Culture and Development, an Experiment with Empowerment

• Main Author: Ganesh N. Devy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institut Veolia Environnement 2013-04-01
• Series: Field Actions Science Reports
• Subjects: Adivasi; colonialism; community; Criminal Tribes Act; CTA; culture
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/2404

The Adivasi Academy has been implementing a comprehensive cultural approach promoting the Adivisi community's empowerment in different fields such as culture, education, healthcare, agriculture and economy. The Adivasi community had been facing lack of access and marginalization partly due to the British colonialism; during which many cultural misunderstandings related to communities’ and tribes’ costumes occurred. Through notably active campaigns, trainings for local people and highlighting cultural conservation, the Adivasi Academy has achieved many positive outcomes namely major policy debates and community's self-reliance. All these show that cultural parameters can play a key role in development. Such comprehensive cultural approach could be replicated in other community contexts in order to foster development and to fight against social exclusions.