Education and occupational mobility among the Hmars of Manipur

Abstract

The study focuses on education and the occupational newlinemobility of the Hmar tribe of Manipur. It also seeks to newlinehighlight the extent of educational inequality among the newlinedifferent sections of the Hmar society. newlineThe study is based on field work conducted in three newlineHmar villages in the South district of Manipur, viz. newlineSielmat, Saidan and Pherzawl. Data were obtained through an newlineinterview of the heads of households. The total sample newlineincludes 320 households which accounted for 75.6 per cent of newlinethe total Hmar households in the three villages. The newlinespecific objectives of the study are as follows: newline1. To examine the growth and expansion of education newlineamong the Hmars. newline2. To examine inequality of educationa: opportunity newlineamong the different sections of the Hmar society on newlinethe basis of: newlineDifferential access to educational opportunities newlinei.e. differential enrolment of children in the age newlinegroup of 6-21 years. newlineDifferential levels of educational attainment by newlinethe adult members (i.e. above 21 years) newline3. To see as to what extent education influences newlineoccupational mopility among the Hmars. newlinevii. newline4. To examine the extent of inequality between men and newlinewomen. newlineThe Hmaohave a significantly high literacy rate of newline52.2 per cent (1981). However, a closer examination of the newlineeducational attainment of the Hmars revealed that more than newlinehalf of t~e literate population does not have any newlineeducational qualification. Further, only a small proportion newlinehad attained matric or higher qualification. This indicates newlinethat despite their high crude literacy rate, only a small newlinesection of the Hmars are able to obtain formal school newlineeducation; and higher education is yet to be developed among newlinethem. newlineThe study revea~s the presence of a certain level of newlineeducational inequality among the various sections of the newlineHmar society. Considerable difference is noticed in the newlineeducational development of the samples villages. In newlinegeneral, educational development if found to be highest in newlineSielmat where exposure to urban facilities is also the newlinemaximum.