Scheduled Tribes (STs) are legally recognised groupings of people who are among India's most disadvantaged socioeconomic categories. Scheduled tribes have primitive traits, a separate culture, geographic seclusion, apprehension about interacting with the greater population, and a backwardness. As a result, individuals will experience several difficulties throughout their lives. There are several tribal concerns in India, including social, religious, educational, and health-related challenges.

This article explains the Challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes are important for UPSC IAS exam preparation.

Challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes

Loss of Natural Resource Control

• As India industrialised and natural resources were discovered in tribal inhabited regions, tribal rights were compromised and state control over natural resources supplanted tribal control.
• The tribals felt torn from their traditional moorings and without a solid source of sustenance as the notions of protected woods and national forests gained traction.

Lack of Education

• Most indigenous schools lack basic facilities, including instructional materials and even sanitary amenities.
• Because schooling does not provide an immediate economic benefit, tribal parents prefer that their children work.
• The majority of tribal education programmes are written in official/regional languages that indigenous pupils do not understand.

Displacement and Rehabilitation

• The government's acquisition of tribal territory for the development of essential industries like massive steel factories, power projects, and enormous dams resulted in wide-scale displacement of the tribal community.
• The tribal enclaves of Chotanagpur, Orissa, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh were hit the worst.
• These tribals' migration to metropolitan regions gives them psychological issues since they are unable to acclimatise to urban lifestyles and ideals.

Health and Nutrition Issues

• Because of economic backwardness and unstable livelihood, tribals confront health issues such as the prevalence of diseases such as malaria, cholera, diarrhoea, and jaundice.
• Malnutrition-related issues such as iron deficiency and anaemia, as well as high newborn mortality rates, are also prevalent.

Gender Equality

• The degradation of the natural environment, notably the loss of forests and a fast diminishing resource base, has an effect on women's status.
• The opening of tribal belts to mining, industries, and commercialization subjected tribal men and women to the harsh processes of the market economy, resulting in consumerism and the commoditization of women.

Tribal women

• The tribal forest economy is predominantly a women's economy, and women are disproportionately impacted by corporate exploitation of their ancestral lands.
• In impoverished tribal communities, large-scale migration has indicated an increase in the flow of young women to metropolitan areas in pursuit of jobs.
• Their living circumstances are filthy, their pay is pitiful, and indigenous women fall prey to unscrupulous brokers.
• There are a lot of anaemic women among the tribes. As of March 31, 2015, there were 6,796 sub-centres, 1,267 primary health centres (PHCs), and 309 community health centres (CHCs) in tribal communities across India.
• They have been the primary targets of sexual harassment by plantation managers, supervisors, and even other male employees.

Cultural Defacement

• Tribes are being forcibly incorporated into society, which is causing them to lose their distinct cultural characteristics and endangering their habitat.
• Isolated tribes like the Sentinelese remain hostile to strangers. In these circumstances, the government must implement a "eyes on, hands off" approach.
• Because of the influx of strangers into the Jarawa hamlet, the population is rapidly declining (The Andaman Trunk Road, among other projects, has cut into the heart of the Jarawa reserve).
• Denotified, semi-nomadic, and nomadic tribes have yet to be included to the list of Scheduled Tribes.
• Their customary activities (snake charm, street acrobatics with animals) are now prohibited, and no other means of income are available.
• Certain tribes have been designated as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groupings (PVTGs) (formerly known as Primitive Tribal Groups) due to their higher "vulnerability" even within tribal groups. In India, there are 75 such tribes.

Identity Erosion

• Tribals' ancient institutions and laws are increasingly clashing with contemporary institutions, raising concerns among tribals about retaining their identity.
• Another cause for concern is the extinction of tribal dialects and languages, which signals a loss of tribal identity.

Migration

• Migration is defined as the migration of people from one location to another in pursuit of work or other essentials of life that are not accessible in the place of birth.
• Some of the social and non-economic drivers of migration include a lack of sufficient education, social prejudice, open conflict, media influence, and a desire to be free of societal control.
• In this sense, it differs from relocation that is compelled rather than free. In general, tribals have gone to towns and cities in quest of jobs and better possibilities.

Problem of Maoist Extremism

• This is an extremely harmful byproduct of tribal society's poverty and exploitation, notably in India's central regions.
• The Maoist organisation found suitable ground to take root and develop in India's impoverished central regions.
• They entice the young unemployed from the tribal regions to join their army for a pittance of money, a uniform, and a pistol. The Maoists have undermined the development of these areas.
• In the remote areas, these hardline organisations are essentially establishing a parallel government. The government's efforts to crush these organisations have been largely futile.

Steps to Mitigate the Challenges Faced by Scheduled Tribes

Improvements to Healthcare Facilities

• Mobile medical camps would play a significant role in improving outreach to distant tribal people.
• One of the most pressing needs of indigenous women is the provision of emergency transportation to health care facilities for obstetric treatment.
• Health professionals from tribal communities may serve as a connection between healthcare institutions and tribal communities, guiding patients, explaining physicians' prescriptions, assisting patients in taking advantage of welfare programmes, and counselling them on preventive and promotive health practices.

Improvements in Food and Nutrition Facilities

Large-scale opening of Mini-Anganwadis with much looser rules and extension of Village Grain Banks into tribal communities are two ways that may be used to 'Reach the Unreached' in tribal regions.

Employment and Income Generating

• Tribal regions should be provided with employment and income generation options, either through wage or self-employment, in order to increase their economic position and thereby free them from the shackles of poverty and indebtedness.
• Efforts should also be made to offer microcredit for self-employment initiatives and to create NREGA-like schemes where there are no existing job prospects.
• Minor forest produce collection and selling should also be promoted.

Water Resource Management

• The National Water Policy should be more effectively operationalized in tribal regions, to include the extension of irrigation infrastructure and the provision of potable water, with a focus on watershed management, rainwater collection, and water-saving techniques.
• Mass education and public awareness among rural and tribal populations for successful water resource management and pollution prevention.

Empowering Tribal Women

• Effective steps to enhance the situation of tribal women should be implemented, including:
  • Encouragement of leadership in Joint Forest Management and Panchayati Raj Institutions
  • Legal and administrative efforts to curb the practise of persecuting women accused of witchcraft, as well as a huge campaign to raise societal awareness and rehabilitate affected women, ideally through women's groups.

Infrastructure Development

• The government can work with tribal tribes to improve infrastructure in their communities.
• Meghalaya is referred to as a living root bridge. They are cultivated by trained Khasi and Jaintia tribes who have perfected the ability of producing root bridges across elevated banks of streams that pass through Meghalaya's deep jungles.

Social Inclusion

• The tribal people's social exclusion is mostly due to discrimination at the social and institutional levels, which has resulted in their isolation, shame, and humiliation, and, as a result, self-exclusion within tribes.
• There is a tremendous need for awareness among India's non-tribal people to acknowledge the capacity and dignity of tribes in order to safeguard the country's unity and integrity, as well as the spirit of brotherhood.

Government Initiatives

Eklavya Model Residential Schools

• The primary objective of Eklavya Model Residential Schools is to provide quality middle and high-level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas.
• Not only to enable them to take advantage of reservation in high and professional education courses, as well as jobs in the government, public, and private sectors, but also to provide them with equal access to the best educational opportunities as the non-ST population.

Tribes India

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs' Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) is involved in the marketing development of tribal products such as art and craft items. TRIFED has been distributing tribal items on a consignment basis through its "TRIBES India" stores and state emporia outlets.
• TRIFED has devised a method for purchasing art and craft goods manufactured by accredited indigenous producers.
• Individual tribal artists, tribal SHGs, and organisations/agencies/NGOs dealing with tribals are among the suppliers who have been appointed as TRIFED suppliers in accordance with the standards for supplier empanelment.
• The items bought by TRIFED are subsequently offered through its marketing platform of "Tribes India".

Tribes India E-Marketplace

• Tribes India E-Marketplace is India's largest marketplace for handicrafts and organic items.
• The programme intends to enrol 5 lakh tribal producers in order to source diverse handcraft, handloom, and natural food products from around the country and offer you the finest of tribal output.
• Individual tribal craftsmen, tribal SHGs, and organisations/agencies/NGOs dealing with tribals are among the suppliers.
• The platform allows tribal suppliers to sell their items through their merchants and distributors,
• TRIFED's network of Outlets and eCommerce partners, and their e-Marketplace account.

Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana

• The Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY) for tribal welfare has been introduced by the Government of India's Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana strives to provide an enabling environment for the indigenous people's need-based and outcome-oriented holistic development.
• This procedure entails ensuring that the intended benefits of commodities and services under various programs/schemes of the Central and State Governments reach the target populations through resource convergence via the proper institutional structure.
• It applies to all tribal people and locations with tribal populations across the country.

Van Dhan Scheme

• The Van Dhan Scheme is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED.
• It was started on April 14, 2018, with the goal of increasing tribal revenue via the value addition of tribal products.
• The initiative will be executed at the national level by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED as the Nodal Agency.
• The State Nodal Agency for MFPs and District Collectors are expected to play pivotal roles in scheme implementation at the grassroots level at the state level. Locally, the Kendras are intended to be controlled by a Managing Committee (an SHG) composed of representatives from the cluster's Van Dhan SHGs.

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition Of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

• The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 acknowledges the rights of forest-dwelling tribal tribes and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources on which these people rely for a range of requirements such as subsistence, habitation, and other socio-cultural needs.
• This Act recognises the STs' symbiotic relationship with the woods, which is shown in their reliance on the forest as well as their traditional wisdom towards forest protection.

Tribal Development Report 2022 - Key Findings

• Tribals are the most deprived: Despite 70 years of independence, Adivasis are the most disadvantaged in terms of cleanliness, education, nutrition, access to drinking water, and education.
• Disturbances and Conflict in Tribal Regions: Tribal territories have also experienced significant disruption and conflict.
  • This is one of the reasons why many government assistance programmes and policies in these regions fail to take off. Both sides are affected by the area's distress.
  • The research noted that indigenous tribes in India have been driven further away from alluvial plains and rich river basins towards the country's hardest natural zones such as hills, forests, and drylands.
• Forest Conservation Act in 1980: After the passage of the Forest Conservation Act in 1980, the struggle was framed as one between environmental conservation and the needs of local Adivasi groups, creating a schism between people and forests.
• Domestic needs of local people were officially recognised for the first time in the National Forest Policy 1988.
• The Policy emphasised preserving their traditional rights and involving Adivasis in forest conservation. However, the shift towards a people-oriented orientation has not been mirrored by realities on the ground.
• Suggestions: It is critical to understand the unique characteristics of tribal societies in order to develop policies for them.
• Many tribal societies prefer to live in solitude and silence. They are bashful and will not approach the outer world on their own.
• Policymakers and leaders in the country must grasp this feature and then fight for the welfare of Adivasis in order to connect with them more effectively.

Conclusion

Scheduled Tribes (STs) are officially recognised groups of people who are among India's poorest socioeconomic groups. Although the founding figures of the Republic of India were acutely aware of the disadvantageous position of tribespeople and made special provisions such as the Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Constitution, there have been growing concerns among tribal activists about a systematic erosion of tribal protections, harassment and suppression by the police, and a general state intolerance towards tribal autonomy.

FAQs

MCQs

1. What is one of the primary causes of displacement among Scheduled Tribes in India?

A) Religious conflicts
B) Development projects
C) Urban migration
D) Tourism expansion

2. Which legislation helps protect the land rights of Scheduled Tribes in India?

A) Forest Rights Act
B) Prevention of Atrocities Act
C) RTE Act
D) Environment Protection Act

3. Which government initiative aims to promote education among Scheduled Tribes?

A) MGNREGA
B) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
C) Van Dhan Yojana
D) Mid-Day Meal Scheme

4. Which of the following issues is NOT a primary challenge faced by Scheduled Tribes?

A) High poverty levels
B) Urban overcrowding
C) Educational disparity
D) Health accessibility

5. Which scheme aims to provide employment opportunities to tribal communities in forest areas?

A) Stand-Up India
B) National Livelihood Mission
C) Van Dhan Yojana
D) PM-KISAN

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the major social and economic challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes in India. How do these challenges affect their overall development?

Answer: Scheduled Tribes in India face significant socio-economic challenges, including poverty, limited healthcare, educational disparities, and land displacement. These factors limit access to essential services, restrict employment opportunities, and disrupt traditional lifestyles. Displacement from land erodes cultural identity and economic stability, while lack of healthcare access increases mortality rates and spreads preventable diseases. Together, these issues prevent the holistic development of ST communities, impeding integration into the mainstream economy and perpetuating marginalization.

Q2: Analyze the role of government policies in addressing the challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes. What more can be done?

Answer: Government policies like the Forest Rights Act and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have aimed to protect ST land rights and promote education. However, implementation remains inconsistent, often hampered by administrative hurdles. To strengthen policy impact, efforts must include increased funding, community-based healthcare, and targeted employment schemes. Furthermore, policy frameworks should encourage sustainable livelihood programs that respect ST traditions while improving socio-economic outcomes. Expanded access to basic services and legal protections would enhance ST integration and development.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of displacement on Scheduled Tribes in India. How does it impact their cultural and economic stability?

Answer: Displacement due to infrastructure projects or forest conservation disrupts ST livelihoods, as many rely on natural resources for sustenance. This shift undermines traditional economic practices, causing social and financial instability. Additionally, displacement severs STs from their cultural roots and community bonds, diminishing heritage preservation. Economic dislocation leads to dependency and poverty, as STs often lack skills to integrate into alternative jobs. Addressing these challenges requires equitable compensation, inclusive resettlement policies, and livelihood support to maintain cultural identity and financial security.

Previous Year Questions on Challenges Faced by Scheduled Tribes

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2022:

Question: Which act is primarily aimed at protecting the land rights of Scheduled Tribes?

A) Protection of Civil Rights Act
B) Forest Rights Act
C) MGNREGA
D) Right to Education Act

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The Forest Rights Act is designed to secure land rights for STs, recognizing their traditional rights over forest resources.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2021 (GS Paper 2):

Question: "Examine the socio-economic challenges faced by Scheduled Tribes in India. How can government interventions be strengthened to address these issues?"

Answer: STs encounter challenges like poverty, lack of education, healthcare access, and displacement. These issues limit social integration and economic growth. Although government initiatives exist, enhanced funding, streamlined implementation, and participatory approaches are needed. Fostering sustainable livelihoods and expanding healthcare can promote ST empowerment and development.