Tribal Development

Mains Syllabus: GS II - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable section

Why in the News?

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched an outreach programme, targeting around 1 lakh tribal-dominated villages, to ensure doorstep delivery of two welfare schemes.

What is the status of tribal population in India?

Population of Scheduled Tribes - The 2011 census indicates that there are 705 Scheduled Tribes in India, comprising about 8.6% of the country's total population.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) - There are 75 officially recognised PVTGs across various states in India.
Tribal Diversity - Tribal communities in India have diverse cultural practices, languages, and social structures.
Tribal Development - Among Scheduled Tribes, communities are at varying stages of social, economic, and educational development.
While some have adopted modern lifestyles, others still live at a pre-agricultural stage, relying on hunting and gathering for survival.

Tribal Development Initiatives

Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 – It aims to provide legal recognition of tribal rights over forest land and resources. While the Act is a landmark in upholding tribal dignity and livelihood security, accessing its benefits remains a challenge.
Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) – Launched as Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) in 1974-75, it has evolved into the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) and the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST).
These plans ensured that various ministries targeted tribal welfare through a coordinated approach.
PM JANMAN – It was launched in 2023, targeting the socio-economic development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) across 18 states and one UT
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan – It was launched on 2nd October, 2024 to saturate infrastructural gaps in tribal villages and improve access to health, education, Anganwadi facilities and providing livelihood opportunities .
The Abhiyan comprises of 25 interventions implemented by 17 line Ministries.
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) - These schools aim to provide quality education to ST children in remote areas, facilitating access to higher education and employment opportunities.
National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) - It provides financial assistance to ST beneficiaries at concessional interest rates, focusing on income-generating activities.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) - It promotes tribal products through its TRIBES India outlets and e-commerce platforms, providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to tribal artisans.
By promoting handicrafts, textiles, and other tribal products, TRIFED creates market linkages for these communities.

What are the problems faced by tribals?

Loss of Ancestral Lands – Tribes are often displaced from their traditional lands due to large-scale development projects (dams, mines, industries), deforestation, and urban expansion.
Exploitation and Indebtedness - Tribals often fall prey to moneylenders and middlemen who exploit them through high-interest loans and unfair trade practices, leading to a cycle of debt.
High Incidence of Diseases - They suffer from higher rates of malnutrition (especially among women and children), infectious diseases, and poor maternal and child health outcomes.
Tribal populations in India face a disproportionate burden of various diseases, including infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and leprosy
Illiteracy - The literacy rate for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India, according to the 2011 Census, was 59% which is significantly lower than the overall national literacy rate of 73%.

What are the challenges in tribal development?

Remote Location - Most reside in ecologically fragile and inaccessible regions such as forests, hills, and remote rural areas.
These settlements often make it difficult for government welfare schemes to reach them.
Subsistence Livelihood - Their livelihoods depend primarily on subsistence agriculture, forests, and traditional occupations.
Lack of Secure Tenure - Many tribal communities lack formal land titles or recognized rights, making them vulnerable to land alienation and exploitation by external parties.
Education in Mother Tongue – There are limitations such as diversity of tribal languages, non written form of the languages and shortage of human resource, in providing eduation in mother tongue to tribalse.
Bureacratic Dominance - Bureaucratic nature of implementing tribal development programmes often overlooks the involvement of tribal communities in decision-making and reduces their effectiveness.

What needs to be done for tribal development?

The development of tribal communities in India is a complex, ongoing process that requires a multi-pronged and sensitive approach.
Effective Implementation of PESA (Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996) to grant self-governance to tribal communities.
Recognition of individual and community forest rights can be strengthened.
Providing demand-driven skill development and vocational training programs tailored to their specific needs.
Following tribal panchsheel formulated by Jawaharlal Nehru ensures that development approach respects tribal identity, culture, and self-determination.

Tribal Pancheel

People should develop a long line of their own genius and nothing should be imposed on them.
Tribal rights in land and forest should be respected.
We should try to train and build up a team of their own people to do work of administration and development.
We should not over-administer these areas or overwhelm them with a multiplicity of schemes.
We should judge the result not by the statistics of the amount of money spent but by the quality of human character that is evolved.

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