Sodic Economic Status of Vakarai Veddas' Fishing Community in Kunchankalkulam, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka: An Application of Rapid Rural Appraisal Technique

Abstract

Vakarai Veddas are a social group of people with an indigenous ancestry of Coastal Veddas, form within Sri Lankan Tamil ethnic group of Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Their cultural identity is rapidly diminishing due to embracing Sinhalese and Tamils culture and impacts of modernization. Therefore, today there is a need to preserve their way of life. This study attempted to understand the socio economic status of the Vakarai Veddas' community and the prevailing problems in their society. A Rapid Rural Appraisal was conducted in Kunchankalkulam, using several tools such as transect walk, resource map, pair-wise ranking, problem tree, daily routine clock, seasonal calendar, and Venn diagram. At present, there are 61 families live in this village. Approximately 64% of the population was less than 18 years old with a balance proportion of gender. Inland fishing was their major livelihood followed by paddy farming and animal rearing. In Kunchankalkulam, majority of Vakarai Veddas are heavily influenced by the Hindu culture while a few people adopted Christianity. Results of the Venn diagram displays that a non-governmental organization is providing a significant service to this community. From the pair-wise ranking exercise, water scarcity was identified as the most problematic issue of this community. It was observed that the majority of Vakarai Veddas were victims of poverty. Through public private partnerships, diversified cultural and eco-tourism avenues should be promoted to bring revenue to sustain the Vakarai Veddas community and their culture.