Democracy, Development and Tribes in India (2 Volumes Set)

Acknowledgements

I would express my gratitude to ICSSR, New Delhi and University of Hyderabad for their co-operation in particular for their whole-hearted and continued support to endeavour. I would thank the Dean, and Faculty of School of Social Sciences. I want to offer special thanks to the Faculty and Head, Department of Political Science and non-teaching staff of the Departments for co-operation during the seminar. This book is a product of a two-day national seminar. This was organised by the Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad.

I would express my gratitude to the participants of the seminar for their co- operation and submission of the full paper within the stipulated time without which this book should not have taken a shape. The presence of key participants like Prof Ramakrishana Ramaswamy, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, Prof G Hargopal, Gaddar (Prajayuddanouka), Prof. Kunhamam, Prof E. Haribabu and Prof Sudhir Jacob George, Prof I. Ramabrahmman, Prof G. Sudharshnam, Prof Shantha Sinha, Prof Virginius Xaxa, Prof Prithviram Mudiam, Prof Manjari Katju, Prof Sudhakar Rao, Dr Nehginpao Kipgen, Dr George Tharakan, Prof Sudhakar Reddy, Dr B. Nagarjuna and their academic deliberations has provoked a new academic thrust in the area of Tribal Development in the globalised world.

I want to give special thanks to my wife R. Jayasri and daughters Sai Srinidhi and Gayathree Ram, brothers and sisters for their moral encouragement.

I want to give special thanks to the research scholars of the Department of Political Science namely, Tapan Kumar Bihari, M. Ramulu and K. John Bosco Sote for their managerial skill in organising this seminar. Also, I express my sincere thanks to the students and research scholars, school of social sciences for their co-operation during the seminar.

Finally, I put my gratitude to the team at Gyan Publishing House, New Delhi for the valuable suggestions on the structure of the book and help in its production.

I hope this book would be a substantial contribution to Tribal Studies in India, even more, help chart a more meaningful developmental path for Tribals in India.

Ramdas Rupavath

Foreword

Indigenous peoples are on the cusp of the crisis in sustainable development. Their communities are concrete examples of sustainable societies, historically evolved in diverse ecosystems. Today, they face the challenges of extinction or survival and renewal in a globalised world. The impact of globalisation is strongest on these populations perhaps more than any other because these communities have no voice and are therefore easily swept aside by the invisible hand of the market and its proponents. Globalisation is not merely a question of marginalisation for indigenous peoples it is a multi-pronged attack on the very foundation of their existence and livelihoods.

The volume ‘is a collection of papers presented at national seminar in Department of Political Science of University of Hyderabad. The issues which are dealt in the book are both relevance in theoretically and policy level. This book specially focused on how the marginalised community can be included in the mainstream of society not only sharing the benefits of the globalisation but also in the decision making process. This theme has been a subject of serious deliberation and discussion both at academic and non-academic forum and at regular intervals. However, more often than not they are deliberated at the macro level, that is, national and state context and that too without any reference to diversity that marks India.

Broadly speaking, the contributors of the book has highlighted how the marginalised section of the society, i.e. Adivasis can be achieved their share in the context of globalisation. The book not only evaluated various welfare programmes but also dealt theoretically in the context of tribal’s

Ramdas Rupavath the coordinator of the seminar and editor of this volume, worked to make the seminar a success following which he put together this volume and saw it through to press.

The contributors to this book analyse many shortcomings and problems of Indian democracy in the context of globalisation but by and large they conclude both that it is robust and that it can be deepened and extended. It is the right conclusion to each.

Prof.Shantha Sinha

Department of Political Science

University of Hyderabad

Introduction and Overview

Indian democracy has been intensively analysesd, debated and criticised for long time. However democracy is not only just a elections and government formation, it is more about values, habits of thoughts and practices, democracy need not electoral but replacement with social justice. Through democratic method existing unequal social, economic and political justice situation can be removed. The tribals are most affected people in such democratic set up with developmental approach. The new tribal politics will be based on two things the resource politics of the Adivasis and survival politics of the informal sector.

Though Indian Constitution takes an unambiguous position against adivasis resources, these continue in a different forms. That over the years the centre of gravity of the Indian polity and economy has shifted to the intermediate class groups has been widely recognised. With in the class hierarchy, the economic high point is the polarisation between rich non-triblas and the triblas who are largely land alienated and displaced. The political parties at the Centre and the State drastically changed emergence of powerful non-tribal leaders who have changed the very mosaic of Indian federal polity. In this process we have today strong states and weak centre. Regional parties are playing important role in the Indian political process.

The State has shifted its orientation from welfare state to market-oriented due to the liberalisation. However, the process of liberalisation has created inequality in the society with the concentration of fruits of growth in little rich class. The opportunity is becoming unequal. while poverty has seldom posed a threat to the system any where, inequality in a milieu of rising democratic and human rights consciousness can potentially become a grave danger.

After India became independence our political leader’s recognition of the fact of the participation of the entire people. The leader of the rich ad western educated, feudal back ground was the rulers of the Indian state. This scenario began to change only with the political mobilisation of the dalits, of course, within the parliamentary framework. This did not heralds true democracy. Democracy to be people rule, rather than the rule of the rich and powerful Democracy, Governance and Tribes in the Age of Globalised India there must be equality, economic, social and political. In other words, only an equal egalitarian society can be truly democratic. for that the precondition is access to the means of production, not only for expansion of the productive forces, but also for enabling and ensuring the fruiton of the creative potential individuals must be expanded into one brought about by all persons in society. of every individual. The growth brought about by a few dynamic and enterprising If high growth is the creation of a few, growth will be higher if all realise their creative potential. This calls for a new vision as well as a new strategy of development which can herald democracy from below organically evolving as a natural and spontaneous process. Political inclusion and economic exclusion are the order of the day. The panchyat raj or pesa Right Act of Forest Rights act are not reassuring in this regard the resources viz., land, water, forest, cattle, credit and market controlled by the few rich non-tribal families. this has created new kind of development according to Foucault disbursed poer is difficult to tackle. Wthout economic democracy, social, political democracy cannot be realised this was the remark by BR Amedkar and also warned that unless the latter two democracies brought about soon, the victims of the system would throw the Constitution which the constituent Assembly laboriously built. Ofcorse, the system permits individual inclusion even as its functioning is resulting in group exclusion, a phenomenon conspicuously happening particularly in case of the social constituency he was representing parliamentry democracy is bursting at the seams competitive politics uneasily co-exist with a competitive economy prdected on an unbroken scaffolding of a caste-based, hierarchcal social and economic order.the transiton from state capitalism of the planning era to the market capitalism of the liberalisation era has only has rendered the opportunities matrix skewed and reinforced the old prejudices.

The knowledge production, media are controlled by the non-tribal rich upper class elites, who sit in judgment of the quality and efficiency of the adivasis and other subalterens. Of course, there is nominal presence of a few persons belonging to these social groupsin the academics, but they lack lack the power to influence policy and structure of knowledge. They remain silent un less until they are safe so long as they they dono raise and debate social issues the corruption which is part of our strutre. The tribal society and sub- plans budgets taken away by the non-tribal bureaucrats. with out tackling inequality corruption and corruption thrives in an unequal system though the the question of equalty accepted at the launch of planning commission with the declaration attaining growth with social justice and to egalitarian society.in fact, the present scenario is characterised by the verbal fetishism created through the globalised use of words such tribal empowerment, sustainable development what not the word equlity, liberty, and justice finds a place in the academies and media discourse.behind verbal usage very harmfull policies and programmes are introduced.any resistnace against these policies the state use the forces to suppress the movements, the NGOs and and Acts primarlyIntroduction and Overview playing depolitising the tribals, are abetting the policy makers. what is beneficial to a few is presented as beneficial to all the poor tribes, ignorant and illiterate, whose immediate concern is the next meal,are seldom concerned about policies and perspectives are no where concerned to them.rather than competition, more profit and capital accumulation,state support primitive accumulation and private appropriation of public resources. In andhrapradesh or Telangana state the land alienated tribals agitating for Jungle (Forest) Jamin (land) Jaal (Water) was put in jail. The land alienated tribes are the traditional indigeneous people who were denied land rights and displaced and do not have even the right to agitate.the land struggle in frontieir agency and non-frontieir agency hostility over the displacement issue when brutal state force beating, killing including children, women. the state using in human attitudes towards tribs in India and violating human rights. it seems, in the extant bourgeois democratic milieu and it is deficient in envisioning, upper caste and its top leadership structure and involute in its understanding of the socio economic reality of India.

The most paradoxical thing is that every body talk about the equality, liberty and fraternity but in practice most are afraid of democracy. what is available to people is the freedom to agree not to disagree. This is the in human condition is decision taken by a few who are rich and powerfull for the people. Infact, the legislators are elected by the people funded by the rich.since inequality that lead to corruption basic bane and gravest threat to tribal sustainable security a no threatening order needs to put in place.

This book aims to place India’s democracy, development in the tribal context. This volume is basically to focussing to understand contemporary tribal societies which requires a basic appreciation of the historical processes which have been determined the course of successive changes in economic, socio-cultural, ideological and political life of the tribes. Indian state and governments are talked about as models of federalism in a large and multinational society, ensuring rights of ethnic and religious groups in a truly pluralistic society, and striving for social justice in a society marked by social hierarchies for a long time. However, the democratic experiment has not been without significant challenges, namely that of ensuring inclusive development. Economic equality, social justice, cultural pluralism, human rights, dignity and security are all important aspects of development which have been consolidated and expanded through the existing structure of participatory democracy. But this has not always been an easy task. During the last couple of decades, Indian tribes have also witnessed transformation in their culture, with the proliferation of special plan and policies for the welfare of the tribal people. Despite the development, crisis in the governance, migration, displacement, and exploitation are rampant. The impact of globalisation of Indian economy is percolating down and their effects are being felt by the tribal people who displaced from their habitation, which ultimately resulting upon resistance and ethnic conflict. Introduction of tribal18 Democracy, Governance and Tribes in the Age of Globalised India communities to development through state policies needs to be considered from different angles. It is in this context that a state policy is required to be inclusive and comprehensive enough to safeguard tribal interests. To address the issue of situating tribal communities to developmental perspective in a democratic atmosphere doubted provides both opportunities and challenges.

The majority of the articles are a set of mainly empirical essays which seeks to answer this linked question at ground level. The majority process of development in the tribal context with democratic process has been highlighted. Some theoretical work like threat to secularism, politics of development, voice of tribal in contemporary democracy has included.

The first aspect which is most sensitive and thought-provoking was Democracy, development and Resistance. On this aspect, it has highlighted concerns, concepts and issues related to democracy, development and resistance in regard to the tribals and with relevant case studies. The session talked about how development has come to be a bad omen for displaced tribals. With displacement, several tribes were uprooted with the onslaught of development. We talked about the case study of Indira Sagar Project in Andhra Pradesh with special emphasis on development projects, displacement and tribal livelihood issues. Livelihoods of tribals were severely affected as argued by projects of development and the resultant displacement overdrive. There was a valuable insight into risks, rights, alternatives, policy and practices followed by Development-Induced Displacement and Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Indigenous Communities in India. There was another paper that drew a perspective from census survey in studying mining and displacement in South Odisha. This session has touched various tribal state of Indian and focussed how in the name of the development trilbal land allenation has been done and who are getting benefit out of this.

The second aspect was Issues of Governance. This session talked about issues, concerns and themes related to governance. PESA, Tribal development and idea of commons and related issues were discussed. The struggles and politics of the exclusion in understanding denotified tribes in India were examined. Democracy and Development as in Fifth Scheduled areas was debated.

The issues of Tribal voice in Contemporary Democracy have been highlighted in the third aspect. In the era of globalisation, seldom the voice of the tribes are suppressed and marginalised. So in this regard, we started with looking at the case of Scheduled tribes in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh whose voices and struggles have been excluded and marginalised. The paper contests the inclusive development. Next paper attempts to question where democracy in India lies and look at its withering away and its effect on tribal resistance.

This theme, Livelihood issues and concerns contains many primary work and highlights various lacunaes in the institutions, policies and etc.. An empirical study on chenchus of Andhra Pradesh was looked to draw our attention toIntroduction and Overview their livelihood security through land distribution. Next paper talked about migration from village to city in Bangalore and how it affects livelihood, creates displacement and calls for rehabilitation. Another paper dealt incisively with the trends in cropping pattern and its impact on the tribal households in the scheduled areas taking the case study of three scheduled areas villages in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

The next theme of the seminar was socio cultural issues of tribals. There was first a paper that looked at the struggles of adivasi towards habitation and how it has been affected by the forces of globalisation and accumulation. Another paper examined at the storage practices of tribal community of Warangal district Andhra Pradesh. There was also a paper that drew a critique on Yerukula reformation in Andhra Pradesh.

In Public Policy and tribal Development theme, it has been discussed arena of tribal development and public policy interventions. The first paper talked in general sense the adivasis from the public policy perspective in India. The next paper evaluated the implementation of MGNREGA and its effect on tribes taking the case study of Nupada district in Odisha. There was a presentation on the embedded identity and politics that is played out in ST reservation in Asssam. In the last paper of this session, ST as the beneficiaries of BPL in Mayurbhanj district Odisha was examined.

The Session Social Movement, Ethnic issues and Conflict discussed the role of social movements, ethnic issues and conflict resulted thereof was discussed. There is a deep-seated conflict between tribes and forest department in scheduled areas. This was bought out by a case study of recently declared kawal tiger reserve in adilalabad district, Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, tribal-caste conflict was bought out in another paper taking the case study of kandhamal district, Odisha. Another vital paper was the analysis of Gujjar agitation for tribal status in Rajasthan that examined contentions, agitations, resistance and state interventions therewith. There was another case study paper of Niyamgiri Movement in Odisha that examined tribal development and resistance that followed. Another paper takes the cast studies of Manipur that discussed Meitiei resistance and response of the State. The failure of Indian Secularism was brought out through the politics of SC and ST conflict in Kandhamal. The Contemporary issues of democracy, development and tribal resistance were widely discussed in another paper. The role of tribal women in MGNRGEA was also discussed in the study of Barwani block of Madhya Pradesh. The policies and challenges of Scheduled Tribes in Jammu and Kashmir at literacy and educational levels were also presented. Then, the tribal education policy of Karnataka was up for review by looking at its attainment and challenges ahead.

In this session, Tribal ecology and Environmental issues, a paper was presented on environmental approaches to tribal development. The environmental aspect is significant given the harmony that exists between tribal and nature. Democracy, Governance and Tribes in the Age of Globalised India

In the session issues of the tribal women and children various issues like gender inequalities and development issues was examined with the study of Toda, Niligiri Hills from an anthropological perspective. The Lamabada community was next case study that examined the status of girl child in south Telangana region in Andhra Pradesh.

The session, Politics of Development discussed on the concept of Development and its effect on tribes on AP was examined and discussed. The role of NYKS on tribal youth development was discussed through the case study of koraput district, odisha. Approaches to development were examined and the role of civil society organisation in tribal development was discussed. The myth of development and tribals in odisha was examined in a macro-view.

In Development, Displacement and resistance session the question of human rights was raised through the study of posco project in odisha in the context of development and displacement. The land alienation of tribals in Andhra Pradesh and tribal land alienation in general sense was examined and debated. The case study of Gadchiroliapotential zone of development induced displacement was looked into.

The last session on education status of scheduled tribes talked the need for empowerment of tribals. The paper on the impact of multilingual education in the education of tribal children stressed the nature of multilingual character and its usage for tribals. A case study of Lanbadi tribe in AP was examined to understand the educational status of Scheduled Tribes. Another paper talked about need to bring about awareness of human rights among the tribals and non-tribals secondary students. This comparative study calls for empowering and enhancing the rights of tribals. Lastly, the achievement and challenges of secondary education of Scheduled Tribes in Manipur was discussed.

All the above articles will present an overview of a range real problem that not only touch the lives of Indian people but also raise significant issues for thinking about democracy and development in the tribal context in India. The world has been changing a great deal since 1950, so as India. The country is now carving out a niche in a global market-place dominates thus far by the developing countries. Major questions remains however about the accommodating the tribals in the democracy and distributing the share of growth among them. Thus, basic objective of the book is to contribute in some small way to these continuing debates.