A Study on Education and Employment Hurdles Faced by the Narikuravar Community in Tamilnadu

The Narikuravar community is known as the gypsies of Tamil Nadu. The society is Peripatetic nomadic by nature, and its makeshift communities may be found all across Tamil Nadu. The Narikuravar are hunters and gatherers who are also well-known for their beadwork, basketry, and fortune-telling abilities. They are extremely poor, nomadic, and severely disadvantaged because of the quirks of their language, nomadism and abject poverty. Education is the most important instrument for improving the quality of life for a community or civilization. Society has to embrace and assist a particular community when they step forward to pursue education. One such community in Tamilnadu that lags behind in terms of jobs and education is Narikuravar.The Narikuravar people are frequently marginalized by society and have restricted access to formal jobs, healthcare, and education. Narikuravar has imagined a path from poverty and access to fundamental rights for generations. Following a protracted legal battle, the Narikuravar community has been listed as a scheduled tribe after a struggle of forty years. This study focuses on the current obstacles facing the Narikuravar community in Tamilnadu, India, in obtaining employment and educational possibilities after receiving an ST status. This study was conducted in the Chennai gypsy colony of Kotturpuram. The researcher employed an interview schedule as a means of gathering data. Data were gathered from school-age children, community elders, and college students.The researcher had found that there are challenges in getting education and employment due to the complication of getting an ST certificate and what to do after getting it and limited awareness about government schemes.