Ethnographic survey flags deep socio-economic gaps in Nadaf Pinjar community in Karnataka

Dharwad: An ethnographic survey has found that the Nadaf/Pinjar community — traditionally engaged in cotton carding and barbering — continues to face serious socio-economic challenges due to limited access to education, healthcare and stable employment.The study has recommended skill development, financial support for traditional occupations, alternative livelihood opportunities and enhanced educational assistance for community members.It has also suggested modernising cotton-carding practices through technology support, providing land for ventilated storage godowns and promoting small-scale enterprises such as mat-making, doormat production and broom-making, particularly to support women's livelihoods. The report has further recommended enhanced scholarships and financial aid to improve educational participation among community students.The findings are part of a study commissioned earlier by the backward classes welfare department and carried out by the department of anthropology at Karnatak University across 21 districts with support from 23 research scholars. A grant of Rs 45.3 lakh had been sanctioned for the survey.Studies on other communitiesAddressing mediapersons, vice-chancellor AM Khan said the university has now been assigned additional ethnographic studies on various nomadic and semi-nomadic communities, along with the Nekara community, across Karnataka.The study on the Nekara community and its sub-sects will be led by anthropology department chairman TT Basavangouda as project director and is expected to be completed within 12 months. The govt has sanctioned Rs 53.9 lakh for the project.The govt has also commissioned an ethnographic study of the Durga Murga community with a grant of Rs 21.7 lakh. In addition, studies on the Byragi and Darvesh communities will be undertaken under the leadership of SB Sugandhi. These projects, too, are scheduled for completion within a year. A grant of Rs 12 lakh has been allocated for the Byragi community study.Overall allocationA total grant of Rs 99.7 lakh has been sanctioned for all the new projects, and the final reports will be submitted to the govt within one year, Prof Khan said.