Center Of Excellence in Digital Forensics Perungudi, Chennai, India
The study explores the victimization of Narikuravar women, a marginalized and semi-nomadic tribal community focusing on access to education, employment, cultural-economic challenges, child marriage, and legal challenges. Conducted in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, the research adopts a quantitative research method approach to explore the various challenges faced by Narikuravar women. The study involves a sample of 102 women from the Narikuravar community and gathering information data on how gender-based violence and remains underreported due to fear of stigma, societal norms, and lack of trust in legal institutions. This study aims to investigate the awareness of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act among the Narikuravars community and their nutrition health. The study highlights the education barriers faced by these women, lack of access to schools and their cultural stigmatization to limit their access to education and employment. Through this research, the study aims to reveal the pressing issues faced by Narikuravar women and offer recommendations to address their challenges, improve their well-being, and break the cycle of exploitation.
Victim
Under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, by virtue of Act 5 of 2009, the definition of “victim” was added by way of section 2(wa) to mean a person who has suffered any loss or injury caused by reason of the act or omission for which the accused person has been charged and the expression “victim” includes his or her guardian or legal heir. [1]
Narikuravargal
The Narikuravars are a semi-nomadic tribal community primarily found in Tamil Nadu. The name Narikuravargal can be divided into two words, Nari (fox) and Kuravar (a nomadic or tribal community) where the fox in their first name connects to the practice of observing animal behavior, especially foxes, to make fortune predictions of the future. Foxes were often considered religious creatures with the ability to sense upcoming events. The Narikuravargal probably evolved from the larger Kuravar tribal community, a group traditionally associated with unsettled lifestyles, hunting, and gathering. Some specific groups of people within this community are proficient in fortune telling, giving a new rise to the Narikuravargal. They play a significant role in predicting natural signs and offer wise guidance an important occasion. Many Narikuravargal might have been Siddhar or spiritual healers who were well-versed in the Siddha medical system. [2]
Occupation
In ancient times, they were skilled in tracking and hunting small animals, birds, and reptiles, using simple tools like traps, slingshots and bows. Implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 in India, hunting was prohibited to secure the endanger species. Narikuravargal was engaged in traditional systems of education, spiritual practices, and community leadership. They were responsible for the youth by educating philosophy, literature, ethics, religion, and governance. This education was typically through oral traditions, where ancient would teach from religious write like the Thirukkural, Tamil Sangam literature, and some Vedic texts. They often as monks, pastor who led rituals and provide advices to individuals about religious and spiritual leadership. [3,4] Many narikuravars families make sell handmade bead necklaces, bracelets during festival. some are selling the small items such as toys, hair accessories, or household goods in roadside stalls and travelling vendors.
Aruneshwari*, Priyadharshini Jayabalan, A Study on The Victimization of The Women in The Narikuravar Community of Madurai District, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2025, 2 (4), 591-605. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15277148
10.5281/zenodo.15277148
