Livelihood Changes and Health Status of Paniyan Community of Wayanad, South India
Livelihood Changes and Health Status of Paniyan Community of Wayanad, South India
Wednesday, 9 July 2025: 00:00
Location: SJES018 (Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences (JES))
Oral Presentation
Livelihood is a predominant concern for human well being which is gaining wider attention in international development discourse. The United Nations placed “Life on Land” as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by recognizing its prominence in livelihood and giving focus to enhance the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities (UN 2017).Out of 36 Scheduled Tribes in Kerala,
Paniyan, the numerically dominant community resides in Wayanad district of Kerala, is categorised under agricultural wage labourer. Even though the Paniyan constitutes considerable portion of adivasis in the State, they are highly marginalised in the measures that made significant changes among the other Adivasi communities. The marginalisation still continues unabated, that could be visible in their vulnerability related to health and livelihood. Poor nutrition induced health maladies like anaemia, low birth weight, infant and maternal mortality are reported high among the
Paniyan (STDD 2013; Reporter 20205). As earlier enslaved community and currently agricultural wage labour community, Paniyan of Wayanad face dual vulnerabilty as they are from the backward district as well as back ward within Adivasis of Wayanad. In this backdrop, this study undertaken to understand the changes in livelihood and health status of Paniyan of Wayanad by using mixed method. This research recommends theoretical frame work to assess Paniyan livelihood health which consist land, labour, food, social interaction and community Participation. This framework emerged from the community as their current livelihood and health vulnerability derived mainly from changes happened in these four areas. The study pinpoints policy efforts to fill the gaps emerged due to these changes.
Paniyan, the numerically dominant community resides in Wayanad district of Kerala, is categorised under agricultural wage labourer. Even though the Paniyan constitutes considerable portion of adivasis in the State, they are highly marginalised in the measures that made significant changes among the other Adivasi communities. The marginalisation still continues unabated, that could be visible in their vulnerability related to health and livelihood. Poor nutrition induced health maladies like anaemia, low birth weight, infant and maternal mortality are reported high among the
Paniyan (STDD 2013; Reporter 20205). As earlier enslaved community and currently agricultural wage labour community, Paniyan of Wayanad face dual vulnerabilty as they are from the backward district as well as back ward within Adivasis of Wayanad. In this backdrop, this study undertaken to understand the changes in livelihood and health status of Paniyan of Wayanad by using mixed method. This research recommends theoretical frame work to assess Paniyan livelihood health which consist land, labour, food, social interaction and community Participation. This framework emerged from the community as their current livelihood and health vulnerability derived mainly from changes happened in these four areas. The study pinpoints policy efforts to fill the gaps emerged due to these changes.