By: DIPA DALUI, SUTAPA CHOUDHURY, NIRMAL KANTI CHAKRABARTI, BAIDYANATH PAL, TILAK BAGCHI
The Sabar is a Scheduled Tribe that falls into a sub-category known as the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). In some parts of India, PVTGs are socio-economically and demographically vulnerable. Education is considered a key element for improving the socio-economic condition of the Sabars. Compulsory and free education has been introduced in Article 21A as a fundamental right for all children in the Indian Constitution. This study examines the factors contributing to absenteeism and dropout among Sabar children in the village of Satyadaspur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Historically, this community migrated from Mayurbhanj, Odisha, and Paschim Midnapur, West Bengal during colonial rule. The low literacy level and pre-agricultural mentality of this community have compelled them to continue traditional occupations such as hunting, gathering, and fishing for their livelihood. From a very early age, they engage in catching crabs, clams, mussels, fish, and similar activities. In the present study, both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to examine the extent of absenteeism and dropout at the elementary level. The study was conducted among 127 children (including a small number of Sabars in the age group of 14 to 18 years) and 200 adult Sabar individuals.
