Table of Contents
Tribal Consolidation
In this article , we will look deal with topic titled ‘Tribal Consolidation in India after Independence.’
Phases
At the time of Independence, Tribal Consolidation was one of the major Issue . Tribes were very important because already we were suffering the issue of Territorial Integration and Tribal areas constituted substantial area of India’s territory.
Phase 1 : Pre British
- Policy of Non-Interference
- Tribals were following their own customary laws and traditions and were self sufficient remaining isolated from the outside world .
Phase 2 : British Rule
Radical Transformation happened
- Traditional Livelihood suffered due to invasion of colonial machinery and Dikus. Britishers forced them to abandon Jhum Agriculture and practice Settled Agriculture
- Culture : Forest wasn’t just their source of livelihood but part of their culture as well + Christian Missionaries trying to convert them to Christianity
- Relation with forest altered : Britishers were interested in the wood and due to this they passed various Forest Laws making it illegal for Tribals to gather resources or cut wood from these forests
Phase 3 : Post Independence
At time of Independence, there were majorly two approaches wrt Tribals in India ie Isolationist approach and Assimilationist approach . However, Nehru rejected both these approaches as isolation is not desirable
Different approaches
Isolation |
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Assimilation |
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Integration |
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Side Topic : Forest Right Act, 2006
- It is a framework to ensure local self governance
- It guarantees following rights (TURFm)
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- Title Rights : the right in the land is granted to STs and the people who are residing there for 75 years but don’t have documents (maximum 4 hectare)
- Right of use of resources. Eg : Minor Forest Produce (honey, herbs etc) , Common Property Resource etc
- Relief and Developmental Rights : in case of any displacement of tribals , proper relief packages should be given
- Forest Management Rights
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- Issues wrt Forest Right Act
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- Task of documenting the claims of communities is very tedious
- Reluctance on the part of bureaucracy
- Narrow interpretation of the law
- Opposition from wildlife conservationists
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- Way forward
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- Political will should be there
- Devolution of fund, functions and functionaries
- Awareness among the tribals about their rights
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Issues wrt Tribals
Irrespective of Government efforts , Tribal progress has remained dismal due to
- weak execution of policies and ineffectiveness of state government in administering the policies
- misappropriation of funds
- ineffective functioning of Tribal Advisory Council
- lack of awareness among tribals wrt their rights and entitlements
- evasion of laws
- Deforestation
- neglect of primary education in tribal languages
- emergence of class differences among tribes due to unequal distribution of benefits of affirmative action
- Retreatment of tribals into inaccessible stretches due to loss of land, culture , forest rights etc
Xaxa Committee
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