Why are the problems of Indian tribal people getting media attention continuously? What are the challenges Indian tribals facing today? Who is to blame for the grave reality of Indian tribals? And, now, what need to be done to improve the condition of these sons of soil? If you really want to explore these questions, we need to take an overview of Indian tribal people.
A. Geographical location and population of Indian tribal people
Luckily, India is fortunate to have over 100 million tribal population. Mainly, tribal population is settled specially in the hilly and forested areas of central and north eastern regions. But, it is very sparse in the fertile plains of Ganga River.
Population wise, Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Great Andamanese, Andha, Garo, Khasi etc. which constitute major part of Indian tribal population.
1.Current challenges of Indian tribals people
To know it better, just take a look at the census data of Indian population. So, let it be literacy, per capita income, or participation in governing agencies, the condition is not so promising.
After independence, various provisions have been made for their upliftment from chronic poverty and ignorance. Nevertheless, despite allocating a lot of money on the name of development of Indian tribal people, their economic condition is more or less same.
2.Regional distribution of Indian tribal people
As I visited various tribal areas of Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, they have hardly any job alternatives.
Even today, they have to adjust on the meagre forest products. Moreover, in order to maintain livelihood, these people collects forests products even on the cost of life.
3.Standards of living of Indian tribal people
In case of education, the state of schools and hospitals are only for records. The rate of child mortality and maternal mortality rates are almost double of national rates.
Conversely, child mortality rate in the tribals is almost 85/1000, whereas national average is 40. The data of maternal mortality is almost the same.
B. Major problems facing Indian tribal people
Probably, there is no reliable job alternatives except to collect forest produce. In addition, due to rampant corruption in the delivery mechanism, they are unable to take benefits of government welfare schemes.
Second, the issue of health and educational infrastructure is the same as it was. Further, incidents of atrocities and exploitation by outsiders are continuously growing.
Third, religious and Maoist infiltration in the tribal heartland is real headache. Next, displacement on the name of development and environment is new issue.
1.Whom to blame for ongoing backwardness of Indian tribal people?
Nearly, host of actors are responsible for the ongoing backwardness of Indian tribals.
2.Role of Government agencies
As per credible sources, Apathetic role of Indian government and corruption in delivery mechanism hurting developmental process of tribal regions
Historically, Tribals are the protector of forests. They do not degrade forests, nor responsible for loss of biodiversity but those who are in the luxurious position.
C. Religious invasion in tribal regions
The symbiotic relationship between tribals and nature is well known. Nature itself is the source and guide for tribal institutions and way of life. Ongoing religious invasion in tribal regions are a matter of great concern.
So, introducing optional faith and belief means forcing tribals on the verge of vulnerability. Nowadays, you might have heard about the incidents of religious conversion in the tribal heartlands across the world.
1.What does religious conversion and invasion mean?
Religious conversion is a process by which a person adopts new religion by abandoning earlier. It may occur by force, temptation of money etc., or by choice.
But, in India, ongoing race for religious conversion of tribals by outsiders are termed as religious invasion in tribal regions to woo tribals.
2.Importance of tribal institutions and traditions
Isn’t it true that the tribal culture took thousands of years to evolve at this point? Theirs culture is learning laboratory to understand the present civilization for many. Instead to do this, there is a race to demolish natural diversity of faith is not a good omen.
We know that the belief system and faith is shaped by the forces of nature. Unlike to modern civilization, theirs occupation is within the carrying capacity of nature. If we think about the medicinal knowledge, it is beyond imagination. In simple words, tribals are inseparable part of nature.
3.Religious invasion in tribal regions dent on tribal culture in India
With the increased population and diminishing forests cover, a supplementary job alternative is essential. It is true that health, nutrition, and employment issues are arising in the tribal heartlands since last decades.
At the same time, ethnic conflicts and incidents of exploitation are in the rise. Tribal demonstration and agitations are capturing the headings of leading newspapers.
In such situation, we need to empower these sons of soil to find a better job alternatives within their own habitats without altering their way of life.
D. Penetration of missionaries and Baba’s to convert tribal religions
It is the duty of state to address the fundamental problems of tribals such as health, education, and employment opportunities to ease the life of real son of soil.
Failure of state is the opportunity for outsiders and necessity of tribals to welcome missionaries in theirs habitat. Tribals are taking helps of missionaries out of compulsion not according to will. However, tribal are paying heavy cost in the form of conversion.
“It is undeniable truth that the welfare activities are thoughtfully engineered and directed to induce innocent tribal to embrace theirs religion.”
Though the inducement of people by offering money or thing is the violation of right to freedom, but it is too difficult to trace such incidents in the vast population when people are not willing to open mouth. So, nothing is exception for the penetration of outsiders in the tribal heartlands.
1.“Indian tribal people are sandwiched very badly between two faiths in search of livelihood”
Tribal are on the verge of losing identity in search for livelihood. Tribal are too vulnerable to fall for any temptation. It is the state which is responsible to expose vulnerable tribals to the outsiders’ intention. Had it fulfilled its duty accordingly, the tribals would not have forced to lose both livelihood and identity. Earlier, they were fighting for livelihood, now, they to fight for existence. No doubt, it is the unwanted gift of socializing mission.
1.Christian missionary and Maoist insurgency
Notably, religious conversion, Maoists insurgency and much more are the by-products of the system’s inability to deliver.
Presently, the tussle between Christian missionary and Hindu spiritual baba is well-known. Aggressively, both are trying to instil their religious philosophies on the minds of tribals. In this war, they are disregarding beautiful age old tribal culture and deities.
E. Penetration of Naxalism in tribal regions
What does Maoist insurgency mean? Why are tribal regions becoming hotspots of Maoist activities? Who are outsiders in tribal regions of India? What is relation between Maoist penetration and tribals? If you want to know the answers of these questions about causes of naxalism in tribal regions, just continue.
1.Importance of tribal development
“Once the Prime Minister of India said that the country’s poor should have the first right over the resources of nation. Does this highlight something negative about tribals’ situation?”
Where do Indian tribals live?
Luckily, India is fortunate to have over 100 million tribal population. Mainly, tribal population is settled specially in the hilly and forested areas of central and north eastern regions. But, it is very sparse in the fertile plains of Ganga River.
2.Outsiders in tribal regions of India
Population wise, Bhils, Gonds, Santhals, Great Andamanese, Andha, Garo, Khasi etc. which constitute major part of Indian tribal population.
Maoist insurgency in tribal regions
In the late twentieth century, on the backdrop of worst zamindari system, peasants’ aggression against local zamindars in West Bengal ignited the movement for land reforms.
Later, it took ugly form on the name of Naxal or Maoist insurgency. Today its presence is noticeable in more than eight states with considerable backwardness.
F. Major causes of Maoist insurgency or naxalism in tribal regions
“Clearly, it is noticeable that in last seven decades of independent India, successive governments have let tribals down on the issue of development. That is why, the disillusioned tribals fell for the temptation of Maoists and became the powerful weapon for the advancement of theirs interests”.
1.Reasons of tribal resentment — underdevelopment or else
Evidently, plight of tribals isn’t a hidden thing. Here, we are not going to cover them up. Nor justify our attempts to uplift them. But, to appeal to know and accept the reality of ignored and discriminated lives.
Undoubtedly, development is big reason for tribals’ resentment towards government agencies. Let it be schools, health facilities, of occupation, there is hardly any reliable means.
Surprisingly, even after the seven decades of journey, the desired, as well as deserved chunk of development is still evading them. Further, on the name of employment, we have already left them on the mercy of meagre forest produce.
Logically, in such condition, how could we blame anyone else rather than development for the misery of deserving stakeholders?
G. Why there is penetration of outsiders in the regions of Indian tribal people
Shrewdly, outsiders are pumping a lot of money to build hotels and guest houses to milk opportunities of eco-tourism. Undoubtedly, they are washing their hands in the boom of eco-tourism, leaving tribals as a witness.
On the name of environment, lot of money are being made through the tourism industry. On the other hand, at the same time, tribals are fighting for their survival.
1.Development, displacement and big cause of naxalism
Geographically, tribals are mainly found in the area of hills, plateaus and forests which are rich reservoirs of iron, bauxite and mica. Hence, since many decades, on the name of development, they are facing displacement from their own homeland.
According to news reports, ongoing agitations against the MNCs in the areas of Odisha, West Bengal and other parts proves this claim. Without ensuring the equal participation in the developmental processes, the idea inclusive growth is going to prove mere myth.
2.Tribals’ dispossession of land and forest rights is another important cause of naxalism
Tribals aren’t responsible for loss of biodiversity nor for pollution. In this case, blame needs to be placed on rampant urbanization, deforestation and industrialization. Unfortunately, they are being discriminated to entertain others.
As we know that, environmental legislations are taking heavy tolls in the form of tribal rights in land and forests. Finally, infuriated tribals to fight against oppression, they inclined towards the outside sympathizers.
3.Maoist are making capital of sympathy for safe heaven on the name of justice.
“There is a type of symbiotic relationship between the tribals and Maoists. One need a medium to express theirs grievances, whereas other want a vehicle to advance their interests”.
In this way, by systematically invoking the plight of tribals, Maoists become successful in making tribal heartland theirs safe heaven.
This is an overview of Indian tribal people. You should have learnt by this article about the true state of Indian tribal people. This article exposed the true reality about the religious invasion as well as Maoist insurgency in the regions of Indian tribal people.
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