Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/handle/123456789/595
Title: Occupational Mobility and Alteration in the Indigenous Resource Management Practice of the Jalari Community of Pokhara Valley
Authors: Adhikari, Bhola Nath
Keywords: Sociology;community.
Issue Date: 2011
Publisher: Department of Sociology / Anthropology Prithvi Narayan Campus
Institute Name: Prithivi Narayan Campus, Pokhara
Level: Masters
Abstract: The major objective of this study is to draw on alteration in occupational structure among the Jalari Community of Phewa Lake. To that end, research questions were raised and combinations of qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted. On the basis of the research objectives, indigenous fishing practices of the Jalari community of Phewa Lake were analyzed and explained in detail. Further, the alterations occurring in their occupational structure have also been explored extensively. The other major task was to examine the increasing linkages of the Jalari community to Phewa Lake concerning resource management and utilization. Observation, interview, and focus group discussions were adopted as a part of techniques of anthropological research so as to collect data. However, the primary data played a dominant role into drawing a valid conclusion. Some relevant and useful secondary data were also incorporated. To give a vivid picture of the lifestyle and occupational activities of both of the generations of the Jalari community, case studies representing traditional experience, occupational alteration within the generation, and modern skill and technology were depicted. The concept of common property resource user has shown the best way of resource management in study area as well as Nepalese society which can fit well into increasingly emphasized grassroots level for democratic decision-making, participatory development and fair equity distribution. Here, the Jalari community's traditional resource utilization patterns have been replaced by non-caste occupation and many western or matured modern technologies that affect the life of the inhabitants’ traditional privilege. The major traditional occupation of the Jalari community is fishing at small streams and lakes in their vicinity with traditional technology and skills. In fact, the community got its name Majhi owing to the occupation of fishing itself. Sweeping, knitting and unpaid labour are also the works that this community has been doing for their livelihood. However, occupational mobility and alterations are the inherent nature of every society, from traditional to the modern ones. Two types of occupational mobility are commonly practiced in a community--open system (horizontal) which is related to achieved and closed system (vertical) related to ascribed. Achieved status or occupation is the cultural position attained by a person or group through their own effort and the process of modernization, acculturization, westernization, urbanization and so on. This study deduced that unlike the traditional lifestyle, this type of shift gives the individual a life which is more precious and easier to live in the community. In such type of mobility, competition among the members of society or caste group is encouraged and each individual gets an opportunity to upgrade his lifestyle and status in the society, purely on merit basis. Among the jalari community owing to the modern instruments, availability of new technology and modernization trend this community has been found taking leap from their traditional occupation to modern ones. They are in the process of shifting or transforming their traditional occupation of fishing with traditional technology, sweeping, knitting and unpaid labour to modern or non-caste occupations like Foreign Service, driving, or wage-based labour. Under the closed system, which is in stark contrast to the open system, social status and occupational practices of community members are exclusively guided and limited by the norms and values of that community. When it comes to the Jalari community, its occupational practices were limited to fishing by hand-net, hooks, boating, sweeping and unpaid labour. Of late, however, within the system the Jalari families have brought a new dimension to their traditional occupations. The occupation has witnessed a massive change in the form of different modern technologies, skills and assistance: cage fish farming, fishing by Tayari Jal and Maha Jal and the formation of Jalari welfare committees and co-operatives are some to name a few. The main causes behind such occupational alteration has been found to be diverse population, depletion of natural resources, increasing linkage to market, different opportunities for achieved occupation, education, foreign employment, and so on. The study result also squabbled that fisheries in Phewa Lake have proven to be highly beneficial in supporting the lives of the Jalari community living in the vicinity. The study showed that natural, physical and financial capitals are fully utilized in the community while human and social capital still needs to be further enhanced. Lack of education and awareness towards it were evident amongst the community. However, compared to the yesteryear lifestyle and occupational practices of the Jalari community, the study has found that the older generation, nowadays, has been striving hard to manage and utilize local resources in order to sustain their lives through an occupation that has long been the symbol of their cultural identity and a way of life, whereas, the younger generation is lured by the prospects of better lifestyle and secure future the modern world has offered to them. The very conflict of interests between these two generations of the community has endangered the entire occupation. To make the matter worse, the non-caste invasion into fishing has served a severe blow for those few members of the younger generation attempting to sustain their life through fishing. As a result, they are left with no option than to consider alternative occupations like driving, foreign employment, construction labour, among others. To wind up, owing to various reasons like population, time, technology, awareness and expectations in and outside the Jalari community, it has of late witnessed a massive occupational shift from traditional to the modern ones.
URI: http://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/handle/123456789/595
Appears in Collections:Sociology

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