Issue :   
March 2018 Edition of Power Politics is updated.         March 2018 Edition of Power Politics is updated.
Issue:Mar' 2018

Tribal Community

A vulnerable lot still !

Geetha Kothapalli

The Tribal community in India has been the most vulnerable community even after 71 years of our Independence. Their fundamental and human rights are violated at every step in life. Most of the people belonging to the Tribal community are backward and poor, living in naturally isolated regional inhabitant. Those who are in remote areas are still devoid of common infrastructure-facilities of roads, communication, health amenities, education, safe drinking water and sanitation. Though the government is coming up with many plans, through various grants, to support these vulnerable groups, their isolation from the regular stream does not allow them to absorb technological and financial help provided by government.
Scheduled Tribes are indications of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness. The tribal population of the country is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.61 per cent of the total population.

Majority of the tribes live under poverty line. Most of the tribes live on hunting, gathering and Podu cultivation or agriculture. They are not provided with any financial assistance by the government. They are not techno-savvy. These poor and simple tribals hardly use any new technology in agriculture. Hence they are prone to low productivity and low income . They end up being exploited by local money lenders. They are ignorant and lack proper knowledge of the governmental schemes.

population of the country is 10.43 crore, constituting 8.61 per cent of the total population.
When we speak in particular reference to the state of Andhra Pradesh, as per the census of 2011 it accounts for 27.39 lakh amounting to 5.53 per cent of the population. Araku is the only parliamentary constituency which is reserved for the Tribes and almost 60 per cent of the Tribal population are from this constituency.
This area is also affected largely with Left wing extremism (Naxalism) and it is bordered by Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The tribal areas are governed by Integrated Tribal Development Agencies headed by an IAS officer, which focus on allround development of the region.
When I was to prepare the issues pertaining to the tribal areas or the tribal population, hundreds of problems cropped up and I did not know what issue to talk about in particular. I have been elected as a member of parliament in 2014 and have dealt with many issues pertaining to life of the tribal community rather than the living conditions.

Majority of the tribes live under poverty line. Most of the tribes live on hunting, gathering and Podu cultivation or agriculture. They are not provided with any financial assistance by the government. They are not techno-savvy. These poor and simple tribals hardly use any new technology in agriculture. Hence they are prone to low productivity and low income. They end up being exploited by local money lenders.

Majority of the tribes live under poverty line. Most of the tribes live on hunting, gathering and Podu cultivation or agriculture. They are not provided with any financial assistance by the government. They are not techno-savvy. These poor and simple tribals hardly use any new technology in agriculture. Hence they are prone to low productivity and low income. They end up being exploited by local money lenders.
The livelihood conditions of the tribal people in the Naxalite-prone villages are more deplorable and astoundingly low. Though the government is trying to concentrate on providing housing, even today 75 per cent of tribal population is dwelling in katcha houses made of mud, thatch leaves without even doors and are just like manual shade over their heads. Over 50 per cent of tribal families manage to survive with one square meal a day.
Their per capita income is so low that the majority of them cannot afford two square meals a day. Therefore, malnutrition is severe among these tribals.
Health and nutrition are great challenges in the tribal areas. The poor access to general food and nutrition, bad sanitary condition, unhealthy housing and poor access to safe drinking water are responsible factors for morbidity and mortality among tribals. There are primary health centres and area hospitals but not adequate. People have to travel miles to get proper health care.
There is also a serious dearth of physical infrastructure as doctors are not willing to work in remote areas, due to the non- availability of minimum amenities. Thousands of people lose their lives due to vectorborne diseases. Telemedicine can be introduced in these areas to address these issues.

Health and nutrition are great challenges in the tribal areas. The poor access to general food and nutrition, bad sanitary condition, unhealthy housing and poor access to safe drinking water are responsible factors for morbidity and mortality among tribals. There are primary health centres and area hospitals but not adequate. People have to travel miles to get proper health care.

The crime rate and atrocities committed against the tribal population is also very high. There is a requirement of more police force and police stations in the tribal areas. The atrocity cases are long-standing. Justice delayed is justice denied. Many tribal women and girls are subject to harassment and sexual exploitation. As they are in utmost poverty, they have no money to fight the cases which take long years to deliver justice and their lives are in danger. Special courts have to be established so that speedy justice is delivered.

As far as access to safe drinking water is concerned, 78.72 per cent of tribals draw drinking water from open-well. Its purity is unknown to them. It is pathetic that in the modern era of technology, wherein we are talking of the launching satellites, we are not able to provide for safe drinking water to the people of the country. Many a time, the tribals have to walk for 2 to 5 kilometres to fetch drinking water.
Road connectivity is another major issue affecting the development of the tribal areas. Most of the tribal villages are scattered and the connectivity is quite poor. The Union Government has evolved a scheme to provide for cent per cent connectivity to the villages in the past one year but due to the technical and administrative issues there is an inordinate delay in the implementation. Even the roads sanctioned under PMGSY, five years back, are yet to the undertaken and are held up due to forest clearance or due to nonresponsive tenders.

It is to be understood that there is no coordination among the various departments in the implementation of the schemes. Because proper lack of connectivity the end point delivery mechanism is also not ensued. There are many serious lapses in implementation of all flagship programmes.

Corruption and exploitation are widespread in the agency areas which need to be immediately addressed. Forest wealth should be protected and the FRA should be implemented properly. RoFR issues pending with the revenue authorities and forest officers should be prioritised. Trafficking of the forest produce should be eradicated.
Another major issue is the diversion of funds that are allocated for the development of the tribal areas. Such diversion should be viewed seriously and accountability fixed on erring officials.

Unemployment is a major factor causing unrest in the tribal youth. The tribal youth are normally wellbuilt and have exceptional talents. Youth, who display exceptional talent in sports, should be encouraged and given special training. Special emphasis should also be made on the skill development in the tribal areas and youth should be imparted skills. Special incentive and placements should be mandatory.
Naxalism is another problem which is of great threat to the internal security of India. Many unemployed youth and frustrated tribals are more prone towards extremism. This cannot be suppressed by force. Development

Trafficking of the forest produce should be eradicated. The diversion of funds allocated for the development of the tribal areas should be viewed seriously. Accountability should be fixed on erring officials.

is a pertinent answer to the Naxalite problem. People belonging to Naxalite-prone areas are required to be brought to the mainstream of development.
The Government of India is spending huge funds through the Tribal Affairs Ministry and various schemes and programme are formulated by the Union as well as the State governments to develop the tribal areas. The government through sub-plan grants are also trying to a d d r e s s the issues pertaining to the interior tribal areas. Though there are many schemes and programmes, I feel the delivery mechanism is bad. If this was ensured, the tribal area would have developed on par with the urban areas and every tribal family would have been sustainable.
It is not a hazardous task for the Government which spends so much money for various developmental programme. It requires commitment from the government. Issues of dire importance need to be prioritised. Funds should be allocated for providing of drinking water in the villages. Food, clothing and shelter are required for human existence. If these primary issues cannot be addressed, it will create unrest among the youth.
The effective implementation of rural development programmes on housing, sanitation, drinking water, education, health and public distribution system and employment and skill and income generating activities in these villages will go a long way to improve the people's livelihood condition. I am hopeful of a day when we see the tribes of India on par with the people of the urban areas contributing to the socio-economic growth of the country.

Geetha Kothapalli is a sitting Member of Parliament of Lok Sabha from the second largest constituency in India, Araku of Andhra Pradesh, which is a tribal constituency. She is a First Generation Politician and a First time politician.