Does India's tribal development policy reflect the aspirations for a socially grounded and equity-based governance? Justify your answer.
India's tribal development policy has evolved from Nehru's Panchsheel and Verrier Elwin's cultural-integration approach to a modern rights-based framework — yet its alignment with socially grounded, equity-based governance remains partial.
Reflection of aspirations:
- Constitutional safeguards: Fifth Schedule (PESA, 1996), Sixth Schedule, Articles 244, 275(1), 342.
- Rights-based laws: Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises individual and community forest rights.
- Institutional focus: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, PM-JANMAN (2023) for PVTGs, PM-JUGA (Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana).
- Financial devolution: Development Action Plan for STs (DAPST) mandates 8.6% of central-scheme outlays.
Persisting gaps:
- Poor PESA implementation — Gram Sabha consent bypassed in mining/land acquisition (Vedanta Niyamgiri case notwithstanding).
- Displacement: Tribals form ~40% of development-induced displaced persons.
- HDI gaps: ST IMR, MMR, and dropout rates remain above national averages.
- Land alienation despite protective laws.
Way forward: Genuine PESA operationalisation, community-led planning, participatory budgeting, and integrating tribal knowledge into ecological governance.
Thus, the policy framework is progressive on paper but requires deeper structural equity in execution.
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