The Ahikuntaka
A publication documenting the lives and livelihoods of the Ahikuntaka or gypsy community in Sri Lanka. A collection of vibrant photographs and a baseline survey on the current socio economic status of the Ahikuntaka conducted by the Colombo University complement this timely publication.
A publication documenting the lives and livelihoods of the Ahikuntaka or gypsy community in Sri Lanka. A collection of vibrant photographs and a baseline survey on the current socio economic status of the Ahikuntaka conducted by the Colombo University complement this timely publication.
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Table 15: Distribution of the respondents’ reactions to their satisfaction in relation to the prevailing<br />
status of socioeconomic conditions<br />
Respondents reaction<br />
Number of respondents’ / Percentage of total<br />
Not satisfactory<br />
at all<br />
Satisfactory<br />
to some extent<br />
Satisfactory<br />
Much<br />
satisfied<br />
Highly<br />
satisfied<br />
Aspects of socio-economic condition<br />
Main source of income 129(36.13) 208(58.27) 17(4.76) 03(0.84) - 357<br />
Living condition 210(58.82) 67(18.76) 59(16.53) 21(5.89) - 357<br />
Social status 261(73.10) 54(15.12) 40(11.20) 02(0.56) - 357<br />
Social acceptance 237(66.39) 116(32.49) 04(1.12) - - 357<br />
Acceptance by the mainstream<br />
271(75.92) 29(8.12) 57(15.96) - - 357<br />
society mainstream society<br />
Opportunities to interact and integrate<br />
28(7.85) 68(19.05) 261(73.1) - - 357<br />
with the mainstream society<br />
Other source of income 93(25.49) 260(72.85) 06(1.68) - - 357<br />
Education 95(26.61) 219(61.34) 37(10.37) 06(1.68) - 357<br />
Health 169(47.33) 117(32.77) 58(16.26) 13(3.64) - 357<br />
Public amenities 218(61.06) 119(33.34) 17(4.76) 03(0.84) - 357<br />
Total<br />
When questioned about their level of satisfaction in the prevailing status of socio-economic conditions, the respondents reacted in<br />
varying degrees of both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. <strong>The</strong>ir reactions are indicated in Table 15. <strong>The</strong> table indicates that a majority<br />
of 58.27% are satisfied to some extent in the main source of their income. A majority of the respondents have indicated that the<br />
opportunities to interact and integrate with the mainstream society are satisfactory (73.1%). Most of the respondents have stated that<br />
they are satisfied to some extent with their other sources of income (72.85%) and also the facilities available for education (61.34%).<br />
However the study revealed a high degree of dissatisfaction with reference to social acceptance by the main stream society – 75.92%,<br />
social status 73.10%, general social acceptance 66.39%, public amenities 61.06%, living conditions 58.82% and health 47.33%.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is therefore in the community under survey a general dissatisfaction of the prevalent socio economic status with reference to<br />
social acceptance by the mainstream society, social status, general acceptance, public amenities, living conditions and health.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Ahikuntaka</strong><br />
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