Beyond the fire line: perceptions of eight tribal women

The self-image of the Jenu Kuruba woman brought out in this book is the result of a study undertaken by Streevani, Karnataka at Dasanpura Haadi, which is a colony of Jenu Kuruba tribals.
Jenu Kurubas live in the forest. The forest has been everything to them. They were born there, lived within it and expect to make it their final place of rest.
A few decades ago, the forest was the entire universe of the Jenu Kuruba woman. She lived in it playing her role as a member of the tribe, roaming at will in the company of others or alone, collecting tubers, leaves, roots, honey and dead wood. No part of the forest was closed to her.
Then came the strictures in the form of a "fire line" which marked off the reserve forest that prohibited entry of the tribals to their own ancestral homeland. Thenceforth, crossing the fire line became an offence. Thus they have been pushed "Beyond the Fire Line" and have been forced to work out a new strategy for survival beyond the fire line in permanent colonies. It is here that we have met the Jenu Kuruba woman who is the concern of this study.
This study is addressed to all working in the field of women's development who are looking for a new approach to women's development, different from the traditionally welfaristic one of rescuing, sheltering, moralising and the like. We have been making our experience by using the interdisciplinary approach in the present study. Research workers who like us are trying to find answers to working with women will find in this study a basis on which to question further and contribute to women's development.