Media Release

Bengaluru, Feb 4: The Service Learning Cell, department of economics, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), organised a field visit to the Hakki Pikki tribal community on February 3 as part of its experiential and service-learning initiatives. The tribal settlement is located approximately 12 kilometres from Bannerghatta, in Bengaluru.

The Hakki Pikki are a semi-nomadic indigenous community that continues to face challenges related to livelihoods, housing, and access to basic civic amenities. The field visit was designed to provide students with first-hand exposure to these development concerns and to strengthen classroom learning through direct community engagement.

A total of 54 second-year BA Economics students participated in the visit under the guidance of faculty coordinators Dr Chandan Roy, Dr Subhashree Banerjee, and Dr Manasi Dash. Students were divided into smaller groups and engaged directly with members of the community through interactions and surveys.

As part of the engagement, students collected primary data on occupational patterns, livelihoods, and living conditions, with particular emphasis on access to water supply and sanitation facilities. These interactions enabled students to examine socio-economic challenges at the grassroots level and relate them to concepts studied in development and welfare economics.

Speaking about the initiative, faculty members noted that such field engagements help students connect economic theory with lived realities, fostering critical inquiry, social awareness, and sensitivity towards marginalised communities.

The field visit reaffirmed the Department of Economics’ commitment to integrating academic learning with meaningful field-based research and service-learning practices, contributing to socially engaged and responsible higher education.