 Traditional ecological knowledge, the people themselves and their ways of life

should be protected.

 Uniyal et al. (2006) stated that younger generation is ignorent about the

medicinal resources available in their ecological settings. Bhangalis inherit a

rich traditional knowledge and they depends on the plant for medicinal purpose

and are very much concerned about degradation in forest and now they have to

travel even more for to collect these plants.

 Ayyanar M. (2005) told that the purpose of standardizing traditional remedies is

obviously to ensure therapeutically efficacy. The value of using ethno-medical

information is to leads the drug discovery efforts. This study also gives an

insight of using medicinal plants by tribals.

 Anderson's (2004) reported that natural resources management is old age

tradition. American Indians have used this knowledge for Millennia. This

traditional knowledge has direct application to the restoration and management

of biological diversity.
 Vedavathy V. (2003) reported that considerable knowledge associated with

villagers and tribals on traditional medicine remain unknown to the urban

people & modern health Practitioner. Many herbal medicines and medicinal

plants accumulated by the rural people now are on the cost of disappearing and

considered under vulnerable list. The reason which works behind is

Deforestation, Urbanization and Modernization that forces the rural people

from their Natural habitat & their knowledge particularly with respect to herbal

drug.

 Reiff et al. (2003) stated that the Dominican community of New York City has

a large variety of Traditional healing sources but they are known less about

their ethno-medical concepts and practices. These papers describe the herbal

perspectives on their healing tradition. Practices and treatment approaches. In

general this knowledge is transmitted through odder female kin and approach

Multidimensional holistic approach to health care used by traditional healers.

Indirectly the healers also demonstrate variation in training diagnostic

techniques and treatment approaches.

 Bag M (2002) concluded that human culture constitutes healing Practices,

concept of health disease. Ethno-medicine itself is considered to a unique

traditional knowledge.

 Berkes F (1999) - An considers four interrelated steps with Traditional

knowledge which he describes as follows- First include knowledge based on

empirical observation for survival. Second one focus on the understanding of

ecological Process and natural Resource management (Practice, tools and

techniques), the third is the socio economic organization necessary for effective

co-ordination and co-operation (Rules and Taboos) and the fourth is referred to

as World view or cosmovision (Religion, belief and Ethics).

 Berkes et al. (1995) stated that local people and their traditional knowledge in

the planning for biodiversity conservation is a pragmatic one. Local people

have intense knowledge about a given area and species in it than outsiders.

Their knowledge is based on a longer time series of observations and broader

contextual understanding of the environment. The failure to ensure local co-

operation in biodiversity conservation efforts may make the local people in

 different hand works and perhaps even hostile to the effort because of the

natural tendency of people to be suspicious of top-down initiatives.

 Gadgil et al. (1993) explained that Traditional Ecological knowledge is based

on diachronic observation in contrast to synchronic observation on which

western science is based. However, it is vital that the value of Traditional

Ecological knowledge recognized in biodiversity conservation.

 Telban B (1980) concluded that people living in Villages, forest use their

practices. But the main causes of Illness can be moral, social, magical and

spiritual for which treatment is offered with the aid of Medical ethno-botanical

knowledge. Medical plants are indispensable as ingredients of many important

modern drugs.

 Berkes (1979) emphasizes the self sufficiency of native community which

appears suitable for supporting their livelihood as well as in maintaining

domestic fishery.

 Shorder E (1978) stated that in Germany there has not been much work in

"Medical Anthropology". The other aspect of the neglect of ethno-medicine is

 passing off of native radical theme as being more religious phenomena. This

can be understood as an expression of well established disciplines,

Anthropologist, ethnocentrism and physician centrism in their interpretation of

native Healthcare.

Review of literature is important part and pared to provide requisite right

direction to the proposed study although several studies are conducted on

different aspects of traditional ecological knowledge, Indigenous knowledge

and ethno-medicine and biodiversity conversation but still there is a paucity of

anthropological treatment to such subject. Hence, this research is proposed.

*****

RESEARCH METHODOLGY

Research can be defined as a search for facts, knowledge or one can also define as

a scientific and systematic search for important information on a particular topic.

D. Slesinger and M. Stephenson in the Encyclopaedia of social science defines

research as “the Manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of

generalising to extend correct or verify knowledge, whether that knowledge aids in

construction of theory or in practice”. Research Methodology is that process or

method used to identify the problems, fact and analysis of their data to obtain

objective and reached at certain conclusions. Moreover, it described those methods

or process that is used in duration of research work.

In this chapter researcher explored the reasons behind the choice of methodology

used in this proposed study. The chapter begins with elements of Research

Methodology including pilot study of Research area, Research design, sampling

methods, mode of data collection i.e. primary data collection, which includes

observation, Interview, schedule Interview schedule, Genealogy, photography care

study Rapport establishment and focused group discussion. Another mode of data

collection is secondary data collection, which includes census reports, journals, and

Government reports, books etc. subsequently; the steps involved were described in

detail and in a systematic order to obtain a reliable data.

3.1 PILOT STUDY- Before operating a large scale study researcher applied a

pilot study or survey in their Research area. It is a small scale study that is

conducted in order to decide how good to conduct a research work. By using this
method, a researcher can figure out what techniques, methods will be best and also

estimate how much time and resources would be necessary to conduct the research

work. It was conducted in advance of a planned project, specifically to test aspects

of the research design and to allow necessary adjustment before commitment to the

design that is why researcher have gone through this process to test the research

design. For this study researcher has selected "Dhanura Gaon" in Duddhi block of

Dudhi Tehsil, pipardih gaon, panari gaon in Sonbhadra district. The researcher had

selected 30 households from these villages and surveyed them to know their

perception about the concept of Health, Indigenous curing style knowledge with

the help of selected methods of data collection.

3.2 RESEARCH DESIGN- Research design is a "plan of Action" of Research. It

is a detailed outline of how the proposed research will take place. Young (1982:12-

12) has said, “The consideration which enter into making the decisions regarding

the what, where, when, how much, by what means constitute a plan of study or a

study design."
The function of research design is to provide for collection of relevant evidence

with minimal expenditure of efforts, time and money. It also helps the researcher in

the selection of subjects for research techniques and in the selection of analysis

type to be used in data interpretation. The formulation of research design depends

upon the objectives or purpose of the proposed work and situations, conditions

under which the research work is conducted. Research designs followed some

components. As Young (1982:13) stated, "a research design includes at the least

the following components parts which are interdependent and not exclusive (1)

source of Information to be tapped (2) Nature of study (3) Objectives of study (4)

Socio-cultural context of study (5) geographical area to be covered by the study (6)

period of time to be encompassed (7) Dimensions of the study (8) the bases for

selecting the data and (9) techniques to be used in gathering the data"

On the basis of research problem, research design may fall into four categories

namely; exploratory or formulative research design, diagnostic research design,

descriptive research design and experimental research design.

The present study comes under descriptive research design. Bickman Bag (1998)

suggested descriptive research consists of surveys and fact finding inquiries of

different type. The main objective of descriptive research is to describe the state of

affair as it prevails at the time of study. As per aims and objective of proposed

research, the researcher had to give the description of traditional healer's practices,

spiritual healing of disease, and tribal's notion about health.

3.3 STUDY AREA

As per title of proposed study, the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh is the study

area. Maximum tribal population lives in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. In

present time Cheros are confined to Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The

selection of village was taken on the basis of representation of Chero tribe. Certain

other factors also play major role in selection of village as ethnic homogeneity,

distance from the urban industrial area, availability of reliable data, etc.

3.4 UNIVERSE OF STUDY

“Chero” Tribe of Sonbhadra district is the universe of the present study. Universe

or population of study is a group whose members possess specific characteristic

that is necessary for the conducting of proposed work. The requirement of defining

the population for research work arises from the need to specify the group to which

the result of study can be generalised. The Chero, in local language are known as

‘Baiga’. They are involved in such kind of rituals of healing disease through

spiritualism. ‘Baiga’ means a person who performs rituals to invoke spirits and

work for the welfare of the tribes men. Cheros have great knowledge of ethno-

medicine and they also explore forests for plant based medicine.

3.5 SAMPLING- Sampling is most important part of our proposed research

because the objectives of research can be obtained only after the selection of

appropriate sample size. Sampling may be defined as the selection of certain units

from the whole part as being representative of the whole. After that, these sample

units are studied in detail and the conclusion achieved from there, are applied to

the whole domain or universe.

In census investigation all units are studied, but in sample investigation only some

of these units are selected on some definite basis. In the words of Snedecor “A cart

load of coal is accepted or rejected on the evidence gained from testing only a few
pounds. The physicians make inference about a patient’s blood through

examination of a single drop. Samples are devices for learning about large masses

by observing a few individuals”.

Technically universe or population is the whole group from which the samples

have been drawn. And the group selected for study is known as sample. So when

the small unit is selected as representative of the whole population, the study is

known as sampling study.

3.5.1 SAMPLE DESIGN – it is a definite process or idea of selecting a sample

from population as well as decides the number of units to be included in the sample

i.e. the size of sample. Essentials of an ideal sample are as follows:

 Representativeness

 Independence

 Adequacy

 Homogeneity (Dr. Kumar 2009)

The sampling process consists of seven sequential steps. These steps are as

follows-
 Define the population

 Specify sampling frame

 Specify a sampling unit

 Specify sampling Method

 Determine sampling size

 Specify sampling plan

 Select the sample. (Dixit, 2011)

3.5.2 SAMPLING TECHNIQUES- there are two broad category of sampling

techniques.

3.5.2.1- PROBABILITY SAMPLING- Probability sampling technique is that in

which every unit in the population has a chance of being selected in the sample.

All items in population have an equal chance of being selected in the sample. This

technique includes simple random sampling, stratified random sampling,

systematic random sampling, multistage sampling, cluster sampling.

3.5.2.2 NON PROBABILITY SAMPLING TECHNIQUE- In this technique,

items of the population have not equal chance of being selected in population. In is
depended on the choices of the researcher. It does not fully determine the

probability of being chosen in the sample. It includes purposive sampling,

snowball sampling, quota sampling.

Selection of sampling technique depends on the nature of problem, availability of

resources, size of population, sample size, availability of finance and time. Here,

the present study is done under the purposive sampling and simple random

sampling. Researcher clarified the sample technique which is being used in this

proposed study.

1- In the selection of field area, the researcher had used purposive sampling. This

sampling comes under Non-probability sampling techniques. This technique is

being used by researcher as per the need of aims and objectives. The Sonbhadra

district is comprised of three tehsils and Eight Blocks. On the Basis of population

size of Chero people, out of three tehsils, Robertsganj and Dudhi Tehsil has been

selected. From Robertsganj Tehsil, Chopan block and from Dudhi tehsil, Duddhi

Block has been selected respectively. Duddhi block is selected on the basis of its

location, as it is situated at the border of district. It touches the boundary of

Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhatisgarh. Chero people were in contact with other tribal

groups of adjoining states and one can easily feel the effect of culture contact. The

Duddhi area is fully covered with rich forest. Hathinala Biodiversity forest division

area falls under Duddhi Block. Duddhi Block is farthest from the district

headquarter Robertsganj.

Chopan Block is nearest to the district headquarter, Robertsganj. This block is

selected on the basis of populaiton size of Chero people. These people are in

frequent touch of modern facilities. This area is also rich in flora and fauna.

2. Selection of respondents is done under the simple random sampling. It comes

under the probability sampling technique. View of respondents is necessary when

data is related to the concept of health or spiritual beliefs and purposive sampling

was used whenever the researcher needs comments of traditional healers.

Traditional healer i.e.