Ms. Vitasta will present her APS as per the details below:

Date: Thursday, 8th February, 2024

Time: 1400 - 1530 hrs. 

Venue: CTARA Conference Room No.1

Title: Status of Rural Housing Schemes in Peri-Urban Villages of MMR

Supervisor: Prof. Pankaj Sekhsaria

RPC Members: Prof. Himanshu Burte and Prof. Satish B. Agnihotri

Abstract:

This APS report presents field work and literature review conducted during 2023. The field work covers the tragedy at Irshalgad Thakurwadi hamlet in the study area that was wiped away by a landslide in July 2023. The events of the landslide which claimed 84 lives and buried the entire hamlet, its immediate aftermath and the processes of resettlement have been covered in detail in the first part of this report.

The literature review covers aspects of tribal assimilation and the conception of ‘caste among tribes’, particularly regarding the two main tribal groups present in the study area- the Katkaris and the Thakurs. Literature looks at how the frames of discrimination and continued stigma attached to being a former criminal tribe reflects in the socioeconomic conditions of the Katkaris today, even in the peri-urban context of the study area. These issues are also reflected in the implementation of rural housing schemes as detailed in the report.

The last part of the report covers interviews, field surveys and empirical mapping works to understand the implementation of rural housing schemes. Differences between the understanding and conception of the schemes at different levels of governance versus beneficiary understanding are highlighted. Further, an attempt has been made to understand the implications of different schemes on the social fabric of where they are implemented and the spatial segregation as a result of the schemes has been mapped. The study reveals shortcomings of the schemes particularly in peri-urban contexts where real estate speculation has led to land shortages.