Tribes in Post-colonial Electoral Politics | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

A tribe is a group within a traditional society made up of families connected by social, economic, religious, or blood relationships. Members of a tribe share a common culture and often speak the same dialect. Tribes have specific qualities that make them distinct cultural, social, and political units.

According to the 2011 census, tribal people make up 8.6% of India's total population, which is over 104 million individuals. This highlights the significant presence and influence of tribal communities in the country.

Post independence measures

• The Constitution of India recognizes tribal communities under ‘Schedule 5,’ which identifies these groups as ‘Scheduled Tribes’(STs). This legal recognition is crucial for the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of these communities.
• Article 46 of the Constitution emphasizes the State's responsibility to promote the educational and economic interests of weaker sections of society, particularly Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). It also mandates protection against social injustice and exploitation.
• Article 243D ensures reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayati Raj institutions, strengthening their political representation at the local level.
• Article 350 grants the right to conserve distinct language, script, or culture, as well as the right to instruction in the mother tongue, further supporting the cultural and linguistic rights of tribal communities.
• Additionally, provisions for reservations in the Lok Sabha and State Legislatures ensure adequate political representation for Scheduled Tribes at the national and state levels. These constitutional measures collectively aim to safeguard and promote the rights and interests of tribal communities in India.

legislative measures

Panchayati Raj System in Scheduled Areas:

• The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, aims to strengthen democracy in Scheduled Areas by extending the Panchayati Raj system to these regions. This act empowers local self-governments in tribal areas, ensuring their active participation in governance and development.

Rights of Tribal Communities and Forest Dwellers:

• The Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs) (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, addresses the rights of tribal communities and traditional forest dwellers over forest land and resources. It seeks to rectify historical injustices by legally recognizing the rights of these communities.

Legal Services for Scheduled Tribes:

• The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, ensures access to legal services for members of Scheduled Tribes. This act aims to provide legal aid and promote justice for marginalized communities, including STs.

Protection against Atrocities:

• The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, aims to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It establishes special courts and imposes stringent penalties for offenses against these communities, protecting their rights and dignity.

Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition:

• The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, ensures fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition processes. It emphasizes the rehabilitation and resettlement of affected communities, including Scheduled Tribes, safeguarding their rights during land acquisition.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs:

• Established in 1999, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs focuses on the integrated socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes. This ministry addresses the specific needs and challenges faced by tribal communities, ensuring a targeted and effective approach to their development.

Jawaharlal Nehru's Approach to Tribal Integration in Northeastern India

• Nehru aimed to integrate tribal people into Indian society while preserving their unique identity and culture.

He faced two options regarding the approach towards tribals:

• Museum Approach: This involved leaving tribal people untouched by modern influences, preserving them like museum specimens.
• Assimilation Approach: This aimed at completely assimilating tribals into Indian society, erasing their distinct way of life in the name of upliftment.

Nehru rejected both approaches:

• Museum Approach: Nehru believed that treating tribals as museum specimens would lead to improper integration. Isolation was impossible as outside influences had already penetrated deeply.
• Assimilation Approach: Nehru argued that allowing tribals to be engulfed by the larger Indian society would result in the loss of their social and cultural identity. It would also open the door for exploitation of their lands and resources by outsiders.
• He emphasized the need for integration that respects and preserves the valuable aspects of tribal culture, avoiding both isolation and complete assimilation.

Nehru’s approach

Nehru's Approach to Tribal Integration:

• Nehru advocated for the integration of tribal people into Indian society while preserving their unique identity and culture.
• His approach was based on two key principles:tribal areas must progress and they should progress in their own way.
• Progress did not mean copying other parts of India; it involved adopting what was beneficial from elsewhere and allowing tribals to determine necessary changes themselves.
• Nehru supported economic and social development for tribal people, particularly in areas like communication, healthcare, agriculture, and education.

Five Basic Principles (Panch Sheel) for Tribal People:

• Development should align with the tribal people's own genius, avoiding imposition. Traditional arts and culture should be encouraged, and non-tribals should approach them without a superiority complex.
• Tribal rights to land and forests must be respected, preventing outsiders from taking tribal lands.
• Administration and development teams should be composed of tribal people, with some technical personnel from outside. Outsiders should be chosen carefully, with a sympathetic and understanding approach.
• Avoid over-administration and overwhelming tribes with numerous schemes. Work through their social and cultural institutions rather than in rivalry.
• Results should be judged by the quality of character involved, not by statistics or money spent.

Constitutional Reflection of Nehru's Policy:

• Nehru's policy was reflected in several Constitutional provisions, such as:
• Article 46, promoting the educational and economic interests of tribal people.
• Special responsibility given to governors to protect tribal interests.
• Reservation of seats in legislatures and administrative services for Scheduled Tribes.
• Establishment of Tribal Advisory Councils.

Verrier Elwin

Verrier Elwin: A British Anthropologist in India:

• Background: Verrier Elwin was a British-born anthropologist, ethnologist, and tribal activist. He collaborated with Mohandas Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.
• Work with Tribes: He is renowned for his early research on the Baigas and Gonds tribes in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. He even married a member of one of these communities.
• Northeast India: Elwin later focused on the tribals of Northeast India, particularly in the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), and settled in Shillong.
• Anthropological Survey of India: He became the Deputy Director of the Anthropological Survey of India when it was established in 1945.
• Adviser to Nehru: After India gained independence in 1947,Jawaharlal Nehru appointed him to address the issues faced by tribal communities in NEFA.
• Honors: In 1961, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honor. His autobiography,The Tribal World of Verrier Elwin, won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965.

Tribal movements in after independence

Post-Independence Efforts for Tribal Welfare in India:

• After gaining independence, India made efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities and uphold constitutional safeguards for them.
• The Central and State Governments have consistently worked towards tribal welfare and development, launching special programs within the framework of successive Five-Year Plans. The goal was to elevate tribal communities to par with more developed sections of society, although outcomes have varied.
• Initiatives such as establishing heavy industries, constructing dams, and implementing development plans in tribal areas have often led to the displacement of local populations.
• The destruction of forests due to industrial activities, including tree felling, has posed a threat to small communities of hunters and gatherers.
• Tribal communities, particularly in central India, have responded to exploitation through movements aimed at reclaiming their land from economic and cultural exploiters. These movements also emphasize the revitalization of traditional cultures that have been influenced by outsiders.
• The fundamental issues driving tribal movements post-independence include forest alienation, job deprivation due to the influx of outsiders, cultural submergence, and uneven development.

Classification of Tribal Movements:
After independence, tribal movements in India can be classified into three main groups:

• Movements against exploitation by outsiders.
• Movements due to economic deprivation, such as those of the Gonds in Madhya Pradesh and the Mahars in Andhra Pradesh.
• Movements driven by separatist tendencies, like those of the Nagas and Mizos.

Types of Tribal Movements:
Tribal movements can also be categorized based on their orientation into four types:

• Forest-based movements.
• Socioreligious or social-cultural movements, exemplified by the Pathalgadi movement in Jharkhand.
• Agrarian movements, such as the Naxalbari movement (1967) and the Brisadal movement (1968-69).
• Movements seeking political autonomy and the formation of new states, as seen with the Nagas, Mizos, and Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand Movement:

• The Jharkhand Party, led by Jaipal Singh, gained prominence in tribal districts during the first general elections.
• When the States Reorganisation Commission was established, a memorandum was submitted advocating for the creation of a Jharkhand region, which would surpass West Bengal in area and Orissa in population. However, the commission rejected this proposal due to the lack of a common language.
• In the 1950s, the Jharkhand Party remained the largest opposition party in the Bihar legislative assembly but gradually lost influence. A significant setback occurred in 1963 when Jaipal Singh merged the party into the Congress without consulting its members.
• This merger led to the formation of several splinter Jharkhand parties, which were primarily divided along tribal lines.
• In August 1995, the Bihar government established the Provisional Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council with 180 members.
• Subsequently, the Bihar Reorganisation Act of 2000 was passed in Parliament, leading to the creation of the new state of Jharkhand.