Covid 19 and its Impact on Indigenous Peoples: An Ethnographic Study on Garo community at Tangail District

Abstract

People around the world have been affected in some way by the coronavirus pandemic. Garo people have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, which has had a high impact on their daily lives. The present study was an attempt to explore the impact of covid-19 pandemic in the Garo Community at Madhupur Upazila in Tangail District. Attaining broad objective of the study has also focused on some relevant objectives such as, gathering information about the socio-demographic condition of the Garo people, knowing the psycho-social problem faced by the affected person, observing the psychological conditions of the respondents, knowing the economic condition and gaining broad base knowledge about their lifestyle during Covid time and post-Covid time, to incorporate the recommendation and suggestion to improve their lifestyle and socioeconomic condition in post-Covid time. Our main research approach is Qualitative research and we used the Ethnographic method for collecting information we also used the case study method by using purposive sampling taking five in-depth interviews on the basis of our study objectives. The research shows the actual picture of the Garo community during Covid time. The research found that the Garos have faced great trouble during the worldwide pandemic situation. Most of the Garos are farmers and day laborers, during the lockdown, they lose their work; farmers didn’t buy fertilizer and pesticides so their production decreased and they faced an economic crisis, during lockdown they lose their communication system and social isolation which creates loneliness and psychological problem. Due to government instruction, they maintain social isolation and could not perform religious programs, marriage, and other cultural programs limited within the family. They live in a remote place, with no hospital or healthcare facility available there, they suffered a lot of health problems, and Covid positive people did not get enough healthcare support so the death rate was so high.