Indigenous Knowledge and Human Development: A Study in North East India

The book is on the indigenous knowledge system of Scheduled Tribe population of Assam and how it may be utilised in development process. It documents the indigenous knowledge and beliefs with respect to health care including reproductive health and child care, natural resources management, food preparation and preservatives, and other activities of the communities. Dealing with the religious beliefs and practices as knowledge and referring to tribes like the Sonowal Kacharis and the Deoris, it takes up transmission of indigenous knowledge through food habits and socialisation. Aspects of their life relating to their forest villages, the environment, culture and tradition such as migration are also dealt with. It stresses on the importance of indigenous knowledge as a resource for the development agencies, while emphasising the need to use the indigenous knowledge to the best advantage.