Title: Mapping social and cultural capital(s) of Meos and other households in Mewat Region, Haryana

Authors: Naresh Kumar

Addresses: Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

Abstract: This paper attempts to map the social identities of Meos and other households in Mewat, Haryana. Similarity and difference determine their identity. This study looks at whether social groups are similar or dissimilar in terms of social and cultural capital(s) in Mewat, Haryana. Similarity implies belongingness and togetherness while being dissimilar means the praxis of explicit categorisation that one is different from other(s). The analysis shows that similarity outnumbers the differences in relation to the social capital in Meos and other sample households. It shows that there is a greater similarity between Meos and other(s) in social capital as reflected in their participation in the Panchayati Raj institutions, social cohesion, particularised trust and participatory appraisal. On this basis, it can be argued that in general, there are more differences in cultural than social capital(s). Therefore, it can be concluded that cultural capital is more important in the formation of social identities as compared to social capital and in turn affecting local development outcomes.

Keywords: social identities; cultural capital; social capital; Meos; development; Mewat region; Haryana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2018.094498

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2018 Vol.10 No.2, pp.140 - 159

Received: 13 Nov 2017
Accepted: 20 Jun 2018
Published online: 03 Sep 2018 *

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