POVERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A STUDY ON DHANKUT OF DISTRICT

POVERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: A STUDY ON DHANKUT OF DISTRICT
OF DISTRICT BAHRAICH (U.P.)

Dr. Alok Chantia, Lecturer, Dept. of Anthropology, Sri Jai Narain Post Graduate College, Lucknow, E-Mail alokchantia@rediffmail.comLecturer,
Dr. Preeti Misra, Dept. of Human Rights, School for Legal Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow; Formerly Lecturer in Dept.of Law, Sri J.N.P.G.College, Lucknow, E-Mail misra9us@gmail.com


Key Words – Culture, Human Rights, Poverty

Abstract

Every culture has its own limit and carrying capacity which generates a problem of additional population. The influence of economy and process of globalisation, accelerates the process of change. Possibilities of change and demand for the fulfillment of desire of additional population make an environment of poverty which is nothing but unavailability of artifacts due to their capability. These lines become true for Dhankut of district Bahraich of Uttar Pradesh. It is an endogamous group who represent specific cultural trait of cross cousin and parallel cousin marriage. It is a big group of 50,000 population across the Uttar Pradesh, but in Bahraich they are 2687 (2001 census) in number. Since their origin and caste is unknown, they have not been given any place under the category of SC/ST/OBC. Due to unavailability of employment, agriculture, educational facilities, financial assistance by the government, this group is deprived from every facility which is required for development and dignified life.
This study was conducted between 15 May 2007 to 30 May 2007. It is an exploratory cum descriptive type of work, where 300 respondents of above 18 years of age were interviewed randomly.
This study shows that poverty is not an economic phenomenon. It also depends upon capability which ultimately depends on many socio cultural factors like caste, social mobility, alternatives etc. This study reveals that Dhankut are victim of poverty because of Hindu social system, though they are very much aware about the process of globalization viz. – education, health, government policy etc.