INDIGENOUS LIVELIHOOD PRACTICES OF THE PUROIK COMMUNITY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH: A PERSPECTIVE ON POLICY CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Knowledge of natural resource management is key to sustainable livelihood. The indigenous worldview of the Puroik community is known for by its cultural uniqueness in terms of forest survival skills, food habits and other forms of livelihood practices. They practice non-agricultural activities like hunting, trapping, fishing, foraging and honey collections and different other. They grow and preserve the Sago palm trees as the flour produced from the palm trunks is used as their stable food. Although these forms of practices are not quite practicable now among the youths and urban dwellers, yet it is still prevalent among the interior community living in the deep forests and hilly terrains. The indigenous method of livelihood practices including food habits of the community lacks any technical analysis and in-depth research towards its sustainability, affordability and stability. In this regard, the present paper is an attempt to understand the indigenous methods of livelihood practices and draw perspectives towards policy construction on food security. The study was conducted in 9 (nine) Puroik Settlements under Nyapin Block in Kurung Kumey District of Arunachal Pradesh with a mixed research design approach to meet the objective of understanding the indigenous lifestyle. To achieve the objective of the study, an un-structured and open ended interview schedule was administered for data collection. The study reveals that the majority of people still practice their age-old indigenous way of life. The study also found that their forest-centric food habits can easily secure their life in any point of time, be it drought or any other challenging circumstances.