Asur Community: History, Culture, and Challenges

• The Asur community is a small Austroasiatic ethnic group living primarily in the Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh.
• Historical Background of Asur Community: 
  • According to anthropologists, the Asurs were originally inhabitants of the Indus Valley but were forced to leave their homeland due to the Aryan migration. 
  • They migrated to the Chota Nagpur Plateau before being relocated by the British to North Bengal in the 19th century to work in tea plantations.
• Population: According to the 2011 census, the Asur Community population in India was around 33,000.
• Language: Asur Community speaks Asur language, which belongs to the Munda family of Austro-asiatic languages.
• Occupations of Asur Community:
  • Asurs are traditionally iron-smelters. 
  • They were once hunter gatherers, having also been involved in shifting agriculture. 
  • However, the majority of them shifted into agriculture with 91.19 percent enlisted as cultivators in the 2011 census.
• Recognition:
  • The Asurs were officially recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in 2014.
  • They were also recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Jharkhand.
• Divisions  within Asur Community:
  • The modern Asur tribe is divided into three sub-tribal divisions, namely Bir (Kol) Asur, Birjia Asur and Agaria Asur. 
  • The Birjia are recognized as a separate scheduled tribe.
• Religion of Asur Community:
  • The Asur religion is a mixture of animism, animatism, naturalism and ancestral worship.
  • Their chief deity is Singbonga. Amongst the other deities are Dharati Mata, Duari, Patdaraha and Turi Husid.
  • They celebrate festivals like Sarhul, Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Rajj karma, Dasahara Karam.
• Mythical Beliefs:
  • The Asur people are believed to be the descendants of the demon Mahishasur who, according to Hindu mythology, was killed by the goddess Durga. 
  • This association with Mahishasur has led to the Asur people being stigmatized and discriminated against by other communities.
• Several Challenges Faced by Asur Community:
  • Poverty: The Asur people are among the poorest communities in India. 
  • Lack of education: They have one of the lowest literacy rates in India. 
  • Discrimination: They are often stigmatized and discriminated against by other communities. 
  • Loss of culture: due to assimilation and marginalization.

Understanding the Vulnerability of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India

• PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups in India.
• Characteristics: they are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a simple mould, absence of written language, relatively simple technology and a slower rate of change etc.
• Government of India follows the following criteria for identification of PVTGs:   
  • Pre-agricultural level of technology.
  • Low level of literacy. 
  • Economic backwardness. 
  • A declining or stagnant population.
• Need for Identification of PVTGs: Due to their increased vulnerability, PVTGs require a larger allocation of funds as more developed and assertive tribal groups tend to take a significant portion of these tribal development funds.

The Evolution of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India: A Historical Overview and Current Status

• In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, which are less developed among the tribal groups.
• In 1975, the Government of India declared 52 such groups, while in 1993 an additional 23 groups were added to the category, making it a total of 75 PVTGs.
• In 2006, the Government of India renamed the PTGs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
• The categorization of PVTGs is done by the Ministry of Home Affairs and not by the Ministry of Tribal affairs.
• Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha.