Rajasthan has 92.38 lacks scheduled tribe (ST) population (13.47%) as per the 2011 census, of which nearly 95 percent reside in rural areas. Though the tribal population is scattered throughout the state, a major portion is concentrated in southern part of the state viz., entire districts of Banswara and Dungarpur, the tehsils of Kherwara, Jhadol, Kotra, Salumber, Sarada, Dhariyawad and 81 villages of Girwa panchayat samiti of Udaipur district, Partapgarh and Arnod tehsils of Chittorgarh district and Abu Road block of Sirohi district. Five districts viz., Udaipur, Banswara, Dungarpur, Jaipur and Chittorgarh account for more than half (54.50%) of the total ST population in Rajasthan.
The major tribes residing in these areas are Bhil, Meena, Damor, Patelias, Saharaiyas, and Gharasia. Sahariya, a primitive tribal group, residing in part of Baran, Kota, Dungarpur and Sawai Madhopur districts, is among the most backward tribal groups. The economy of tribals continues to be predominately agriculture with small landholding and irrigated area. These communities have higher incidence of illiteracy, malnourishment and poverty, and face social and geographic isolation. The region lacks productive land, irrigation facilities, industrialization and skill building opportunities.
The social assessment commissioned by the SPMU has highlighted the fact that the tribals in the project districts are amongst the poorest and marginalized communities. Thus, deliberate and proactive measures, combined with relevant government programs on tribal development are required, to ensure that benefits actually accrue to them.
Research Paper
Rajasthan is a state of India with total population of Approximate 6.86 Crores. (Census 2011). The population of Scheduled Tribe’s is 92.38 lacks or 13.47% of total population. The Scheduled Tribe’s male is 47.43 lacks, female is 44.95 lacks, Child (0-6 years) 16.99 lacks & the Sex ratio 948 of the total population. The tribals in the State are of varied ethnic composition and cultural patterns comprising the Bhil, Garasia, Meena, Damor, Kathodi and Saharia is only primitive tribe. The first three tribes are concentrated mainly in Banswara, Dungarpur, Southern half of Udaipur district and parts of Pratapgarh, the fourth in Sirohi district and the Saharia in parts of Baran district.
The State Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for socio-economic development of scheduled tribes in the state. Key initiations for social empowerment through educational development, economic empowerment through income and employment enhancing avenues have been taken. The State Government is further keen to take innovative policy interventions to enable Tribal people to share the benefit of growth in more equitable manner. State Government will ensure that the flow of funds for Tribal development steadily increases in coming years.
In spite of running special programmes and providing adequate funds for various Tribal and Area Development Programmes, it is observed that socio-economic conditions of some Tribal Groups and families of Scheduled and Saharia areas are still poor and require more attention. State Government has taken following policy decisions to provide more opportunities to the Tribal Youth of these groups and families living in these areas.
- All facilities of the State Government applicable to BPL families have been extended to Kathodi tribe and Saharia families living in Shahbad & Kishanganj tehsils of Baran district.
- Norms for infrastructural facilities applicable in the Scheduled area has been extended to Saharia area of Shahbad & Kishanganj tehsils of Baran district.
- Special 45% reservation provision for tribal of scheduled area has been made for all posts other than state services in scheduled area. Similarly 25% reservation has been made for Saharia’s in Saharia Project area.
- In pursuance of the special reservation provisions for Tribals of Scheduled & Saharia area, 45% & 25% reservation has been provided for Scheduled & Saharia area respectively for STC & NTT Training. 45% reservation provisions for Tribals of Scheduled area has been provided for admission in B.Ed. colleges of Scheduled area.
Government of Rajasthan’s Strategy for Tribal Development
The Government has spent crores of rupees on various schemes of tribal development during last five decades. This massive fund flow has helped in building up infrastructure facilities like irrigation dams, road network, electrification, health and education in the tribal areas of Rajasthan. All these have affected the living standards and quality of life of the people.
The focus of the plan was on improving the economic status of tribals and providing basic infrastructure facilities in the tribal areas. The strategy also specifically aimed at improving the living environment of the tribals by giving them better social and civic amenities and facilities.
The desired goal of tribal development is still ahead. The literacy rate among the tribals is lower than other group of society. Brightest boys’ and girls’ remains satisfied with the peripheral opportunities like teacher, patwari, panchayat secretary, nurse/ male-nurse etc. These students can get better opportunity by appearing in various competitive examinations. Benefits of health services are yet to be discernible on infant mortality & birth rates or on the problem of malnutrition.
The objectives of the Plans
- Reduction in the incidences of poverty and unemployment and thereby reduction in income inequalities.
- Human resource development of the scheduled tribes by providing economic & health services and development of the confidence among people through intensive educational efforts.
- Development and strengthening of infrastructure base for further economic exploitation of the resources (physical and human both) in tribal areas.
- Providing physical & financial security against all types of exploitation.
Strategy
The strategy to achieve these objectives has a blend of area based and individual based approach. The efforts will be to strengthen and develop vibrant socio-economic infrastructure on the one hand and on the other to provide better means of livelihood to those who still live on inadequate economic base.
Thrust Area
Human resources development through education and vocational training receive the importance. Women education will be given a special importance because the literacy level of tribal women is very low.
- The economy of tribal had continued to predominately rest on agriculture. As the size of land holding in scheduled area is small, the percentage of irrigated area to cultivated area is low and traditional farm technique is being used by this area, the productivity of agriculture produced is low. Thus priority will be given to irrigation sector and electrification of wells.
- To diversify economic activities in non-farm sector, vocational education be given and loan/ subsidy will be provided to self employment in non-farm activities.
The Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 & Rules 2008
The Scheduled Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 has come into force from 31.12.07. The rules made under this act have come into force from 1.1.2008.
The objective of this act and rules is to recognize and vest both individual and community forest rights on forest land to forest dwelling scheduled tribe, other traditional forest dwellers and ST pastoralist communities.
The State Level Monitoring Committee, District Level Committee, Sub-divisional Level Committee were constituted vide orders of Administrative Reforms Department dated 26.4.08, 14.3.08 and 14.3.08 respectively. Gram Sabhas were conducted from 8th April to 17th April, 2008. Forest Rights Committees have been constituted in all 4718 revenue villages in scheduled area and 5493 Gram Panchayats out of 8211 Gram panchayats in area other then scheduled area. So far, 34535 total claims have been received by gram sabhas out of which 8947 claims have been forwarded to sub divisional level committees by gram sabhas. Sub divisional level committees have forwarded 2704 claims to district level committees & rejected 226 claims. District level committees have approved 2045 claims & rejected 4 claims.
Southern Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Project
Despite rapid decline in poverty, the absolute numbers of poor families still stand at more than 2 million as per State BPL Census 2002. Majority of these families require direct support and credit through government intervention. Financial institutions on their own are not coming forward to meet the credit needs of these families. The only programme for credit provision for BPL families is SGSY and at the current rate of coverage it will cover only 3 lacks families in coming 10 years.
The State Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj Department has formulated a project Southern Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Project of worth Rs. 1675 crores for external aid from European Economic Community. Total number of 3.62 lacks BPL families of 45 blocks of 4 Tribal Area District is proposed to be covered under this project. Proposal of Rural Development is in active consideration for external assistance. The European Economic Community provides external aid in form of grant assistance.
1. State Plan (TRI)
Tribal Research & Training Institute (TRI) was established to conduct research and evaluation studies of various development programmes/schemes launched by Govt. of India and Govt. of Rajasthan for the welfare of the tribes and suggest future needs in respect of these programmes. It also aims at promoting scientific thinking among the Tribes in various aspects of tribal life i.e. Socio-economic, educational development, Art & culture of tribes. An amount of Rs. 33.00 lacks has been proposed as state matching share for running of TRIs schemes.
2. Maharashtra Pattern
Maharashtra Pattern was adopted in Rajasthan on 31st Dec. 1999. Thereafter, the modified form of Maharashtra Pattern was implemented from 15th Feb. 2000. In Maharashtra Pattern there is a lump sum allocation to Tribal Area Development Department for Tribal Sub Plan which is equal to 8% of total divisible plan ceiling of the State(Percentage of population of Scheduled Area to the State population is 8%).
3. Special Central Assistance
Major Schemes under SCA: An amount of Rs. 300.00 lacks has been proposed for construction of 30 lift irrigation scheme, Rs. 1927.40 lacks for construction of 193 anicuts, Rs. 344.81 lacks has been proposed for distribution of 991 group/individual diesel/electric pump sets. An amount of Rs.83.13 lacks has been proposed for deepening of 1385 wells by blasting. 1500 tribals will be benefited under self employment scheme for which Rs. 154.50 lacks has been proposed. An outlay of Rs. 80.00 lacks has been proposed for milch cattle to benefit 320 tribals under vocational training and self employment programme an amount of Rs. 175.01 lacks has been proposed to benefit 700 tribal. An outlay of Rs. 55.80 lakhs has been proposed for group power thresher to benefit 139 tribal. A new scheme, Rajasthan State Certificate Course in IT has been proposed for which Rs. 110.40 lakhs has been proposed to benefit 4800 tribals.
In Rajasthan clusters are selected for implementation of schemes (i.e. clusters for agriculture development, clusters for horticulture development, cluster for irrigation development etc.) Jhadol area has been selected for horticulture development, sericulture & mushroom production. For comprehensive village development scheme, villages are selected on cluster approach.
Programmes are proposed special for Tribal areas in Rajasthan
- Education is a sector that impinges on every aspect of tribal development. Efforts will be made to expand educational facilities to improve the quality of education and to provide financial assistance as an incentive to increase retention of children in school.
- To decrease dropout rate and to ensure retention after enrolment, financial assistance is being provided to meet part of the cost involved in carrying education.
- Hostels are being run to provide lodging & boarding facilities to those students who reside in far-flung areas. Department provides free residential facility, meal, books, dresses, stationary, coaching, educational tours to inmates of hostels. It is proposed to increase no. of hostels by 7. Capacity of hostels is proposed to increase by 450. One public school for tribal students is started in 2009-10.
- Construction of a new hostel for university students is started in 2009-10.
- To prepare the tribal youth for national and international sports meets, separate hostels are being run. All the educational facilities are given as general type of hostels but these students get special food & nutrition. These students get training for archery & athletics by experts of sports council.
- To provide quality education to the tribal students many model residential schools will be running.
- To increase enrolment rate, 180 Maa Bari centres for non enrolled children in Saharia area were started. In these centres children of 6 to 12 years age group are being provided primary education along with free school dress and mid day meal facility. After education for 2 years in these centres, they can easily be shifted to regular schools for continuing their education. 5400 Saharia children are getting education through these centres. Many new Maa Bari centres established in Saharia Area in year 2009-10.
- This scheme is extended to scheduled area where it is proposed to run 150 Maa bari centres (4500 children) in Scheduled Area.
- ST youths will be given training for General Nursing and Midwifes.
- To meet the increasing demand of manpower in hotel & tourism, 40 ST youths will be given training for food craft.
- For development of skill among ST youths (757 youths), special batches of ITI courses will be conducted. The scheme of providing O-level computer training to ST youths will continue.
- Two milch animals to 320 families outside scheduled area for generating additional income by selling milk and milk products.
- To prevent the Antyoday & BPL families from the diseases caused by deficiency of iodine, 1 Kg iodized salt per family per month will be distributed free of cost.
- A programme is being implemented to identify TB patients in remote area to ensure their complete treatment.
The main Development Schemes on for Tribal areas in Rajasthan are following
- Astha Yojna
- Wiswas Yojna
- Palanhar Yojna
- Anuprati Yojna
- Old Age Homes
- Marriage of Disabled
- De-addiction Program
- Polio Correction Campu
- Working Womens Hoste
- Training of Manual Scavengers
- College level Hostel for Women
- Incentive on remarriage of Widow
- Prime Ministers 15 Point Program for Minorities
- Pannadhai Jeevan Amrit Yojna (Jan Shree Bima Yojna)
- Residential School for Children of Migratory Communitie
- Observation Homes and Kishore Grih under J.J. Act, 2000
- Pre-Metric Scholarship to Students belonging to Minority Community
- Residential School for Children of Beggars and those engaged in other undesirable occupations
The Tribal Development Framework has been developed in regard for the specific context of Districts of Southern Rajasthan and the districts which have been selected by the Govt. of Rajasthan for implementation. The districts in Southern Rajasthan have a significant Tribal population with four districts having Scheduled Areas. Overall, the project area has just five districts, which have a tribal population less than 10% and the average tribal population in the project area is 22.38%, which require specific strategy for their inclusion & development. In alignment with the state provisions and administrative arrangements, the project will prioritize coverage of STs in its operational area with following special classifications.
One classification would have very focused and relatively intense project engagements in all the villages and blocks falling under the Scheduled Areas, MADA, MADA Clusters and Sehariya Development Areas whereas the other would be covering all other areas having tribal population ensuring they are included in all mainstreamed project activities.
References
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