Adivasi Rights: Origins and Struggles in India

The term “Adivasi,” meaning “original inhabitants“, emerged in the 1930s and signifies political consciousness and the demand for rights. Like the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes are social groups recognised by the Indian Constitution as specially marked by poverty, powerlessness, and social stigma. 

The Socio-Political Identity of Jana or Tribe: Shaping Socio-Political Identity

The jana or tribes, were believed to be ‘people of the forest’ whose distinctive habitat in the hills and forest areas shaped their economic, social and political attributes. 

Transformation from Tribe to Caste: Blurring Lines Between Tribe and Caste

• Despite their close ties with nature, their interactions with Hindu society have blurred the lines between ‘tribe’ and ‘caste’. 
• Migration patterns have further muddled the distinction between caste and tribe.

Challenges related to Tribals: Colonial Policies to Resilient Triumphs

• Colonial Policies and Adivasis: A significant challenge for Adivasis arose in the late nineteenth century when the colonial British government reserved vast forest areas for their use. 
  • This action deprived Adivasis of their traditional rights to the forest, leading to an impoverished existence where they were either forced to exploit the forests illegally or migrate for work. 
• Post-Independence Struggles: Post-1947 independence didn’t alleviate their plight; in fact, the Indian government’s focus on industrialization and resource extraction further marginalised them. 
  • Displacement and Discontent: Projects, such as the Sardar Sarovar and Polavaram dams, displaced countless Adivasis without adequate compensation or rehabilitation. 
  • Land Acquisition Challenges: Policies from the 1990s onward have amplified this issue, making land acquisition by corporations even easier.
  • Sacrificing Heritage: The shared Adivasi experience encompasses loss of forests, land alienation, and displacements in the name of ‘development’. 
• Resilience and Triumph: Despite these adversities, Adivasis have consistently resisted external intrusions and state policies. 
  • Their movements have achieved significant milestones, including the creation of separate states like Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. 
  • Unlike the Dalits, the contiguous settlement of Adivasis allowed them to demand their own distinct states.

Efforts to Combat Caste and Tribal Discrimination: Empowering Marginalized Voices in India

• Empowering Marginalized Communities: The Indian government has been implementing special programmes for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes since pre-independence. 
  • The Genesis of Schedules in 1935: The British Indian government formulated the original ‘Schedules’ in 1935, listing the tribes and castes needing special attention due to historical discrimination. 
• Post-Independence Evolution: Post-Independence, these policies were expanded upon, notably extending special programmes to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the early 1990s.
• Affirmative Action in India: A significant state initiative against caste discrimination is ‘reservations’. 
  • This policy reserves specific seats in public spheres like state assemblies, government jobs, and educational institutions for the Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and OBCs. 
  • The reservation proportion aligns with their population percentage, though the calculation differs for OBCs. 
• Legal Safeguards: Additionally, various laws have been enacted to prohibit and punish caste discrimination. 
  • These laws range from the Caste Disabilities Removal Act of 1850 to the Constitution Amendment (Ninety-Third Amendment) Act of 2005. 
  • The Constitution of India abolished untouchability and introduced reservation provisions. 
• The Persistence of Caste-Based Discrimination: Despite these legal measures, caste-based discrimination and atrocities persist, indicating that laws alone cannot eradicate deep-rooted societal prejudices.
• Empowerment through Activism: However, Dalits have not remained passive victims. Historically and currently, they have actively participated in political, cultural, and agitation movements. 
  • Leaders like Jyotiba Phule, Iyotheedas, Periyar, and Ambedkar paved the way for modern political entities like the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. 
  • Furthermore, Dalits have significantly contributed to Indian literature, reflecting their experiences and aspirations.

Conclusion

• Societal structures inherently interlink with stratification, influencing the social dynamics of cooperation, competition, and conflict. 
• Despite their distinct natures, these processes often intertwine, sometimes subtly. 
• The concept of forced cooperation exemplifies these concealed intersections, underscoring the need to delve deeper into understanding these intricate relationships for holistic societal change.

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