IS THE RAINBOW AN ILLUSION? Educational Programmes and the Adivasi Peoples during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kerala, India

Abstract

Just like any other field, education was drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world. In the state of Kerala, the Adivasi peoples were the most impacted peoples by the pandemic and its ramifications. The normalised underlying disparities were exacerbated with the crisis that emerged at the onset of the pandemic and exposed the social inequalities in place regarding the state’s marginalised sections including the Adivasi peoples. This research project focuses on this critical juncture, interrogating the diverse aspects pertinent to the current situation of Adivasi education. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the project looks at the state’s programmes and policies on Adivasi education and seeks to generate a nuanced understanding of the problem.