India’s Forgotten People Are Ready to Step Up

Why in news?

• The article put emphasis upon the necessity to uplift the tribal section of India and the course of action taken by the government to empower them, address their pressing institutional issues, and integrate them into the mainstream of society by valuing their cultural heritage.

 

Background

• Announcement: The GoI on the eve birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda has declared that November 15 shall be celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas every year.
• Inspiration: Indian PM Modi has remarked that in Amrit Kaal, the 25-year-long lead up to India@100, the country has resolved that it would provide a more significant and majestic identity to the tribal legacy traditions of India.
• Significance: This historic decision ties together the tribal legacy, heritage, culture and achievements of India, with the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the strengthening of India's position in global forums.

 

About Bhagwan Birsa Munda

• Birsa Munda was a young freedom fighter and a tribal leader, whose spirit of activism in the late nineteenth century, is remembered to be a strong mark of protest against British rule in India
• He fought bravely against the exploitative system of the British colonial system and spearheaded movement against British oppression giving a call for ‘Ulgulan’ (Revolution).

 

Tribal mention in Indian Constitution

• The Constitution of India does not define the term 'tribe', however, the term Scheduled Tribe' was inserted in the Constitution through Article 342 (i).
  • It lays down that 'the President may, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within the tribes or tribal communities or parts which shall, for the purposes of this Constitution, be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes.
  • There are over 730 Scheduled Tribes (STs) notified under Article 342 of the Constitution of India,
• The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for the setting up a Tribes’ Advisory Council in each of the States having Scheduled Areas to promote self-governance.
• Essential attributes: According to Lokur Committee (1965), the essential characteristics to be Identified as Scheduled Tribe are:
  • Indication of Primitive Traits
  • Distinctive Culture
  • Shyness of Contact with the Community at Large
  • Geographical Isolation
  • Backwardness

 

Overview of India’s tribal populace

• Statistics: India is home to about 25% of the world's ethnic population, making it a country with a diversified cultural heritage.
  • As per the 2011 census, 10.42 crore Indians are notified as 'Scheduled Tribes' (ST), which constitute 8.6% of countries total population.
• State level data: Among the 15 major states, Chhattisgarh has the largest proportion (% wise) of the Scheduled Tribe population at 30.62 per cent followed by Jharkhand at 26.21 per cent.
  • Further, 71% of India’s Scheduled Tribes population is mostly concentrated in six states namely Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.
• Recognition: Tribes are actively utilising the opportunities that are opening for them in fields like education and sports. For example, one of the verticals of the Khelo India Scheme, namely, “Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games”, is specifically dedicated to encouraging and showcasing of traditional sports of the country.
  • With their dedication and commitment, they are also winning Padma Awards and international recognition.
  • The nation's first tribal President illustrates the enormous potential of the nation's Scheduled Tribes.
• Rejuvenated efforts: Though endowed with natural talent, tribals had to struggle for a long time because of sheer neglect and apathy towards them.
  • But now, the issues facing tribal people are being dealt with one by one as India sees a paradigm shift by adopting a people-centric approach.
  • Indian PM's call for Reform, Perform, Transform has served as the guiding principle to ensure the last-mile distribution of benefits and to improve development results across the nation.

 

Advancing approach

• Cultivation of knowledge: The most crucial strategy advocated for development is holistic education, a potent tool that enables the positive advancement, make necessary reforms while conserving traditional and cultural customs in order to preserve tribal heritage.
• Overcoming Naxal resistance: The left-wing extremism has made it challenging to establish educational infrastructure in the affected areas.
  • The current regime aims to address these problems at the block level, provide tribal students with quality education by enabling them to attend the best Eklavya Model Residential Schools, particular focus on young girls, offering scholarship programmes
  • GOAL (Going Online as Leaders) is a joint initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Meta (formerly Facebook), aims at digital empowerment of tribal youth and women through concept of mentor and mentee.
• Technological advancement: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has kept up with the most recent technologies to empower tribal people digitally and upskilling them even in distant locations to help them produce and sell their manufactured goods.
  • For instance, IIT-Kanpur implemented ‘Tech for Tribals’ initiative which provides hands-on training to tribal entrepreneurs in Value Addition and Processing of Forest Produces operating through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs).
• Preserving vernaculars: MoTA is also attempting to preserve and nurture several tribal languages, and has been working with academic institutions and experts to develop primers in tribal languages.
  • MoTA has through studies found that there are 780 languages spoken in India, of which 443 are said to be spoken by tribal communities.
• Boosting economic welfare: The Vision for India@2047 is to achieve new heights of economic welfare and construct the most advanced infrastructure in the world.
  • Giving momentum to this vision, MoTA has prioritised sustainable livelihoods, income generation, education, health and the promotion of varied ethnic cultures of tribal people.
• Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs): To preserve tribal art and culture, financial assistance is provided to TRI’s to preserve and promote tribal culture and heritage across the country.
  • This is done through research and documentation focusing on anthropological components, maintenance and preservation of art & artefacts, setting up of tribal museum, exchange visits for the tribals to other parts of the State, organizing tribal festivals etc.

 

Conclusion

In the long run, India is being seen as a leader in sustainable development, with a solid socio-economic foundation that offers a wide range of possibilities to all inhabitants to unlock India's potential and build a prosperous, people-led nation.