Lived realities beyond surveys: Participatory Evidence Generation with Communities in Bodoland, North East India

The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam, Northeastern India, is home to over 15 ethnic tribes (Bodos included), governed by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), an autonomous body safeguarding tribal rights. Prior to the BTC's formation, ethnic conflicts affected population wellbeing. Here, Literacy (66.2%) lags behind the state average, one-third of women marry before 18, and gender-based violence, poor health service access, and substance use are widespread (NFHS-5).  KHPT conducted a participatory study to inform an integrated community-based health model for tribal communities of BTC.

Ninety participants- men, women, adolescents, frontline workers, Village Council members, and officials were engaged using storytelling, infrastructure mapping, ethnographic village walks, huddle games, daily chore mapping, card-sorting, mural wall art, and "problems inside/outside the house" exercises. These approaches reduced mistrust, encouraged expression, and connected discussions to daily life.

The tools surfaced layered insights. Men highlighted insecurity: "How can we focus on wellbeing when we have uncertainty about enough food?" Women voiced burdens of conflict and alcoholism: "Money spent on alcohol is a wastage." Adolescents articulated aspirations: "We need counsellors, there is no one to help with life, decisions, or career choices." Frontline workers described families devastated by addiction, while system actors admitted, "Though we have programs, there is no participation from communities."

For SBCC, positioning communities as co-creators of knowledge generated evidence grounded in lived realities and cultural contexts. This approach shifted research from extraction to dialogue, enabling historically marginalized groups to articulate pathways toward wellbeing and adding value to existing methods.