Agaria

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The Agariya, or Agaria is a title of Chunvalia Kolis who are salt farmers in Kutch district of Gujarat, India. [1] in 2019, Koli Agariyas faces the great loss of salt trade because of the Trade war between China and United States of America. [2]

Contents

They produce the 30% of the salt of the total of country. [3] [4] they were listed as Criminal Tribe under Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 by British Indian government because of their rebellions against British rule in India. [5]

The Koli Agariyas were landowners of the land of Little Rann of Kutch but in 1978 this area was declared as Wild Ass Sanctuary by Government of Gujarat and their lands were captured by Gujarat government. [6] Koli Agariyas demanding recognition as farmers and an assurance that they have a legal right on Little Rann of Kutch land for salt farming to get the benefit like agriculture farmers such as money package and relief for natural calamities like flood. [7]

Clans

Here are some of the clans used by Agariya title holder Kolis of Kutch,

Classification

The Koli Agarias are classified as Other Backward Class by Government of Gujarat but in past they were notified as Criminal Tribe. [8]

Organisations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Rann of Kutch</span> Salt marsh located near the Great Rann of Kutch in Kutch, Gujarat, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chunvalia Koli</span> Subcaste of Koli caste

The Chunvalia, or Chuvalia, Chunwalia is a subcaste of the Koli caste, found in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Chunvalia Kolis were the first Indian caste to adopt the game of cricket in India. Chunvalia Kolis were classified as a Criminal Tribe under Criminal Tribes Act by government of the British Raj because of their purported anti-social behaviour and activities, such as alleged dacoity in Gujarat. During the First World War, Chunwalia Kolis were enlisted as soldiers in British Indian Army by the Bombay government of British India.

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References

  1. Chandra, Kavita Kanan (24 February 2017). "The salt farmers of wild ass country". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. "Gujarat Salt Industry Hit By US-China Trade War". Forbes India. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 Kaur, Ravleen. "Gujarat's plan to build Asia's biggest freshwater lake is a threat to Agariya salt workers". Scroll.in. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. Schooneveld, Inge van (15 February 2018). "The salt farmers of Little Ran of Kutch". Sinchi Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. "Education in the Desert: Field Notes from the Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat - Bhavna Harchandani". Doing Sociology. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. Deepak, Sharanya. "Will election change fate of the Agariyas of Gujarat?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. "Research sweetens deal for saltpan workers". The Indian Express. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  8. "Lok Sabha polls: Post-Rahul Gandhi visit, Congress all set to hand over salt-pan workers to BJP on platter". Counterview. Retrieved 23 July 2022.