Village description of Bhanas -Hivara: Mathang Community!

In this village most of them are known as Scheduled caste, which means by birth they are untouchable in the minds of the people. Even if they have improved their social economic status they have been looked down by the forward caste people. Till today they have separate place for their dwelling in the village. They are used for all kinds of manual work such as disposing dead animals and human waste and treated as second class citizens.’

Some 40 years ago this community was not allowed to enter into a temple and participate in religious functions. They were even kept away from all kinds of education. As per Hindu religion, they were the people  who pollute the place and people by their presence and even by their shadows. These kinds of atrocities are coming down due to punishment by the Indian penal law. 

This community is very eager to come up in their lives. But due to economic backwardness they are not able to give good education to their children. There are 126 children in this village who live without any purpose and motivation in their lives. Their livelihood mainly depends on rain as they go for manual labour on others fields and farms.

They live in small huts which are made by stone, mud, wood and roofs are made by sugarcane leaves and covered with plastic sheet during rainy season in order to avoid leakage in the house. Some houses are not even two meter height and when we enter their houses we have to bend and go inside. Pure water, sanitation, proper house and livelihoods are the common needs for their survival.

They are very religious but more superstitious. They have different ceremonies for birth, marriage, divorce and death.  They can marry only from their community.Though there is social security to this people, due to lack of documents to submit and prove their status, they are not much benefited from the Government facilities.

Women: These village women are very active even though their husbands dominate in terms of decision making.  They have created their own self help group apart from cooking and taking care of all family members including children. The world of a woman is surrounded with her husband and her children. Due to that they fail to care for their health and become malnutrition and earn many physical problems. We hope that MVDP can facilitate to build their capacity and cause them to be better citizen.