals and because livestock can migrate to
wherever rain has fallen, they have many advantages over
the settled farming communities, at least as long as there
were ample common grazing lands available.
1. Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, PhD, Projects Coordinator of League for Pastoral Peoples and Advisor to Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sanstan.
Despite seemingly favourable factors, the Raika are commonly
described as the most backward community in Rajasthan and
have very low literacy levels, especially among women.
Their general progress has been slow by comparison with
some of the untouchable castes, such as the Meghwal, who
have managed to get their people into ministerial positions,
while the Raika do not have a single M.P. and only recently
their first representative became elected into the Legislative
Assembly of Rajasthan.
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