Context:

Recent talks about permanent settlement for displaced tribals have highlighted the importance of an organized strategy to ensure their land rights, livelihood security, and cultural preservation.

Displacement and Role of Tribal Communities in India

1. Displacement Due to Counter-Insurgency Measures

• • In 2005, nearly 50,000 Gond tribals were forcibly displaced from Chhattisgarh under the Indian government’s “strategic hamleting” program aimed at isolating Maoist insurgents from their tribal support base.
  • This strategy was inspired by U.S. tactics during the Vietnam War, and echoed earlier post-independence efforts in 1949 Telangana, where tribals were enrolled as “special police constables” to counter communist revolutionaries.

2. Strategic Failures and Long-Term Impact

• • • The policy led to roadside resettlement camps in undivided Andhra Pradesh (now Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) with minimal institutional support.
    • Many tribals either returned to forests, joined Maoist groups, or were recruited into security forces, highlighting the failure of integration and the counter-productivity of forced displacement.
    • Even after two decades, these tribals remain in administrative limbo, denied tribal status in their relocated states, affecting access to welfare and rights.

3. Persistent Challenges

• • Tribal people's marginalisation is reinforced across India by land confiscation, cultural loss, restricted access to essential amenities, and bureaucratic apathetic behaviour.

4. Cultural Contributions and Preservation

• • Maintaining oral traditions, folklore, and artistic expressions, tribes help to preserve India's cultural variety.
  • Globally known for their vivid paintings, the Gond and Bhil tribes are; the Warli tribe is known for their traditional wall art capturing daily life and environmental harmony.

5. Environmental Stewardship

• • Tribal groups serve as guardians of biodiversity, particularly in forest ecosystems.
  • They possess traditional ecological knowledge vital for sustainable resource management.
  • In Bastar (Chhattisgarh), tribes have resisted deforestation for mining, and the Dongria Kondh tribe in Odisha has famously protected the Niyamgiri Hills from bauxite mining to preserve their sacred lands.

6. Agricultural Contributions

• • Tribals were among the earliest adopters of organic farming, practicing mixed cropping and using natural fertilizers.
  • The Munda tribe of Jharkhand exemplifies sustainable agricultural innovation through traditional mixed-cropping techniques that enhance soil fertility and resilience.

7.Economic Participation and Entrepreneurship

• • Tribals contribute to the economy via handicrafts, textiles, and herbal products.
  • Initiatives like TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India) have enhanced market access, enabling global recognition of indigenous products.

8. Role in National Security and Regional Development

• • Displaced tribals have re-enlisted and are now contributing to counter-insurgency operations, utilizing local knowledge to aid security forces.
  • Their involvement reflects a complex interplay between displacement and reintegration into the national security apparatus.

9. Promotion of National Identity and Heritage

• • Tribals reinforce India’s pluralistic identity through distinct languages, rituals, and festivals.
  • The celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November and the establishment of Tribal Freedom Fighters’ Museums signal a shift toward mainstream recognition of their historical and cultural contributions.

Overview: Scheduled Tribes (STs) constitute over 104 million people, accounting for approximately 8.6% of India’s population as per Census 2011.Article 342 of the Indian Constitution defines 'Scheduled Tribes'. It empowers Parliament to add or remove communities from the ST list through legislation.The Fifth Schedule of the Constitution provides for administration and governance of Scheduled Areas in central and other parts of India, while the Sixth Schedule deals with tribal areas in the northeastern states, offering them greater autonomy through Autonomous District Councils.Article 15(4) and Article 16(4) let the State create special provisions for the progress of Scheduled Tribes, especially in employment and education, so guaranteeing reserve policies to correct past injustices.These constitutional safeguards aim to empower STs while preserving their distinct culture, and integrating them into the mainstream development process without compromising their identity.Article 46 is a Directive Principle of State Policy that obligates the State to promote the educational and economic interests of STs and protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.

Causes and Consequences of Tribal Displacement in India

Development-Induced Displacement:

• Infrastructure projects such as dams, mining, and industrialization have displaced around 85.39 lakh tribal people till 1990.
• Examples include the Narmada Valley Project and coal mining in Odisha and Jharkhand.
• Tribals account for approximately 55.16% of the total displaced population.

Conflict and Insurgency:

• Ongoing violence between Maoist insurgents and security forces, especially in Chhattisgarh, has caused large-scale displacement of tribal populations.

Land Title Issues:

• As per NITI Aayog, only 45% of eligible forest dwellers have received land titles under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), leaving millions insecure and vulnerable to eviction.

Conservation Displacement:

• Initiatives like Project Tiger have displaced 5.5 lakh Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other forest dwellers.
• NTCA has acknowledged tribal relocations from tiger reserves without proper consent or rehabilitation.

Gendered Impacts:

• Tribal women, key gatherers of Minor Forest Produce (MFP), face disproportionate hardships, often lacking legal recognition in land title claims.

Legal and Bureaucratic Barriers:

• Despite FRA allowing oral evidence, many claims are rejected for lack of documentary proof.
• Forest departments across states resist implementation, labeling genuine claims as encroachments.

Absence of IDP Policy:

• India lacks a national policy for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), resulting in legal ambiguity and policy vacuum.

Rehabilitation Gaps:

• Only 21 lakh out of 85 lakh (approx) displaced people received rehabilitation, highlighting substantial policy implementation gaps.

Cultural and Social Disruption:

• Displacement leads to erosion of cultural identity, social disintegration, and psychological trauma.

Identity and Legal Denial:

• Tribals like the Gutti Koya in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana face denial of tribal status, being treated as migrants, thus denied entitlements and welfare.

Loss of Land and Livelihood:

• Land alienation brought on by displacement causes economic uncertainty and reliance on erratic, low-income employment.

State Actions and Humanitarian Concerns:

• Events like land grabs and home demolition expose official indifference.
• Unlike the Bru Rehabilitation Plan (2019), there are no equivalent proactive steps for displaced tribes in southern states.

What are the Key Government Initiatives Related to Tribal Welfare?   Fiscal Strategy: Transition from Tribal Sub-Plan to Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) reflects enhanced budgetary focus and targeted development planning.Flagship Programmes:Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan: Covers 63,000 tribal villages, ₹79,150 crore allocation, integrating 25 interventions across 17 ministries in areas like infrastructure, health, education, and livelihoods.PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan): Special focus on Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), with initiatives in electrification, water, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship via Van Dhan Kendras and mobile medical units.Legal Framework: The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996 form the legal anchors for tribal empowerment, ensuring resource ownership and decentralized self-governance.Education: Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) aim to match Navodaya Vidyalayas in quality, while preserving tribal culture.Health Initiatives:Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (2023): Universal screening and treatment.Swasthya Portal: Enables real-time tribal health tracking.Mission Indradhanush & Nikshay Mitra: Focus on immunization and TB care.Economic Empowerment:Van Dhan Vikas Yojana and MSP for MFP foster forest-based value chains.NSTFDC, TRIFED, and Aadi Mahotsav promote tribal entrepreneurship, artisan crafts, and cultural exports.

Measures to Mainstream and Empower Tribal Communities in India

1. Enhancing Educational Access and Vocational Training
• Expand the reach and quality of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) with emphasis on context-specific education.
• Integrate tribal languages and cultural knowledge into curricula to ensure cultural continuity and academic competitiveness.
• Align vocational training with the local economic landscape to enhance employability.
2. Land Reforms and Forest Rights Implementation
• Ensure full implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and Supreme Court guidelines (e.g., T.N. Godavarman case).
• Conduct a nationwide drive to recognize tribal claims on forest land and prevent displacement.
• Enhance women’s participation in FRA processes as per Xaxa Committee recommendations.
3. Promotion of Tribal Entrepreneurship
• Facilitate tribal self-sufficiency through financial mechanisms like soft loans, grants, and capacity building.
• Establish market linkages via digital platforms and cooperatives for tribal handicrafts, organic produce, and forest-based products.
• Provide special support to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) as emphasized by the Dhebar Commission.
4. Strengthening Tribal Governance and Representation
• Empower tribal leadership in governance structures tailored to local contexts.
• Strengthen Panchayats under PESA (1996) and grant greater autonomy to tribal councils.
• Revitalize Tribal Advisory Councils for effective governance and policy implementation.
5. Inclusive Healthcare Delivery
• Improve healthcare in tribal areas with telemedicine, mobile health units, and culturally-sensitive training.
• Address tribal-specific health issues such as sickle cell anemia and malnutrition using integrated healthcare models.
6. Cultural Preservation and National Integration
• Establish institutions for tribal arts, languages, and traditions.
• Promote tribal culture via national festivals, tourism, and educational integration to enhance cultural respect and inclusivity.
7. Environmental Protection and Climate Resilience
• Promote sustainable forest management, climate-resilient agriculture, and water conservation.
• Involve tribals in conservation efforts with financial incentives and support from NGOs and international agencies.
8. Legal Protections and Permanent Settlement
• Amend PESA to mandate prior informed consent for projects in Scheduled Areas.
• Protect tribals from exploitation in mining and agriculture, ensure compensation, and penalize delays in FRA/PESA implementation.
• Implement permanent resettlement models like the Mizo Bru Rehabilitation Programme, especially for marginalized groups like Gutti Koyas.
• Integrate livelihood support, education, and healthcare in all resettlement policies while preserving tribal identity.

Conclusion

• Strategic militarisation has ironically relied on displaced tribals while providing no socio-legal resolution.
• The issue shows profound contradictions in India's tribal policy, which values tribals in security discourse while neglecting their civil rights.
• Permanent rehabilitation is required for justice and long-term peace and growth along the Red Corridor.

Practice Questions Q.Displacement, cultural loss, and marginalisation persist among India's indigenous tribes, despite legislative safeguards. Analyse it in depth.