The Indian State’s initiatives over the decades towards integration of tribals in the mainstream population do not amount to affirmative action, but only terms of exchange, former deputy director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati, and expert on tribal studies Virginius Xaxa said.
The government’s efforts have been focussed on addressing the social isolation and cultural backwardness of various tribal groups so far, but at an institutional level the integration has not really taken place, Prof. Xaxa observed, while delivering keynote address at a brainstorming session on ‘Tribal Development in Telangana: Issues and Challenges’ organised by the Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS) here on Wednesday. Integration is weak at the levels of education, health and livelihoods.
Resource allocation too is severely hampered. During the 1950s and 60s, the budgetary allocation for tribals did not exceed 1% of the whole, and even after Tribal Sub Plan, which is a notable departure from the earlier welfare model, the allocations have never matched the population ratio.
Land transfer
Further, there has been rampant transfer of lands from the tribals. Public sector enterprises of ’50s and ’60s, came up at the cost of tribal lands and livelihoods, as can be seen from the fact that tribals constitute 40% of the displaced between 1950 and 1991. After 1991 too, the displacement has only accelerated.
The State has failed on political and governance fronts too, as can be seen from the apathy of the Governors who are the Constitutional custodians of tribals.
Governors failed
The Governors, who are supposed to evaluate laws from the tribal welfare perspective, have failed in discharging their responsibilities. Even the Tribal Advisory Councils have remained ineffective. Strengthening of the institutions of Governor and Advisory Council is required for effective implementation of development schemes, Prof. Xaxa said.
Speaking of the the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), he said instead of extending the provisions of the panchayats to the Scheduled Areas, governments have extended panchayats to include the same.
Community rights
Forest rights have been extended only to individuals, while community rights have been neglected. A hierarchy exists for implementation of laws, where the laws for general purpose take precedence over the tribal laws.
Judges and lawyers are very poor in understanding the issues of tribals.
“Tribals are not made key players in formulation of policies, but are limited to footnotes,” Prof. Xaxa said rounding off his address.
Commissioner Tribal Welfare R. Laxman attended the session and explained the tribal empowerment initiatives of the Telangana government. The session was organised towards fulfilment of the mandate given to CESS by the Telangana government to carry out studies and make a gap analysis for identifying priority areas of the investment under the Tribal Special Development Fund.
