Marginalization of Aged Khasi Indigenous Community: An Ethnographic Exploration

Abstract

It is assumed that the situation of ethnic older people is similar to the majority elderly population. However, this assumption ignores the fact that the elderly ethnic minorities experience unique and severe problems. Based on an ethnographic research, this paper aims to identify the problems and its coping strategies of the Khasi indigenous elderly people of Bangladesh. The Khasi elderly community identified health related complications and lack of access to treatment facilities as the most significant problem. Other important problems identified by them were lack of access in existing formal support systems, transportation and feelings of guilt by being a burden to others. Although there are government supports for the older people, they are more likely to rely on inherent informal support than on formally organized support. Community responsibility for the older people is observed to be very strong in the Khasi community. However, the elders are sensitive to the fact that their community does not always have the financial capacity to provide the required support. The study reveals that though the community and family support systems are very strong, there is still the need for some amount of government assistance.