Context:
Garo people of Alipurduar village (part of Buxa Tiger Reserve) have expressed their concern over lack of developmental effort for them.
About Garos:
- Tribe of Tibeto-Burman linguistic family under Mongoloid racial stock.
- Regions – Meghalaya (2nd largest), Nagaland, Assam and West Bengal.
- Religion – Christianity
- Society & Culture –
- 2 Marriage Laws – Exogamy and A’Kim
- Intra-clan marriage not allowed.
Law of A-Kim – A man or a woman who has once contracted marriage will never be free to remarry person of another clan, even after the death of his/ her spouse.
- Matrilineal society (woman enjoys a higher status in society) –
- Inheritance of Property – Youngest daughter
- Sons leave the parents’ house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor dormitory (Nokpante)
- After getting married, the man lives in his wife’s house.
- Occupation: Jhum cultivation
- Prominent festival: Wangala festival
About Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR):
- Location: West Bengal
- Northern boundary of Buxa Tiger Reserve (Sinchula hill range) runs along the international border with Bhutan.
- BTR includes –
- Terai Eco-System
- MahakaleshwarJyotirlinga(a sacred temple)
- Main rivers: Sankosh, Raidak, Jayanti, Churnia, Turturi, Phashkhawa, Dima and Nonani
- Tiger Corridors –
- Buxa-Titi
- Nimati-Chilapata
- Buxa-Ripu at Sankosh
- Flora: Moist Tropical Forests
- Fauna: Indian Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Hog badger, Jungle Cat etc.
Source: The Hindu
