Tribal Governance in India

Special Gram Sabhas have been organized across over 1 lakh tribal-dominated villages and tolas under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan, where the Tribal Village Vision 2030 Declaration was adopted. These declarations serve as a blueprint for holistic tribal development, identifying village-level priorities in areas such as education, health, livelihood, social and financial inclusion, and infrastructure. The initiative marks a shift from conventional top-down development approaches to community-led, participatory governance.

Tribal Village Vision 2030 Declaration

The Vision 2030 Declaration lays out actionable goals for each village, aiming to address the socio-economic needs of tribal communities. To operationalize these goals, Adi Sewa Kendras have been established in every village, acting as single-window citizen service centers. Villagers contribute one hour per week (Adi Sewa Samay) to support community development and administration. This participatory approach strengthens local governance, empowers communities, and ensures accountability at the grassroots level.

About Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan

The Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a national movement launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to build a decentralized tribal leadership and governance ecosystem. It is considered the world’s largest tribal grassroots leadership programme, covering 11 crore citizens in 30 states and union territories. Its key objectives include training and mobilizing 20 lakh tribal changemakers, facilitating village-level planning through the Vision 2030 Action Plans, promoting last-mile service delivery, and amplifying the voices of tribal communities. The program rests on three pillars of leadership: Adi Karmayogi (leadership), Adi Sahyogi (support), and Adi Saathi (companionship), fostering collaborative governance.

Tribal Governance Framework in India

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, established in 1999, provides a structured approach to the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes. Key constitutional and legal provisions include:

1. Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA):

   • Empowers Gram Sabhas in tribal areas to exercise self-governance.

   • Grants authority over local resources, land transfers, and socio-economic development.

   • Preserves tribal culture, customs, and decision-making processes.

2. Fifth and Sixth Schedule:

   • Sixth Schedule: Grants autonomy to tribal areas in northeastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.

   • Fifth Schedule: Governs administration of Scheduled Areas in other states.

3. Customary Tribal Institutions:

   • Traditional bodies like Adivasi Sabhas and Tribal Panchayats continue to play a role in governance, resource management, conflict resolution, and cultural preservation, often co-existing with formal Panchayat systems.

Importance of Grassroots Participation

Promoting tribal participation in governance ensures inclusiveness, trust-building, transparency, accountability, and social justice. For instance:

• Inclusiveness: Social audits under MGNREGA allow local communities to monitor fund utilization.

• Trust-building: Gram Sabhas strengthen community trust in government institutions.

• Accountability: RTI empowers citizens to hold authorities accountable.

• Raising Concerns: Environmental Impact Assessments enable tribals to voice concerns over development projects.

• Social Justice: Political participation gives marginalized communities representation in governance and leadership roles.

Challenges in Tribal Governance

Despite constitutional safeguards, tribal governance faces several issues:

1. Gaps in PESA Implementation: Many states have been slow to adopt PESA provisions. For example, Jharkhand has yet to fully implement PESA.

2. Limited Voice in Decision-Making: Formal Panchayats often fail to represent tribal interests, and Tribes Advisory Councils in Fifth Schedule states remain largely ineffective.

3. Land Alienation and Displacement: Tribals are vulnerable to losing land to outsiders and development projects, even in Sixth Schedule areas.

4. Poor Implementation of Welfare Policies: Schemes like the Forest Rights Act (FRA) often suffer from weak execution; over 38% of FRA land claims were rejected by November 2022.

5. Socio-Economic Marginalization: High poverty levels persist (45% in rural and 24% in urban areas), with low literacy rates among Scheduled Tribes (72.1% as per 2022 PLFS report), limiting access to opportunities.

Initiatives for Tribal Development

To address these challenges, the government has launched multiple schemes:

• PM JANMAN: Time-bound socio-economic development initiative for 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

• DAJGUA: Focuses on developing infrastructure and socio-economic conditions in tribal-majority villages.

• Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST): Mandates allocation of budget by 41 ministries/departments for tribal development.

• PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): Transforms tribal villages into model villages covering about 40% of the tribal population.

• Education Development: Initiatives like Eklavya Model Residential Schools, National Fellowship Scheme, Pre-Matric and Top Class Scholarships.

• Promotion of Entrepreneurship: Programs like Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, PM Janjatiya Vikas Mission, and TRIFED’s TRIBES India outlets promote tribal self-reliance and income generation.

• Tribes in India

India is home to a rich diversity of tribal communities, collectively recognized under Article 342 of the Constitution as Scheduled Tribes (STs). As per the latest estimates, India has approximately 110 million tribals, spread across 18 states. Tribal communities are known for living sustainable lives in harmony with nature, maintaining traditional knowledge systems, art, culture, and social practices that are centuries old.

However, many tribal communities face challenges due to marginalization, economic deprivation, loss of habitat, and cultural erosion, making it essential to focus not only on their population protection but also on the preservation of their heritage, language, and traditional practices.

Importance of Tribal Communities

1. Safeguarding Biodiversity: Tribals have historically played a vital role in preserving forests, flora, and fauna through sacred groves and sustainable practices, acting as natural conservators.

2. Repository of Traditional Knowledge: Tribal communities possess ancestral expertise in climate adaptation, disaster mitigation, and sustainable resource use, crucial for modern environmental strategies.

3. Sustainable Livelihood Practices: Indigenous crops and farming techniques are highly resilient, able to withstand droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, supporting climate-resilient agriculture.

4. Gender Equality and Social Harmony: Tribal societies are often more gender-inclusive, with women actively participating in subsistence activities, contributing to economic and social balance.

Protection and Upliftment of Tribes

1. Constitutional Protection

• The term “Scheduled Tribes” appears in the Constitution of India, defining tribal communities and specifying procedures for their recognition:

  • Article 366(25) defines scheduled tribes as communities recognized under Article 342.

  • Article 342 prescribes procedures for specifying STs.

• Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs): Initially classified as “Primitive Tribal Groups” by the Dhebar Commission (1973), renamed PVTGs in 2006, recognizing the need for focused welfare interventions.

• National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST): Established under Article 338-A to safeguard tribal rights, monitor welfare schemes, and advise the government.

2. Protection of Civil Rights

• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Punishes untouchability and protects marginalized groups, including tribals.

• Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Ensures legal protection against crimes and discrimination targeting SCs and STs, including special courts for speedy justice.

• Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA): Empowers Gram Sabhas in tribal areas to manage local resources and governance.

• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006: Grants individual and community rights over land, forests, and resources, ensuring security of habitation and livelihood for tribals.

3. Political Protection and Governance

• Scheduled Areas: Regions with a significant tribal population, governed under special provisions to protect cultural, economic, and political interests.

  • Fifth Schedule: Administers Scheduled Areas and Tribes in states other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, giving the central government powers to safeguard tribal interests.

  • Sixth Schedule (Article 244): Provides for autonomous governance of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, allowing local councils to manage administration, development, and resources.

Measures for Economic Upliftment and Welfare

• Special schemes by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs aim to improve education, skill development, and employment for tribal youth.

• Health and Nutrition Initiatives: Programs to ensure better healthcare access in remote tribal areas.

• Skill Development & Entrepreneurship: Training and financial assistance to promote self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.

• Cultural Preservation: Support for tribal arts, crafts, language, and festivals, ensuring heritage preservation alongside economic development.

Conclusion

The Tribal Village Vision 2030 and Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan reflect a transformative shift in India’s approach to tribal development. By emphasizing community-led governance, local planning, and grassroots leadership, these initiatives aim to empower tribal communities, strengthen self-governance, and ensure inclusive socio-economic development. This represents a move away from traditional top-down welfare models toward participatory, decentralized tribal governance