Adivasis

Adivasis in India

India has the largest concentration of the Adivasis/Indigenous Peoples probably second only to Africa. Tribes constitute 8.14% of the total population of the country, numbering 84.15 million (2001 Census). There are 695 Tribes notified by the Central Government under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution. Adivasis live in about 15% of the country’s total area, in various ecological and geo-climatic conditions ranging from plains, forests, hills and areas that are still inaccessible. Adivasis are the most vulnerable sections of the population and the age old exploitation and repression have cut them off from the mainstream of socio-economic development of the country.

One of the most important and valuable aspects of their life-style is their closeness to nature. They have all along been living for years in harmony with nature; they have been depending upon the land and forests for their food, shelter and medicines; and that they have been doing without destroying or harming the nature at all.

However presently, with the advent of giant industries into the Indigenous and Tribal peoples’ areas as a part of so called modernization and globalisation phenomena, the traditional Adivasi culture and way of life is being disturbed. There is no denying the fact that presently the Adivasi culture and life-style is undergoing a drastic change and it is pathetic to note that in certain areas they are losing their cultural identity. The situation gets more aggravated as the Adivasis have to live amidst a vast majority of non-Adivasis and the few existing segregated areas of the Adivasis are also becoming vulnerable due to mass influx of non-Adivasis into those areas.

The Adivasis have a century old, traditional system of local self-governance known by various names at the village and intermediate level responsible for the overall development of the Adivasi communities. Historically the local institutions of self-governance started losing its authority with the advent of the British Colonial power. This process continued after the independence. Various legislations made the system ineffective and dysfunctional.

Still, the Constitution of India recognizes cultural diversities and pluralism. It provides a number of rights to all the citizens of India without any discrimination with regards to religion (faith), caste, gender and ethnicity. Besides there are certain Constitutional provisions safeguarding and promote the interest of the marginalized communities, including the Adivasi communities. A number of Constitutional statutory bodies (National Scheduled Tribe Commission, National Minorities Commission etc.) exist to ensure that these Acts/Rights are upheld. Further, there are International Conventions ratified by India upholding the interest of the underprivileged Adivasi communities.

The political battlefield is shifted from the voting polls to the cultural expressions and practices of the people. Adivasis and other religious and cultural minorities are the first victims of it. The freedom of expression is violated.

In spite of the spirit of the constitution, Acts and legal provisions the vast majority of Adivasi communities continued to be exploited and poverty stricken. Since the fanatic forces gained momentum in the political field, the cultural domination they experienced for long, is culminating into an onslaught against the very core of Adivasi existence.

The Adivasis have always depended upon land, forest and water resources for their livelihood. Most of them are agricultural based with a strong cultural-spiritual as well as economic relation to the forest they live in. Over the years more than 60% of the land have either legally or illegally changed hands and are now in non-Adivasi ownership. Money economy entered the villages. The Adivasi culture, as subsistence economy bases society, did not develop the habit of savings or taking up business entrepreneurship. Money-lenders from outside could play upon the community’s lack of experience and information. They provided credit for high interest rates leading to further land alienation.

Furthermore, Governmental restrictions to major portions of the forest deprived the Adivasis of their traditional means of survival.

As a result of loosing their means of livelihood many Adivasis decided to migrate to other districts, where most of them end up physically exploited and mentally alienated. Others found work as day laborer in the upcoming small and medium size industries, particularly stone quarries and stone crusher machines enterprises, in the area. Here they are substantially under-paid and exposed to various health hazards.

The Adivasi communities have their own political characteristic socio-cultural and political life-pattern. In fact their culture comprising of distinctive languages, dances, music, song and spirituality is well known and has been subject of intensive research. Adivasi communities still possess the basic human values of co-operation, caring and sharing, consensus mode of decision making and a live in symbiosis with nature. They have their own history, culture and mythology, which are rich and vibrant.

Hand in hand with the political onslaught against the multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic base of India, a cultural onslaught is taking place with the final goal to annihilate the socio-cultural existence of Adivasis and incorporate the communities into the “one nation, one culture, one religion” concept.

This socio-cultural onslaught by the dominating mainstream culture, together with their political and economic deprivation–propagated and perceived as “backwardness” – makes them feel inferior and ashamed of their age old customs and cultures. As a result the cohesive power of the culture which is of paramount importance in holding a society together is getting weakened.

In the cultural alienation of Adivasis, education plays a big role. With a literacy rate of less than 12% they rank among the lowest in India.

Traditionally, Adivasi communities have their own methods and wisdom of imparting knowledge to their children and in educating them in different spheres of life. The children learn from their parents cultural expressions (dances, songs, music), hunting and agricultural techniques and other knowledge relevant to their daily life. Formal schools have always been alien to them.

However, the present high rate of illiteracy among Adivasis is a result of different factors. Among them poverty and the non-functioning of Government schooling system plays as much role as the ignorance of teachers towards the traditional Adivasi cultures and its value system and language problems (non-Adivasi languages as medium of instruction).

The massive deforestation, carried out by the forest mafia in connivance with the government forest officials, has affected the means of livelihoods of the Adivasis living in and by the forest. It deprived them from traditional means of health care and adversely affected the rainfall with a devastating effect upon the agricultural cultivation.

Besides many other Constitutional provisions, S. P. Tenancy Act and C. N. Tenancy Act provides adequate safeguards against land alienation and/or land use of the Adivasis for industries, mining etc. However, in spite of these stringent laws the land continues to be alienated, Adivasis continue to be dispossessed from their life sustaining resources and also continue to be deprived of their basic needs.

An in-depth analysis reveals that the Adivasis are not aware of their legal Rights as enshrined in the Constitution. They are also totally ignorant of the special Constitutional provisions that exist for their development. Further, the central Act and the State Act meant for their empowerment also remain unknown. Consequently, they can not assert these Rights and also can not challenge those who misuse or abuse these laws for selfish motives.

Around 120 million people in India are Adivasis living in the most deplorable situations. The central and the State Govts as also, a number of NGOs are involved in welfare and developing the Adivasis for decades. But their situation is growing from bad to worse. The Govts as also the NGOs involved have (i) a service approach focussing on Health, Education etc. (ii) Target approach many of which are not sustainable (iii) Micro-credit and/or Projects aimed at modernizing/mainstreaming the Adivasis (iv) Address the Adivasis issues/problems in isolation. None of the NGOs (except a tiny few Gandhians) are involved in facilitating the process of assertion of the Rights/entitlements by the Adivasis, strengthening Adivasi Peoples Organisations and their systems of governance in the villages.