Ensuring Tribal Welfare

The Union Budget 2025-26 has increased the allocation for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs by 46%, prioritizing initiatives like PM JANMAN, DA-JGUA, and Eklavya Model Residential Schools to enhance tribal welfare.

Tribal communities play a vital role in India's socio-economic fabric, contributing significantly to biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage, and the rural economy. However, they face systemic challenges such as displacement, poor healthcare, and limited educational opportunities. The Union Budget 2025-26 marks a significant shift with a 46% increase in tribal welfare allocation, focusing on targeted schemes like PM JANMAN for vulnerable tribal groups and DA-JGUA for holistic development. While this increased funding is a welcome move, ensuring its effective implementation remains a crucial challenge.

Custodians of Biodiversity and Forest Conservation

• Tribals safeguard forests, wildlife, and biodiversity through sustainable practices.
• Nearly 60% of India’s forest cover lies in tribal-dominated districts like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha (ISFR 2019).
• They combat deforestation, illegal mining, and poaching, ensuring ecological balance.

Rich Cultural and Linguistic Heritage

• Tribals contribute to India’s cultural diversity through art, folklore, and traditions.
• Many tribal art forms, like Gond painting (Madhya Pradesh) and Pattachitra (Odisha), hold Geographical Indication (GI) status.
• Traditional knowledge and craftsmanship significantly boost tourism and the creative economy.

Economic and Agricultural Contributions

• Tribals play a crucial role in minor forest produce (MFP) collection and traditional crafts.
• Around 20-40% of tribal income is derived from MFP (TRIFED data).
• Van Dhan Yojana aims to establish 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, benefiting 10 lakh tribal entrepreneurs.

Political Influence in Indian Democracy

• With a population of over 104 million (Census 2011), tribals form a crucial voting bloc.
• Their electoral significance is evident in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
• The election of Droupadi Murmu as India’s first tribal President highlights growing tribal representation.
• The Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar voted for the first time in the 2024 General Elections.

Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development

• Tribals possess traditional knowledge of water conservation, biodiversity, and disaster resilience.
• UNESCO recognizes their contributions to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate change adaptation.
• Zabo farming (Nagaland) enhances groundwater recharge and promotes sustainable agriculture.

Traditional Medicine and Ayurveda

• Tribals contribute to Ayurveda and herbal medicine, with over 8,000 plant species used for healthcare.
• AYUSH initiatives must ensure protection and fair benefit-sharing of tribal knowledge.

Sustainable and Responsible Tourism

• Tribal homestays and cultural tourism attract visitors, boosting local economies.
• Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, 1,000 tribal homestays are being promoted for responsible tourism.

Land Alienation and Displacement

• Industrial projects, mining, and conservation efforts lead to large-scale displacement.
• Only 50% of Forest Rights Act (FRA) claims have been approved (Ministry of Tribal Affairs data).
• A 2022 report highlighted inadequate rehabilitation for displaced tribals in the Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Health and Nutrition Issues

• High prevalence of sickle cell anemia, tuberculosis, and malnutrition.
• 30.8% of tribal children under five suffer from undernutrition.
• 1 in 86 tribal births is affected by Sickle Cell Disease.

Education and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) Implementation Gaps

• Language barriers, lack of infrastructure, and high dropout rates persist.
• EMRS projects face delays in construction and teacher shortages.
• Recent recruitment centralization and mandatory Hindi proficiency raise concerns.

Livelihood and Economic Marginalization

• Decline of traditional occupations due to deforestation, legal restrictions, and market exploitation.
• Only 12.3% of STs had wage employment in 2022-23.
• MGNREGA wages remain low, and corruption reduces benefits.

Climate Change and Environmental Degradation

• Erratic rainfall affects agriculture and forest produce availability.
• Afforestation policies often displace tribals without ensuring participation.

Cultural Erosion and Linguistic Marginalization

• UNESCO lists 197 Indian tribal languages as endangered.
• NEP 2020 emphasizes mother-tongue education, but tribal languages lack textbooks and teachers.

Human Rights Violations and Security Issues

• Tribals face displacement, police excesses, and Maoist insurgency threats.
• Crimes against Scheduled Tribes rose by 9.3% in 2021 (NCRB data).

Read This Article Here: PM-JANMAN

• Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006: Grants individual and community forest rights.
• PESA Act, 1996: Strengthens self-governance in tribal areas.
• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): Quality education for tribal children.
• Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (VDVY): Enhances tribal incomes through MFP value addition.
• MSP for MFP: Ensures fair pricing for forest produce.
• Tribal Health and Nutrition Portal – ‘Swasthya’: Digital platform tracking tribal health.

Read This Article Here: PM-JUGA

Effective Implementation of FRA, 2006

• Digitization of land records and fast-track tribunals can accelerate claim processing.
• Linking FRA with MGNREGA can generate employment in afforestation and conservation.

Strengthening EMRS for Quality Education

• Ensuring adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and vocational training.
• Introducing tribal-language textbooks and digital learning platforms.

Revamping Tribal Healthcare

• Deploying mobile health clinics with telemedicine in remote areas.
• Strengthening NHM and Poshan Abhiyan in tribal belts.

Expanding MSP for MFP and Strengthening Tribal Livelihoods

• Expanding MSP coverage and promoting community-led forest produce cooperatives.
• Integrating PM Vishwakarma Yojana with VDVKs for tribal entrepreneurship.

Empowering Tribal Women through SHGs and Microfinance

• Strengthening SHGs under NRLM and providing financial literacy programs.
• Linking SHGs with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative for market access.

Enhancing Tribal Governance and Political Representation

• Strengthening PESA Act to empower Gram Sabhas.
• Decentralizing development planning for direct tribal participation.

Promoting Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Development

• Community-led tribal tourism enterprises and Swadesh Darshan integration for responsible tourism.
• Developing eco-tourism hubs while ensuring tribal community involvement.

Developing Renewable Energy Microgrids

• Community-owned solar and biomass microgrids to improve electrification.

India’s enhanced budgetary focus on tribal welfare is a step toward inclusive development. However, persistent challenges like land displacement, healthcare deficits, and economic marginalization require robust implementation and community participation. By ensuring policy execution and empowering tribal communities, India can achieve sustainable and equitable development.

What is National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)?

• NCST is a Constitutional body established under Article 338A by the 89^th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003.
• It is responsible for safeguarding the rights of the Scheduled Tribes in India.

Who notifies the Scheduled Tribes in India? 

• The STs are notified by the President under Article 342(1) of the Constitution.

Which is the largest tribe of India?

• Gond is the largest tribe of India with a population of 1.2 crore (2011 census).
• They are concentrated in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana & Jharkhand.

What is the PESA Act for Tribes?

• PESA Act refers to the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
• It empowers tribal communities by recognizing their customary rights & self-governance in Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

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