Community In Kerala Research Articles

Navigating delayed diagnoses, self-neglect, and lost livelihoods: a qualitative exploration of fisherfolk’s health perspectives and management of non-communicable diseases in Kerala, India

IntroductionNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) place a significant burden on India's healthcare system, accounting for approximately 62% of all deaths in the country in 2017. The southern Indian state - Kerala - has some of the highest rates of NCDs. Within the state, the fisherfolk community has a high prevalence of risk factors such as tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Working in the fisheries industry demands physical exertion, night shifts alongside extended periods of time at sea (for seafaring fisherfolk). Evidence is scant on how these conditions relate to the health-seeking experiences of fisherfolk, particularly in the context of NCDs. We conducted a qualitative study in two districts of Kerala to fill this gap.MethodsIn-depth individual and small group interviews– as per participant preference – with male and female fishing community members living with NCDs were conducted between October 2022 and February 2023 in two districts of Kerala. Interviews were conducted to explore community members’ experiences with health-seeking for NCDs. Transliterated English transcripts were coded using ATLAS.ti software and analysed using thematic analysis with inductive generation of codes, with indexing against Levesque, Harris, and Russell’s 2013 access to healthcare framework.ResultsThirty-three interviews with 42 participants were conducted. We found that NCDs were usually diagnosed late- either when admitted/consulted for other illnesses or when the symptoms became unbearable. Health-seeking patterns differed between seafaring and inland fishing subgroups, who were sampled from two districts in the state. Seafaring fisherfolk preferred public facilities for regular checkups and medicines while in-land fisherfolk relied on private facilities, although it was considered expensive. Ability to seek care was impacted by the working hours of the health centre which did not suit their working hours. Health constaints and related expenses also impacted their financial status and occupation, with some opting for less strenuous jobs.ConclusionThis study highlights the NCD-related health-seeking experiences of the fisherfolk community in Kerala, India. Fisherfolk reported self neglect, delayed diagnosis, cost and livelihood constraints owing to the onset of NCDs, even as dual practice and medicine access in the public sector were appreciated. Overall, larger studies and policymaking processes should consider in depth the experiences faced by particular economic groups like fisherfolk, who may face unique health and care-seeking challenges.

Analysis of Fluorescently Labeled ISSR Markers to Reveal the Genetic Diversity of Cassava Varieties (Manihot esculenta Crantz) in the Kerala’s Tribal Area of India

The study Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers to genotype distinct cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) cultivars within tribal communities in Kerala, India. Fluorescent ISSR primers were labelled with 6-carboxyfluorescein and used for PCR amplification. The total number of bands produced was 72, of which 49 were found to be polymorphic markers; an average of 17 polymorphic bands was obtained per primer. The manuscript is a scientific validation of the traditional knowledge of tribal people regarding the diversity and wealth of cassava crops in the region, and this validation can therefore help in protecting the farmers right on a particular landrace that they cultivate. The technique used in the diversity analysis is a time-saving process as compared to conventional breeding programs for crop improvement. The data in the manuscript also supports similarity and differences of each variety to one another, which is analysed statistically with the molecular marker-based data generated. By examining genetic diversity at a high resolution, ISSR markers can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary dynamics of these cassava populations. This research contributes to the broader goal of enhancing agricultural sustainability and food security in tribal communities.

On the Limits of Islamic Cinema: The Politics of Halal Cinema Discourse in Kerala, India

Some of the most crucial debates surrounding Islamic legitimacy and cinema rotate around the question of the permissible ( ḥalāl) and prohibited ( ḥarām) in Islamic law and how these function for Muslim theology and politics. Emerging from these debates, halal cinema has been one of the recent critical interventions in the field of Indian and Islamic cinema. Rather than making cinema Islamic from an ideological position, the new halal experiments with the visual language of cinema without compromising the popular dimensions of its viewership. This article looks at the politics of halal cinema within the context of the state of Kerala in South India and argues that the space of halal cinema shows the aspirations and negotiations of the Muslim community in Kerala. Halal cinema thus becomes an immanent critique of Islamic cinema by destabilizing the dominant practice that connects the relationship between Islam and cinema.

STRATEGIC USE OF EROTIC CAPITAL IN CHALLENGING PATRIARCHY: THE CASE OF KURIYEDATH THATRI AND ITS CINEMATIC REPRESENTATION IN PARINAYAM

The article examines the concept of erotic capital and its use by women to fight against the patriarchal system, with a focus on the historical figure, Kuriyedath Thatri (also called Thatrikutty) from the Namboodiri community in Kerala. The study aims to understand Thatrikutty’s strategic deployment of erotic capital, which marked an end to the chastity trial of smarthavicharam within the community. Additionally, it critiques the 1994 Malayalam movie Parinayam, which is based on Thatrikutty’s life, for its lack of portrayal of erotic capital. Employing a qualitative analysis, the study begins with an overview of the condition of Namboodiri women and the concept of smarthavicharam. It then delves into how Thatrikutty used her erotic capital as a weapon against the oppressive system. Subsequently, the article shifts focus to the movie Parinayam, detailing the film’s failure to depict erotic capital. The findings reveal how women can use erotic capital as a powerful weapon to challenge patriarchal oppressions, as exemplified by Thatrikutty’s actions. The study also finds out that the lack of portrayal of erotic capital in the movie Parinayam, accounts to the attempt to suit the movie to societal thoughts, concerning the response of a wide audience.

Fishermen's attitudes towards drone use for sustainable fishing in a coastal community in Kerala, India: An exploratory qualitative study

Fishing is crucial to livelihoods and development. However, unsustainable practices and shocks threaten this potential, which is worsened by limited research on technologies such as drones to enhance sustainable fishing. Our study used an exploratory qualitative approach involving 48 fishermen in Alappad in Kerala. The findings revealed that fishermen use either unsustainable or traditional practices. Due to increasing familiarity with new technologies, fishermen have positive attitudes toward drone use. Using these narratives, we ideated the characteristics of feasible drone(s) for sustainable localized fishing. The success of drone adoption/use is dependent on fishermen's positive attitudes.

INNOVATION IN INDIGENOUS TOURISM: LESSONS FROM EN OORU TRIBAL HERITAGE VILLAGE, WAYANAD, KERALA

Indigenous tourism plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of tribal communities. This research paper explores the En Ooru tribal heritage village project in Wayanad, Kerala, and its impact on tribal development and indigenous tourism in the region. The study highlights the key characteristics of the En Ooru project, including its emphasis on preserving indigenous architecture, tribal customs, and traditions. Furthermore, the research explores the economic and socio-cultural impact of the En Ooru project. The village has become a major tourist attraction, drawing a significant number of visitors who contribute to the local economy. The paper also discusses the collaboration between the Kerala Tourism and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, which has been crucial to the success of the En Ooru project. This collaboration highlights the importance of governmental support and partnership in promoting indigenous tourism and tribal development. The findings from this study can serve as a foundation for future research and inform policymakers and stakeholders on strategies to enhance indigenous tourism and uplift tribal communities in Kerala.

Exploring Socio-Economic Changes: Demographic Transitions of Syrian Christians in Kerala with special reference to Nordic Model

Abstract: The present study investigates socio-economic changes and demographic transitions of Syrian Christian community in Kerala with a special focus on Nordic Model, which is practised in Scandinavian nations. The theoretical framework draws from the Nordic Model, renowned for its emphasis on social welfare and economic prosperity to analyze its applicability and relevance to the Syrian Christian community in Kerala. This conceptual study delves into the socio-economic transformations occurring within the Syrian Christian community in Kerala with a focal point on demographic shifts, while drawing insights from the Nordic Model. Leveraging secondary databases and existing literature, the research endeavors to discern the intricate relationship between socio-economic variables and demographic trends among Syrian Christians. The conceptual framework integrates theoretical perspectives from sociology, economics, and demography to analyze how socio-economic factors intersect with religious and cultural norms, influencing demographic behaviors among Syrian Christians. Furthermore, this study endeavors to offer theoretical insights and methodological considerations for future empirical research on the topic. This study critically examining existing data and synthesizing relevant literature contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between socio-economic changes, religious identity, and demographic transitions among Syrian Christians in Kerala.

Growth and the Way Forward: a Study on Women Entrepreneurs of Kerala

The proliferation of microenterprises initiated by rural women has garnered significant attention as astrategy for generating employment opportunities and alleviating poverty across India, with a particularfocus on the state of Kerala. In order to fulfil their objectives, it is imperative for microbusinesses led byrural women, which are designed to alleviate poverty and generate employment opportunities, to sustainthemselves through the implementation of intelligent strategies. The present study represents a sincereendeavour to elucidate the progression, significance of training, and prospects of rural micro enterprisesestablished by women in the state of Kerala. The objectives of this study are to gain a comprehensiveunderstanding of the present status and growth of women entrepreneurs in Kerala, to evaluate theeffectiveness of institutions that facilitate the advancement of women entrepreneurs in Kerala, and to projectthe future potential of the female entrepreneurial community in Kerala. This descriptive study aims toexamine the evolution of women-owned businesses in Kerala prior to and during the process ofglobalisation. Additionally, it seeks to explore the training needs and future growth prospects of these firms.The present study is founded upon primary data collected from a sample of 420 registered women-ownedenterprises in Kerala. Additionally, secondary data has been sourced from various published materials, suchas journals, government publications, websites, and other relevant sources. The findings of the studysuggest that female entrepreneurs exhibit deficiencies in many managerial competencies that are crucial forthe achievement of organisational success. Hence, it is crucial that training programmes prioritise thedevelopment of managerial capabilities to effectively operate entrepreneurial entities, enhance managerialproficiency, and foster a sense of motivation towards attaining goals. The findings of this study are expectedto provide valuable insights for policymakers in formulating initiatives and policies aimed at fosteringindustrial development within the state. Specifically, the study focuses on the role of womenentrepreneurship and the strategic orientation required for such development.

Assessing the impact of different cooking methods on nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of traditional food plants

Indigenous communities rely on various nutrient-dense traditional food plants (TFPs) to make traditional ethnic foods. The dietary potential of the nutrient-dense and healthy TFPs needs to be fully explored. This work investigates the proximate components, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity of raw and cooked samples of five TFPs consumed by local communities in Kerala, India. The results show that Boerhavia diffusa possessed the highest fat (9.02 %) and fibre (3.61 %), whereas Ipomoea batatas recorded the highest protein (9.47 %), vitamin C (8.58 µM/g) and polyphenol (120.36 mg GAE/gDW) content. Amaranthus viridis showed an abundance of Mn (48.4 mg/100 g), Mg (2404.37 mg/100 g), and Zn (248.27 mg/100 g). The highest antioxidant activity was observed in A. viridis (IC50 = 0.426 mg/mL) and I. batatas (IC50 = 1.30 mg/mL) in the ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. Boiling was the most effective cooking method for preserving protein, carbohydrate and fat stability in all TFPs. The TFPs showed a minimal reduction in minerals after being subjected to cooking. Microwaving had the least deleterious effect on phytochemicals in all TFPs. The research highlights the capacity of these TFPs to improve nutrition and promote consumer well-being with minimal environmental impact.

Tribal Education in Kerala and Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4: Prospects and Challenges

Education is a key indicator of development and a fundamental right for all individuals. The state plays a crucial role in providing basic and higher education to its citizens, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or financial status. Education serves as a social capital essential for individual and community development. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 emphasizes access to quality education, ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all. This paper examines the prospects and challenges of achieving SDG 4 among tribal communities in Kerala. Tribal communities face unique obstacles in accessing quality education, such as geographical remoteness, linguistic barriers, cultural differences, and gender discrimination. Despite Kerala’s high literacy rate, tribal education lags behind that of the general population. Through a multi-dimensional approach, this study explores the prospects and challenges of tribal education using a case study method. Both primary and secondary data were utilized, with primary data gathered through interviews with students benefiting from the post-metric hostel scheme, tribal promoters, counsellors, social activists, and educationists. The paper highlights government interventions and constitutional frameworks promoting tribal education. It also provides social work interventions and other suggestions to strengthen tribal education and achieve SDG 4.

Repercussions of Reliance on Informal Sources of Finance: A Study of Tribal Communities in Kerala

The economic and social consequences of reliance on informal finance are enormous in the case of socially and economically disadvantaged people like the tribal communities. These communities have become more financially vulnerable due to the severe barriers in accessing institutionalised formal finance. Drawing on data collected from 246 randomly chosen households from four tribal communities (Kurichya, Kuruma, Adiya and Paniya) in the Wayanad district of Kerala, and using mixed-method approach, the study seeks to examine the repercussions of reliance on informal source of finance by the tribal communities. The study reveals that the agents of informal financiers also resort to social demoralising and mental harassment towards the tribal households. The study shows that tribal households may not be aware of compounding effect of interest rates when they avail credit from any source of finance, especially informal finance. This in turn increases the indebtedness among the tribal communities. All these call for the need of tailoring institutional (formal) credit solutions suitable to the credit needs and socio-economic conditions of the weaker segments of the society like the tribal communities. The study suggests adopting supply-side cum demand-side strategies.

The Subaltern Precincts of 'Kakkukali' by Francis Norona

This paper attempts to establish that Kakkukali' (Hop-Scotch) , a short fiction in Malayalam by Francis Norona is a proof of the existence of subaltern consciousness, praxis and agency. Mainstream historians and narrators have systematically submerged the social, political and cultural contributions of the subaltern communities into the larger rubrics like nationalism, freedom fight, feminism, marxism etc. Latin Catholic community ,a subaltern community in Kerala is represented in the story mapping the culture of a community through its language, life style and the way the main character constitutes the meaning of life.

Ethnobotanical investigation of the muthuvan tribe’s medicinal plant usage in Edavanna Panchayath, Malappuram district, Kerala

Ethnobotanical studies are always in forefront in revealing the intimate association between human beings and plants. India is widely known for its immense wealth of medicinal plants and for the fact that this plant wealth has been utilized for healing diseases since ages. Tribal societies possess their own ideologies and belief systems when it comes to the usage and protection of plants. Among many tribal communities in Kerala, Muthuvans are known for their knowledge in usage of plants for the preparation of medicine. Documentation of such knowledge is utmost important for the upcoming future. The present study is conducted with an aim to document the medicinal plants used by the Muthuvan tribe of Malappuram district, Kerala for the treatment of common ailments. Questionnaire survey, periodic field trips to the tribal area and secondary information collected from KIRTADS has been presented here. A total of 37 plants belonging to 35 genera and 20 families have been recorded along with their vernacular names, parts used, mode of preparation and administration of medicines. The commonly represented families were Fabaceae and Lamiaceae with 4 species and Asteraceae and Malvaceae with 3 species each. The current study elaborately reveals that the tribal community depends on plant wealth of Cholar Hills for the treatment of common ailments and their medicinal preparations have been effective over many years. Therefore, documentation of the knowledge possessed by the tribes is extremely important as these can be used for further studies and novel discoveries.

On the Limits of Islamic Cinema: The Politics of Halal Cinema Discourse in Kerala, India

Some of the most crucial debates surrounding Islamic legitimacy and cinema rotate around the question of the permissible ( ḥalāl) and prohibited ( ḥarām) in Islamic law and how these function for Muslim theology and politics. Emerging from these debates, halal cinema has been one of the recent critical interventions in the field of Indian and Islamic cinema. Rather than making cinema Islamic from an ideological position, the new halal experiments with the visual language of cinema without compromising the popular dimensions of its viewership. This article looks at the politics of halal cinema within the context of the state of Kerala in South India and argues that the space of halal cinema shows the aspirations and negotiations of the Muslim community in Kerala. Halal cinema thus becomes an immanent critique of Islamic cinema by destabilizing the dominant practice that connects the relationship between Islam and cinema.

Covid on the Coast: Pandemic Governance and Protests in Fishing Villages in South Kerala, India

In this article, we reflect on the consequences of COVID-19 interventions on coastal communities in south Kerala (India), and the responses of the local population to the latter. In particular, we map out the events which led to spontaneous protests in a number of fishing villages during the second wave of the epidemic in July 2020. We will show that whilst during the first wave of the epidemic, coastal communities remained supportive of government intervention, such an initial support begun to wane as the epidemic unfolded over time and became more aggressive and widespread. We argue that such a shift in fishing communities’ attitudes was a response not only to the consequences of a more forceful policy of containment of the epidemic but also to a sudden identification of coastal communities as the main locus of contagion in the district. We suggest that the consequent restrictive measures enforced on coastal communities were driven as much by epidemiological concerns as by a media-driven social panic built upon widespread negative stereotypes that have historically worked to marginalize, and even criminalize coastal communities in Kerala. We deploy the notion of bio-moral marginality to reveal ways through which the attribution of specific—and largely stereotyped and negative— physical attributes and moral dispositions to the bodies and behaviour of people belonging to fishing coastal communities constituted the ground upon which the social panic concerning the spread of the COVID-19 virus unfolded in south Kerala, thus leading to fishers’ militant response.

THE INTERPLAY OF TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE: A STUDY ON MOBILE PHONE PRACTICES AMONG MUKKUVA COMMUNITY

The widespread use of digital technologies has expanded globally and penetrated even the most remote regions of the global south, including people living in underprivileged and marginalised conditions. Despite the increasing influence of mobile phones in all aspects of social life, there is limited knowledge about how mobile phone practices impact the local culture of the Mukkuva community in Kerala. Though Kerala has made remarkable socioeconomic progress, the Mukkuva fishing community remains marginalised and neglected. The fishers' exclusion from mainstream society, resulting from the caste system, has historically limited their interaction with others. This study employs in-depth interviews and non-participant observation to explore the mobile phone practices of the fishing community in two selected coastal villages of Kerala and how it affects the community's language and culture. Using the cultural identity framework of Stuart Hall and a thematic method of data analysis, the paper examines the changing dynamics of the relationship between the church and the community, the evolving self-concept of community members, and their economic activities. The research demonstrates the significance of mobile phones in the changing cultural dynamics of the Mukkuva community, highlighting its role in enabling increased communication and interaction with mainstream society. The study's findings suggest that mobile phones have enabled the community to create a new identity, distinct from their traditional practices, thereby allowing them to engage more actively in social, economic, and political activities. The paper concludes that the increasing use of mobile phones in marginalised communities provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between mainstream and marginalised societies, and encourages the empowerment of these groups.

Destabilizing ‘Development : A Critique of Capitalocene in Sarah Joseph s Gift in Green

Dean Curtin (1999) and Mariko Lin Frame (2023) argue that a minor portion of the world’s population has autonomy over resource consumption dynamics, while the majority is confined to the periphery (p. 35; p. 8). The global North sets the standards, as their lifestyles based on resource exploitation are depicted as ‘developed’. Promoting such ‘ecologically impossible’ conducts as benchmarks of development has grave consequences in the global south, where the ecological experiences of human beings are driven primarily by aims of subsistence and survival (Curtin, 1999, p. 35). Gift in Green (2011) by Sarah Joseph narrates the plight of a closely knit Pulaya (Dalit) community in Kerala, India. Their harmonious coexistence with the surrounding environment is manifested through the indigenous ecological structure. The congenial relationship between humans and nature is disrupted by Kumaran’s ideals of extractive and urban-industrial development. Eventually, the Edenic village ‘Aathi’ turns into a stinking dump yard of toxic pollutants. The “people of the ecosystem,” who rely on the meager resources around them, are deprived of their primary source of survival. Through close textual analysis of this novel and with a critical background informed by bioregional, ecocritical, and developmental theories, the article exhibits three facets of the central argument. First, we investigate how indigenous ecological structure strengthens human-nonhuman connections. Further, the essay demonstrates how Anthropocentric developmental notions based on ecological imperialism, extractivism, and capitalogenic plundering of the environment systematically destroy the socio-ecological fabric of the village of Aathi. Finally, the article explores the feasibility of environmentally and socially just development models.

Contesting the mainstream transwoman figurations: The question of caste and precarity in Udalaazham

ABSTRACT Udalaazham (Body Deep), the 2018 Malayalam film directed by Unnikrishnan Avala, intrigues into the precarious dimensions of gender liminality in unprecedented ways by being the first film to discuss the life of a gender-liminal belonging to a tribal (Paniya) community in Kerala. The paper engages in a close reading and analysis of the film-text Udalaazham by placing it in juxtaposition to figurations of transgender subjectivities in contemporary Malayalam films, with an aim to contest the acclaimed progressive disposition of these mainstream representations. It employs the framework of intersectionality to focus on the protagonist Gulikan’s lived experiences enmeshed within the structures of tribal caste, ethnicity and gender characterized by multiple interlocking dimensions of precarity. His body, identity and desires are open to threat, violence, mutilations and perpetual questioning due to lack of socio-cultural capital and support network. The relevance of this film is in opening up the discussions on caste and liminal gender identity and thereby urging the dire need to re-write the formula of identity politics in the region and its popular culture. Reading Udalaazham in this context provides a more liberating yet disturbing space to discuss the regressive operations of identity categories and their limitations in conceptualizing regional queer identities in India.

An integrated methodology for assessment of drinking-water quality in low-income settings

A hybrid methodology for assessing water quality, attitudes, and practice in low-income settings, which we call the AmriTau Water Quality Survey (AmriTAU WQS), is presented. An easy-to-use survey, operated through a lightweight smartphone application, is combined with standardized tests for assessing water quality and households’ perceptions and practices, producing a research methodology capable of characterizing the multifaceted nature of drinking-water use and quality in a sample community. This multifaceted approach allows generating meaningful insights, which can inform effective sustainable development projects. To validate the efficacy of this approach, a sample community in Kerala, South India, was assessed, and the results analyzed.

Theorising Marginality: Discourses on the Making of Modern Adivasi Communities in Kerala

Despite the accepted usage of ‘marginality’ as a subcategory of subalternity, seldom has the meaning of marginality as a concept been expounded. This paper sets out to address this lack by conceiving of ‘marginality’ as a condition, by focusing on the lived experiences of Adivasis in Kerala through the discourses constructed by a contemporary social movement, the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha (AGMS). Discourse analysis is the methodological frame that I have used in this paper to analyse the descriptions produced by the AGMS and the state of Kerala, and this is broadly situated within the post-colonial political-sociological approach. Premised on this, I argue that while marginality is an essential concept for looking at contemporary Adivasi movements in India, it is productive to interrogate and explore expanding the varied meanings attached to this concept.