Problems faced by Tribal Communities in India

13-11-2024

11:15 AM

GS I

Sub-Categories:

Indian Society

1 min read

Table of Contents

What is the status of tribal communities in India
What are major problems faced by the tribal communities in India
What are the constitutional provisions for the welfare of the tribal communities in India
What are the laws for the welfare of tribal communities
What are government initiatives in the interest of tribal communities
What could be done to further improve the well-being of tribal communities in India
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Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

What is the status of tribal communities in India?

Indicator	Data
Tribal population	According to the 2011 census, the tribal population in India was 104 million, constituting 8.6 per cent of country's population.
Sex ratio	The sex ratio of the tribal population in the country is higher than the national average at 990 females per 1,000 males. The child sex ratio has declined from 972 in 2001 to 957 in 2011, the first ever report on health of tribals has revealed.
Per capita income	As per the estimates of poverty ratio of the Planning Commission, the percentage of STs living below the poverty line has come down from 62.3% in rural areas during 2004-05 to 45.3% during 2011-12. In the urban areas, the percentage of STs living below the poverty line has come down from 35.5% during 2004-05 to 24.1% during 2011-12.
Literacy rate	The literacy rate of scheduled tribe in India is 58.96 percent as compared to the National average i.e. 72.99 percent.
Health indicator	65% of tribal women in the 15-49 years age group suffer from anemia. The rate of institutional delivery is the lowest among tribal women (70.1%). Total Fertility Rate for STs is 2.5.

What are major problems faced by the tribal communities in India?

Tribals in India face a wide range of problems, some of which are:

Problems	Description	Examples
Land rights and displacement	Many tribal communities have been displaced from their traditional lands due to development projects, mining, and other activities. This has led to losing their livelihoods, homes, and cultural heritage.	Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat has displaced thousands of tribal people from their ancestral lands.
Exploitation and marginalization	They are often exploited and marginalized by powerful groups, such as government officials, landlords, and businessmen.	Adivasi population in the state of Odisha have been facing exploitation by the mining companies, who have taken over their land and resources.
Lack of education and healthcare	They have limited access to education and healthcare, which has a negative impact on their overall well-being and development. Lot of health issues, such as malnutrition, lack of access to proper health care, and a high incidence of infectious diseases.	The literacy rate among the tribal population is lower compared to the national average and the healthcare facilities in tribal areas are inadequate. As per census 2011 the literacy rate was 59%.
Loss of culture and tradition	Lost their traditional customs, languages, and arts due to modernization and the erosion of their traditional way of life.	Due to impact of globalization and modernization traditional practices and rituals of the Great Andamanese tribes are on the verge of extinction.
Economic marginalization	Engaged in traditional forms of livelihoods, such as agriculture, forestry, and hunting, which are becoming less viable in the face of modernization and globalization.	The traditional livelihoods of the Munda tribes in Jharkhand are under threat due to the decline in the availability of forest resources and the impact of mining.
Political marginalization	They are not well represented in the political process and their voices are not heard in the policy-making process.	Tribal communities of the Northeast region of India have not had a fair representation in the political process and their issues are not fully addressed by the government.

What are the constitutional provisions for the welfare of the tribal communities in India?

Article	Provisions
Article 15(4) and 16(4)	Reservation of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to help them overcome historical disadvantages and improve their socio-economic status.
Article 46	Lays down the directive principles of the State Policy which require the State to promote the educational and economic interests of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
Article 244	Administering tribal areas in certain states, such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution.
Article 275	Financial assistance to the states for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Article 330	Reserving seats in the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of the States for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Article 332	Reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislative Councils of the States where such Councils exist.
Article 338	Constitution of a National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to investigate and monitor the implementation of laws and policies related to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

What are the laws for the welfare of tribal communities?

Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA):
- This act provides for the devolution of powers and responsibilities to gram sabhas (village councils) in scheduled areas, where tribals constitute a majority of the population.
- This gives tribals more control over their own affairs and enables them to participate more fully in the development process.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Act, 2004:
- This act provides for establishing a National Commission for Scheduled Tribes(NCST) to investigate and monitor the implementation of laws and policies related to the welfare of scheduled tribes.
Forest Rights Act, 2006:
- This act recognizes the rights of traditional forest dwellers, including tribals, to access and use forest resources, including land.
- It aims to correct the historical injustices faced by these communities and to ensure that their livelihoods and well-being are protected.
Land Acquisition Act, 2013:
- This act provides for the acquisition of land for the welfare of the tribals, the act also requires the consent of the tribals and rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people.

What are government initiatives in the interest of tribal communities?

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): have been set up to provide quality education to ST students (Class VI-XII) in remote areas through residential schooling facilities.
Pradhan Mantri Vanbandhu Vikas Yojana: A venture capital fund has been set up to promote entrepreneurship/start-up projects by ST youth.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission: Minimum Support Price (MSP) is ensured for Minor Forest Produce and marketing support for tribal products.
Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) supports retail marketing for livelihood development among tribal communities of India. This includes the Van Dhan Yojana (VDY), which has over nine lakh beneficiaries in 340 districts across the country.
The Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): It aims at providing basic infrastructure in villages with a significant tribal population.
Tribal Sub-Plan:
- The Government of India has initiated a Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), a special development scheme for the welfare of tribals.
- The scheme aims to address the special needs of tribals and to improve their socio-economic conditions.
Special Central Assistance:
- The Government of India provides Special Central Assistance (SCA) to State Governments for the welfare of tribals.

What could be done to further improve the well-being of tribal communities in India?

Enhancing the well-being of tribal communities in India will require a comprehensive and holistic approach that addresses the multiple and interconnected challenges that they face. Some additional actions that could be taken include

Sustainable development: Development projects should be planned and implemented in consultation with tribal communities and should prioritize their needs and concerns.
Access to education: Greater efforts should be made to ensure that tribal children have access to quality education, including primary, secondary, and vocational education.
Health Care: Access to quality healthcare services should be improved for the tribes. This includes providing primary health care services, maternal and child health care services, and improving access to essential medicines.
Empowerment of tribal women: The empowerment of tribal women is crucial for the overall upliftment of the tribes. This includes ensuring their participation in decision making, providing them with education and skill development opportunities.
Livelihood promotion: Greater efforts should be made to promote sustainable livelihoods for tribals. This includes providing them access to credit, marketing facilities, and training in modern agricultural practices.
Land rights: The rights of tribals to their land should be recognized and protected. This includes providing them with legal title to their land and ensuring that they are not displaced from their lands.

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Previous Year Questions(PYQs)

MAINS

Q) What are the two major legal initiatives by the State since Independence addressing discrimination against Scheduled Tribes (STs)? (2017)

Q) How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes? (2015)

PRELIMS

Q) If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (2022)

This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.
This would create a local self-governing body in that area.
This would convert that area into a Union Territory.
The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Q) At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006? (2021)

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic change.
Ministry of Panchayat Raj
Ministry of Rural Development
Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Q) The provisions in Fifth Schedule and Sixth Schedule in the Constitution of India are made in order to (2015)

protect the interests of Scheduled Tribes
determine the boundaries between States
determine the powers, authority and responsibilities of Panchayats
protect the interests of all the border States

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q) What is the role of tribal art in India?

Tribal art plays an important role in preserving the cultural heritage of India's tribal communities. It includes various forms of traditional art such as painting, sculpture, pottery, and weaving, which are passed down from generation to generation.

Q) Are there any organizations working for the welfare of tribals in India?

Yes, there are several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working for the welfare of tribals in India. These organizations work to improve the living conditions of tribals, to protect their rights, and to promote their cultural heritage. NGOs like: Mrida education and welfare society, Nilgiri Wynaad tribal welfare society, etc.