Kani Tribes of Kodayar Forest: A Study on their Health,Culture and Eco-System (An Old and Rare Book)

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The global issue of ecological management is viewed from various angles at macro level. Such ecological problems could be tackled with relative case if they are approached from micro level communities. Small territorial groups like tribes, who are part of the forest ecosystem, hold an important position in the preservation of the woodlands. The book describes the life style, cultural habits and the health behaviour of the Kani tribes, the dwellers of Kodayar forest in the Western Ghats. These tribes encounter with lot of problems in the secluded hill areas as much as they benefit by Nature.

The book supplies the researchers and academicians with information on Kani tribes. It will interest any common man who has concern for human groups, their lives and Nature. The discussions and suggestions made in the book will be helpful in restructuring and improving the schemes of the government.

Dr. Mrs. B. Nalini is a professor in the Dept. of Sociology Madurai Kamaraj University. She has contributed a number of research articles in reputed national and International journals. She has attended several conferences in various countries. The author has completed many research projects. Her field of specialization, other than ecological studies, are Sociology of Health and Social Gerontology. Her first book is titled as Modernization Among Professionals. The Impact of Western Culture.

Tribals are part of the forest ecology playing a vital role in the flonishing or depletion of their eco system Their social practices especially their economic activities are influenced by their constant contacts with the cities.

Tribals evince close intimacy with the forests worshiping natural objects. consuming forest produces and leading a life that goes in harmony with Nature. But in the recent past the gevernment polices and constant contacts and also the inflow of non-tribals into tribal areas have created a lot of changes in the eco- system of the forests. In India, the Western Ghats occupy a significant place in the geographic location, climatic condition and supply of resources of economic importance Sociological studies describing the social and economic life of the tribal communities are plenty. But works on their health status are fount to be lacking.

The present work gives a description of the social and economic life of the inhabitants of Kodayar Forest in the Western Ghats. The study places emphasis on the health status of Kanis and the ecological aspect of this region and suggests programmes to improve the life of the inhabitants.

There are two important matters for consideration firstly to assess the governmental schemes that aim to help the subsistence of the tribal groups and at the sometime restore the depleting forest regions. These phogrammes provide secondary income to the tribalmen. But in actual situations the schemes either are not implemented or do not reach the target group in the right way Secondly, the forest resources are to be protected and utilised properly so that a sustainable development could be anticipated To meet these two needs continuous assessment of tribals and tribal areas are to be made.

Tribals are part of the forest ecology playing a vital role in the augmentation or depletion of their ecosystem. Tribal people evince close intimacy with the forest worshiping natural objects, consuming forest produces and leading a life that goes in harmony with Nature But, in the recent past their social practices, especially their economic activities are infuenced by their constant contacts with the plainsmen The Government policies and the inflow of non-tribals into tribal areas have also created a lot of changes in the ecosystem of the forests. Their life is so much intertwined with Nature that they made use of the herbs and roots for medicinal purposes. The medicinal value of the forest produces was known to them and hence, they never consulted any other system than their own traditional practices Today, due to the transport and communication sysems available to them, there is a change in their approach to health care. The worth of tribal herbal medicine should be preserved, as there is worldwide acknowledgement for the value of herbal medicine at present. The tnbals who attach less value to immovable properties like land, are now forced to settle down in a piece of land allotted to them by the Government and cultivate crops for their own subsistance Thus, the whole scenario of the tribal life is undergoing a sea change of which the tribals are not very happy. The Government implements many schemes to uplift and for a directed change among the tribals But these schemes are not as successful as expected to be. This inevitable. change in the tribal life and their ecosystem has to be studied from various dimensions.

The present work makes a description of the social and economic life of the inhabitants of Kodayar forests in the Western Ghats The study brings out the health, culture and land use pattern of Kani tribes living in various settlements in the Kodayar Forests: The Western Ghats in India occupy a significant place in the geographic location, climatic condition and supply of resources of economic importance Under such condition the life of the inhabitants must be studied and more light should be thrown on the mode of preserving the ecosystem of this region.

The report consists of six chapters The first chapter describes the ecosystem of Kodayar forest and life style of Kani tribes The second chapter explains the methodology of the study The third one presents the demographic profile of the inhabitants of Kodayar forest and the fourth chapter explains the use of forest resources by the tribes. The fifth chapter analyses the health status and the use fo herbs by the Kanis. The sixth chapter elaborates the land utilization pattern with the final chapter giving suggestions to improve the life of the Kani tribes.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages