In my research, I wanted to learn about the problems of disadvantaged groups in India. And I wanted to learn how NGOs attempt to solve these problems. I was especially interested in two subject areas: the situation of the indigenous population, seventy million people, and the situation of the rural communities. During my stay in India, I did research for five weeks in the village Amapurkashi with the "Society for Agro-Industrial Education in India", which is mainly active in the area of education with schools and a college. They also organize health camps and help the locals to find new income opportunities. Additionally, I spent ten days with the NGO "Society for the Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities”, which works with the indigenous Van Gujjar, who live nomadically in the Shivalik forests, the foothills of the Himalaya. My main research questions were: 1. Which problems are most urgent for the disadvantaged groups? What solutions do they and the NGO offer? 2. Who is responsible for these problems? Who could, or should, solve them? How? 3. What future would people like to see for their children, their community, their country? I questioned the NGO workers and the locals. In the beginning of my paper, I describe, the developmental situation in India and introduce the two projects, in which I did my research. In the third chapter, I discuss the course of the research and introduce the most important informants and interview partners. Following that, I introduce the methodology I used and how it worked. I also reflect on my own role, on coming back home and on analysing the data. In the fifth chapter, I discuss the results of my research. After a general introduction to the situations of the Van Gujjar and the inhabitants of Amapurkashi, I introduce the answers to the question about local problems. This part is divided into different subjects relevant to both fields, in order to highlight problems the two communities have in common as well as to show the differences. First I talk about income, after that about population growth, the role of the women, health, education and opportunities, politicians and bureaucrats, new income opportunities, environmental protection and problems of developmental cooperation. In the following part, I discuss responsibilities and priorities of the locals. Finally, I introduce the philosophies and strategies of the NGOs I worked with, certain interesting projects and evaluate their work.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Questions
1.2. Outline of the Paper
2. Introducing the Circumstances
2.1. The state of development in India
2.1.2. Social Workers in India
2.2. Preparations & Settings
2.2.1. Society for the Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities
2.2.2. Society for Agro-Industrial Education in India
3. The course of the research
3.1. The Course of the Research and my own role
3.1.1. Society for the Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities
3.1.2. Society for Agro-Industrial Education
3.2. Most important Informants
3.2.1. Society for the Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities
3.2.2. Society for Agro-Industrial-Education
4. Methods
4.1. Choosing the Methods & Limitations
4.2. Planning and Taking Notes
4.3. Interviews
4.4. Informal versus Semi-Structured Interviews
4.5. Language and Participant Observation
4.6. My own role
4.7. Coming back home
4.8. Data Analysis
5. Results
5.1. Introduction
5.1.1. The Van Gujjar
5.1.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2. The Van Gujjar and Amarpurkashi's villagers in comparison
5.2.1. The economic situation
5.2.1.1. The Van Gujjar: Milk
5.2.1.2. In Amarpurkashi: Agriculture
5.2.2. Population Growth
5.2.2.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.2.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.3. The role of the women
5.2.3.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.3.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.4. Health Care
5.2.4.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.4.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.5. Education and Opportunities
5.2.5.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.5.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.6. Politics and Bureaucrats
5.2.6.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.6.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.7. New Income Opportunities & Environmental Protection
5.2.7.1. The Van Gujjar
5.2.7.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.2.8. Development Aid
5.2.8.1. Donor Conditions
5.2.8.2. Projects
5.3. Responsibilities
5.3.1. The Van Gujjar
5.3.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.4. Priorities of the Locals
5.4.1. The Van Gujjar
5.4.2. In Amarpurkashi
5.5. Strategies of the visited NGOs
5.5.1. Society for the Promotion of Himalayan Indigenous Activities
5.5.1.1. Participation
5.5.2. Society for Agro-Industrial Education
5.5.2.1. Education: Rural Resource Management
5.5.2.2. International Dialogue
6. End
6.1. The Main Results
6.2. Personal Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This report aims to analyze the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups in Northern India and to evaluate the effectiveness of non-governmental organization (NGO) interventions. The research addresses the socio-economic conditions, the impact of globalization on rural communities, and the importance of participatory development approaches by investigating two specific NGO-led projects.
- The socio-economic status and marginalization of indigenous populations, specifically the Van Gujjar.
- The effects of globalization and industrialization on rural livelihoods and traditional agricultural practices.
- The role and professionalization of NGOs in providing education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
- Analysis of participatory development methods and the empowerment of local communities through self-help groups.
- The structural barriers to development, including corruption, caste discrimination, and infrastructure deficits.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Choosing the Methods and Limitations
I decided to use only qualitative methods, because my research period was very short, especially my stay with Sophia. My goal was not to get reliable, quotable data of a statistical nature, but to get an impression of how people live and what problems they have to cope with. Besides I wanted to know what kind of development they want to have or can think of and how those who work for the NGO judge the situation of their protégées, whom they deem responsible for problems and what possible solutions they have come up with. So my results are nothing but an empirically founded collection of ideas. Especially in Amarpurkashi it was quite difficult to structure the research, which is why I tried to be even more focused in my own thoughts. Whatever I did, I always thought about my topics and always looked for new ideas, new answers, especially during informal talks. I used participant observation, open, informal and semi structured interviews. I did not use Free Listing and Pile Sort even though that could also have yielded interesting results. But even in talks and interviews I often found it difficult to communicate exactly what I was interested in and so I decided not to experiment with yet another method.
While visiting the first NGO, Sophia, I decided not to try to be a strictly „neutral“ observant. I felt it would not have been fair to withhold my own thoughts and opinions while my informants shared theirs openly and generously with me. I felt that it was more honest to express my views when asked, and learn more through discussing them openly with my informants.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the research motivation, focusing on development and social movements in India, and establishes the key questions regarding marginalized groups.
2. Introducing the Circumstances: This chapter describes the state of poverty and development in India while introducing the two primary NGO projects under study.
3. The course of the research: The author reflects on the fieldwork process, describing the interaction with informants and the specific roles played within the projects.
4. Methods: This section details the qualitative research design, highlighting the challenges of maintaining objectivity and the significance of participant observation.
5. Results: The core findings compare the lives of the nomadic Van Gujjar and the villagers of Amarpurkashi across several themes, including economic situation, health, education, and NGO strategies.
6. End: This chapter synthesizes the primary findings and provides the author's personal reflection on the research and the impact of the fieldwork.
7. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources, including books, research reports, and internet resources utilized for the study.
Keywords
Development, India, Van Gujjar, NGOs, Amarpurkashi, Participation, Poverty, Education, Globalization, Rural Development, Social Change, Empowerment, Qualitative Research, Fieldwork, Indigenous Population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research report?
The report explores the struggles of disadvantaged groups in Northern India, specifically nomadic Van Gujjar and rural villagers, and investigates how NGOs attempt to address their developmental needs.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the impact of economic changes on marginalized groups, the role of education as a tool for empowerment, health challenges, the influence of local and national politics, and the limitations of donor-driven development aid.
What is the primary objective of the author's investigation?
The primary objective is to gain an empirical impression of the problems faced by these groups and to analyze how different NGOs strategize to overcome these obstacles through local empowerment.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author uses qualitative research methods, including participant observation, informal discussions, and semi-structured interviews, to gather ethnographic insights during her fieldwork.
What topics are covered in the main section of the study?
The main section covers economic situations, population growth, the status of women, healthcare access, educational opportunities, and the strategies of the two visited NGOs.
Which key terms characterize the study?
The study is characterized by terms such as participatory development, indigenous rights, socio-economic marginalization, and the institutional dynamics of NGOs.
How does the author characterize the role of the NGO "Sophia"?
The author highlights Sophia's focus on the Van Gujjar, their "Participatory Conflict Management" strategy, and the goal of empowering the community to advocate for their own rights.
What does the author conclude about the "Society for Agro-Industrial Education"?
The author acknowledges the significant impact of the founder (Babuji) but also notes organizational challenges, such as a lack of democratic internal structures and the difficulty of balancing school administration with community-wide needs.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Mira Fels (Author), 2005, Development projects in Northern India, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/92834
