The Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF) launched the Tribal Development Report 2022. The report stated that even though it’s been 75 years since our independence, the Tribal communities are at the bottom of development in the country. It says tribal communities have been pushed away from the fertile lands and live in harsh regions across the country.
People now acquire the lands where tribal resided for urban development or mining and infrastructure projects. On the other hand, tribal people are left in their condition, which is eventually degrading daily. These projects are degrading the resources used by the tribal community and have deepened the division between mainstream society and tribal groups.
There are various constitutional provisions relating to tribal communities- which are termed “Scheduled Tribes” in our constitution- under the Government of India, such as:
• Various fundamental rights, such as Article 15(4) and Article 29, provide special provisions for the protection and advancement of STs.
• Article 46 protects STs and SCs from social injustice and takes care of their educational and economic development.
• Articles 330, 332 and 243 reserve seats for STs in Lok Sabha, State Legislatures and Panchayats, respectively.
• Under Article 275, special funds are provided by the Union government to the state governments for the development and welfare of tribal groups.
Issues faced by tribal communities in their day-to-day life:
• The development comes with knowledge, which comes from education. There exist various factors which contribute to the increasing difficulty of children to attend schools in tribal areas. Due to the remoteness of tribal villages, there is a lack of schooling facilities. Poverty leads to children dropping out of school and doing work to support their families.
• The status of women in tribal areas is eventually degrading with the destruction of resources. The Health and nutrition of women residing in tribal areas are declining, and they are also forced to live in harsh situations where they work in harsh conditions to earn money.
• Developmental projects, on the one hand, are increasing the welfare and standard of living of urban society, but on the other hand, are working as destruction for the tribal people. The construction of industries, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and dams is causing mass displacement of tribal communities.
• Tribal communities are socially excluded from society and hence face isolation and social discrimination. Development activities launched in tribal areas work as a form of intrusion for them, leading to their migration to another place. Adjusting to an entirely new home causes difficulty and psychological illness among them.
• Tribal populations do not get proper nutrition and health facilities, making them prone to various diseases. They have an insecure livelihood and are malnourished.
