Revisiting the ‘Criminalization’ of De-Notified Tribes: Challenges and Prospects of Inclusive Development Among the Kathodis of Maharastra, India

The forest-dwelling indigenous communities encounter persistent challenges posed by external forces, often portrayed as the "other." These communities possess invaluable knowledge of forest resources, making them targets for exploitation in resource tracking endeavors or to use as bait in resources extraction and commodification. It was the time of Colonialist interventions, which initiated the ‘criminalization’ of these forest dwellers on purpose, characterized by subjective judgments labelling them as wild, underdeveloped, and necessitating control over them. Such derogatory categorizations encompassed allegations of habitual criminality, perpetuating marginalization through a plethora of literature.

Additionally, observations reveal that, the Kathodis residing in squalid conditions within areas relegated to them by higher caste groups, indicative of entrenched socio-spatial segregation. This study presents findings from a systematic fieldwork survey conducted among the Kathodis of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Maharashtra, exploring the historical origins and contemporary ramifications of their criminalization by colonial powers. Through an analytical lens, this research elucidates the enduring socio-economic disparities and challenges faced by the Kathodi community in present-day society.