Adolescents of Arunthathiyar population An exploratory study

Abstract

The research engages with the understanding of the life styles of Arunthathiyars in general and newlinethe educational, nutritional and mental health status of Arunthathiayar adolescents in particular. The newlinefact that the community is engaged mostly in conservancy work and are the lowest of all castes, even newlineamong dalits itself, makes them desolate. They do not easily attract the researchers, policy makers and newlineeven the civil society. However, most studies that were carried out mainly featured their socio - newlineeconomic status, history,the atrocities faced, and the policies and programmes in general. Never the newlineless the adolescents who are the foundation for societal change, attracted the researcher to find out the newlinepresent status with relevance to their education, nutrition and mental health status. The various factors newlineinfluencing those factors were carefully studied and presented to capture the attention of the newlinecommunity, researchers, policy makers, the activists and other stakeholders. newlineWith exploratory research design and the multi stage sampling method as the frame work for newlinethe study, four districts of Tamil Nadu was explored to consolidate the socio- economic details. Finally newlineCoimbatore district was selected for an in depth study. Five taluks from this district were chosen to newlineconduct a base line study with 626 adolescents to get a overall picture of socio economic and newlinecultural life styles, and the problems faced related to education. Out of the five taluks, six villages in newlineone taluk with 494 adolescents was chosen for a detailed study in the three aspects mentioned and that newlinecontributed to the adolescents well being. The data was statistically analysed and discussed in detail newlinethe various factors that influenced adolescent s education, nutrition and mental health. Above all the newlineintervention programme conducted with 30 adolescents in the study taluk came out with some newlinesignificant solutions to their problems.