Maldharis|Banni Grasslands, Gujarat
The silvipastoralist Maldharis are a group of about 20 different Muslim (90%) and Hindu (10%) tribes, which have lived in and co-evolved with the Banni Grasslands of Kachchh district of Gujarat over the last 450 years. They are spread over 48 hamlets and 19 panchayats and number about 25,000.
They speak Kachchhi in the Sindhi dialect and both Hindu and Muslim communities keep livestock. In fact, the indigenous livestock – Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle and Sindhi horse - and ecology of Banni Grasslands is truly unique and a veritable treasure chest for ecology lovers. This ecological wonderland is threatened by a multiplicity of factors today - most prominently by the Ganda Bavar (Prosopis Juliflora), an invasive alien species which had been introduced by the Forest Department in the 60’s.
The tribes that make up the Maldharis of Banni are Halepotra, Raysipotra, Mutva, Jat, Hingorja, Node, Sumra, Juneja, Jiyenja, Theba, Saiyyad, Korad, Khaskeli, Bambha, Pathan, Sameja, Baloch, Munjavar, Meghwals and Vadha Koli. Among these, the Landing Together team interacted with Node, Baloch, Halaypotras, Jats (Theba) and Mutuwa tribes to understand the various challenges that they face in Banni with the help Sahjeevan – an non-governmental organization working towards socio-economic ecological conservation.
The Landing Together team met several Maldharis tribes in Banni grasslands. Maldharis have been struggling to secure autonomy over the Grasslands since the 60’s. Currently, the both Banni and the Maldharis face a few major challenges – threat of displacement, Ganda Bavar infestation, soil salinity due to dams and surrounding chemical industries.
The silvipastoralist Maldharis are a group of about 20 different Muslim (90%) and Hindu (10%) tribes, which have lived in and co-evolved with the Banni Grasslands of Kachchh district of Gujarat over the last 450 years. They are spread over 48 hamlets and 19 panchayats and number about 25,000.
They speak Kachchhi in the Sindhi dialect and both Hindu and Muslim communities keep livestock. In fact, the indigenous livestock – Banni buffalo, Kankrej cattle and Sindhi horse - and ecology of Banni Grasslands is truly unique and a veritable treasure chest for ecology lovers. This ecological wonderland is threatened by a multiplicity of factors today - most prominently by the Ganda Bavar (Prosopis Juliflora), an invasive alien species which had been introduced by the Forest Department in the 60’s.
The tribes that make up the Maldharis of Banni are Halepotra, Raysipotra, Mutva, Jat, Hingorja, Node, Sumra, Juneja, Jiyenja, Theba, Saiyyad, Korad, Khaskeli, Bambha, Pathan, Sameja, Baloch, Munjavar, Meghwals and Vadha Koli. Among these, the Landing Together team interacted with Node, Baloch, Halaypotras, Jats (Theba) and Mutuwa tribes to understand the various challenges that they face in Banni with the help Sahjeevan – an non-governmental organization working towards socio-economic ecological conservation.
The Landing Together team met several Maldharis tribes in Banni grasslands. Maldharis have been struggling to secure autonomy over the Grasslands since the 60’s. Currently, the both Banni and the Maldharis face a few major challenges – threat of displacement, Ganda Bavar infestation, soil salinity due to dams and surrounding chemical industries.
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Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
