PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 5 Social maps and geographical transects: some recent experiences in Orissa, India

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 5 Social maps and geographical transects: some recent experiences in Orissa, India Prahlad Mishra and Gayatree Mohanty Introduction income levels, are useful and straightforward to make when a village is small. However in Since PRA is a flexible approach, innovations recent use of PRA in a larger village (more often evolve during the process. Recently than 500 households) a social map such as this much thought has gone towards finding ways was highly complex and impossible to transfer of making the methods even more onto one sheet of paper. After long discussions participatory and innovative. During fieldwork with the villagers a modified approach was which we conducted in Orissa in 1992, some decided on. First, reference points such as innovative approaches to social mapping and roads and wells were drawn on the ground. geographical transects emerged. The villagers then divided the settlement into clusters of households. We held group discussions on caste and income in each Social mapping cluster. Then caste and income groups were mapped (using coloured chalk) for each cluster In our experience, maps showing social with the help of the villagers (Figure 1). characteristics of villages such as caste and Figure ...