This is an orphan community which is converted in to NOMADIC TRIBES. As a result of their uncertain life, they are much backward and poor then local Bhil tribes. They were never interested in cultivation. So, they didn’t have houses. When they do migration with total family, then how their children can get education? In every rainy season, most of the families came back in their villages, so they prepare small huts of size (2x3x3) meters by using bamboos, leaves and grass. They make two stories in this small hut and total family lives in such small residence. When they went out in search of job, they filled their hut with spines. By this way we can guess their economical status easily.

This community is far from education. Literacy percentage is negligible among them. When we started work among them in 1985, only 12 boys and 3 girls were going school in primary classes. At present only 65 children are going schools but during 1995 to 2003, about 300 children were in schools due to Govt. sponsored educational schemes named (a) S.T. Girls Education complex Khewara (80 Kathodi girls). (b) Child labour rehabilitation centres (110 Kathodi children) and Lok Jumbish programme (60 Kathodi children). When in year 2003 NGO ARAVALI closed EDUCATION COMPLEX and child labour schools, the number of school going students got down to only 60 children. Due to shortage of resources, AVS is helpless to do any thing.

They wear little cloths. Men wear underwear of half-pent and shirt. Women wear long skirt type pattycoat and blouse. Aged women wear only piece of cloths. Children generally remain nude. There is not any particular prescribed dress but this depend upon the availability. What they can arranged, they wear. Generally they are, very far from cleanliness. They didn’t take interest in washing the cloths or in taking bath. They always sees black. Their skin is black due to heredity but I think that cold and hot waves also burn their skin due to their destitute and miserable lifestyle.

Their food is also depending upon availability. They gives priority to drink country liquor instead of food. In past when they live isolated due to their language and backwardness and when forest contractors left them jobless in summer, that time they fell in danger of SURVIVAL. Aged Kathodi people say that, in that difficult situation, they started eating the flesh of DEAD ANIMALS, like cows, buffalo. They also eat other wild animals including monkey and rats. They also use several roots and fruits of forest tress and bushes, which are not used by local tribals. In past it was told that, Kathodis were human eater but it is not true.

At present, there is not any major change in their old food pattern but they are leaving the use of flesh of dead animals, rats and another food, which is not used by local tribals. There is main problem of drinking because they give priority to drinking instead of food. What a pity that all family members include woman and children, used the liquor all the time. This heavy use of wine is main reason of poverty and backwardness of this community.
Mortality rate is also high in this community because they are very far from medical aid facilities. Some time, they use herbs in their treatment. They have some knowledge about herbal plants. Heavy use of wine and hygienic problems caused their unfortunate deaths. As a result, their population is not increasing in proper ratio. Due to poverty and innocence, Govt. servants exploit them in family planning operations and sterilize to husband and wife both. Some times unmarried youths are also sterilized.

Kathodi community believe in nature and worship of a Goddess named “KHANMATA” I think, they believe that, she is mother of their native land called “KHANDESH”. Any way, they do fast and do not touch wine during nine days of NAVRATRI (DASHHARA-DIWALI) celebration every year. Generally they don’t know about other HINDU’S gods and goddesses. They put dead body in grave after death. They put all the property of deceased in this grave. Now this system is changing and close relatives may keep the articles of deceased. After death, they also drink wine collectively. They do not believe in death-feast but women relatives of deceased cry so many days in memory of DECEASED.

Their marriage is far from religious procedures. It is very simple. In presence of community, boy and girl join their hands. There is not any problem of dowry or bride-price, but they marry teenagers boys and girls. They did not do child marriages. In Kathodi community husband came to live with father-in-law after marriage and get share in immovable property i.e. land generally, husband built a hut in village of wife and left his native place after marriage. They also enjoy marriage ceremony by drinking. In all functions, they drink and enjoy. In exceptional cases, they serve feast (good meals) to the guests or local community.

Generally, they believe in “RENUNCIATION” and “NON-VIOLENCE”. They fight vocally but never use weapons. They didn’t believe in revenge or enmity. Lastly we can say that, “LIFE OF A KATHODI ALWAYS RUN AROUND THE WINE”. Every Kathodi village has their community leader and they took decisions collectively.

Kathodi community believes in COLLECTIVENESS. They share their earnings and yields. Behind this traditions, there is ugly experiences of past, when they were fighting for survival. We always see gender awareness in this poor community. They love daughters and always treat male and female equally. There is not any gender discrimination in this illiterate and backward community. By this way, we can say that, they are very much advance in HUMANITISM and good HUMAN BEINGS. They are also rich PHYLOSOPHICALLY but very much poor ECONOMICALLY.
INDIA have celebrated the GOLDEN JUBILEE (50 years) of freedom but this isolated tribal minority is still doing struggle to EXIST and living in stone age.

FACT SHEET OF ECONOMIC CONDITION OF KATHODIS - PDF