Question

List two reasons why Adivasis are becoming increasingly marginalised.

Answer 1

Hint: Adivasis are communities of indigenous people in India who come under the category of ‘Scheduled Tribes’ for constitutional and legal purposes. They are not a single group of people rather over 200 communities who speak more than 100 languages and are scattered all over India. According to the 2011 census, the Adivasis constitute 8.6% of the total population of India which is around 10.43 crore people.

Complete answer: Adivasis are one of the oldest inhabitants of the subcontinent and they retreated to the hills and forests after the Aryan invasion in the subcontinent to safeguard themselves. They were integrated into society much later during the colonial era. Large scale industrialisation and infrastructural projects led to encroachment upon forest areas and indigenous land. This has been continuously going on since the last century and makes these tribes increasingly marginalised. Even after independence, several forest laws led to these vulnerable tribes losing their land. Once these tribes gained the status of ‘Scheduled Tribe’ under the Constitution, the State could make special provisions for the advancement of these socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. Although they have been provided political representation and affirmative action policies, they continue to struggle both socially and economically.

Note: Some major tribes in India are Gaddi and Bakarwal in Jammu and Kashmir; Gujjar and Khas in Himachal Pradesh; Jannsari in Uttarakhand; Raji and Tharu in Uttar Pradesh; Bhil and Meena in Rajasthan; Paradhi and Patelia in Gujarat; Katkari and Khond in Maharashtra; Siddi and Dhodia in Goa; Adiyan in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Agariya and Bhaina in Chhattisgarh; Gond in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar; Santhals in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha; Bhutia, Lepcha, Singhpo, Garo, Khasi, Chiru, Chakma, Kuki and Nagas in the north-east; and Onges and Shompens in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.