Study on Nomadic Tribes in Tamil Nadu – Census of Boom Boom Maatukarar (Aadhiyan) Nomadic Tribe in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu.

Study on Nomadic Tribes in Tamil Nadu - Census of Boom Boom Maatukarar (Aadhiyan) Nomadic Tribe in Thiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu.

Research in collaboration with Vanavil Trust, Nagapattinam.

The Nomadic Tribes are nomadic communities of people who move across in caravans for trade, commodities transportation, pastoral pursuits, and employment as artisans and performers. There have been musicians, acrobats, soothsayers, singers, and craftspeople among the nomadic tribes. In Tamil Nadu a community known as ‘Boom Boom Maatukkarar (Aadhiyan)’ engages in a wide variety of livelihood pursuits. Their typical job is raising bulls to perform and go with them on their soothsaying journeys. In addition to being talented artisans and singers who build their own instruments, the women in the neighbourhood are also accomplished palm mat, handicraft, and epicycle pouch bag makers. The objective of the study is to compile the most recent data on the specific group for which data invisibility constitutes a bigger barrier to their eligibility for various government programs and initiatives. This study will assist the government in creating a specific policy or strengthening the existing policy on ‘Nomadic Tribes in Tamil Nadu’ by understanding the data that was obtained.

Dr.S.Ilavarasi

Research Associate of Centre for Social Justice and Equity of Madras School of Social Work has completed her master’s and M.Phil. degrees in women’s studies. She did her doctoral research on ‘Women and Water: Problems and Possibilities of Water Governance – AMicrostudy in Tamil Nadu’ and awarded her Ph.D. in 2019. She has two years of experience as a Research Associate at the State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SIRD & PR) of Government of Tamil Nadu in the period of 2018–2020, in which she has engaged with action research projects primarily focusing on gender and Sustainable Development Goals. She has been engaging in gender sensitization training programmes, menstrual hygiene management trainings, and sexual harassment against women. She had teaching experience as guest lecturer in women’s studies at Bharathidasan University and University of Madras for two years. She has published research papers and journals on gender and water governance. She has also produced documentaries on the themes of marginalised communities includes dalits, tribes, and women. She has participated and organised various national and international conferences.