Problems of Tribes in India

India is a country where 60 percent of the area under forests is tribal area. 51 out of 58 districts which have forest cover greater than 67 percent are tribal. Also, 40 percent of people being displaced by dams are tribals.

• In all the schedule V or schedule VI states where conflict is prevalent, there is state involvement in the same in one form or the other. These wars are maximally waged in tribal areas with rich minerals. It is the responsibility of the state to make provision for tribal communities to have unhindered access to forests for making livelihoods and securing the livelihoods so provided; promising their viability; keeping an account of their diversity, ensuring dignity and sustainability of work; protection from all conflict due to the repressive rule of the forest bureaucracy in tribal areas.
• The point of autonomy in scheduled areas as laid in Schedule V or VI of the Constitution. There is a Tribal Advisory Council in Schedule V areas. The latter is a body which has both elected and community representative of the tribal communities was formed to advise the Governor on all matters of administration and governance. However, there has been an apparent lack of interest and delay in submission of reports by the Governors. It has been suggested that the formation of Governors’ Cells to come up in all Schedule V states which will assist the Governor.
• Although many schemes have been implemented but there is a dire need for infrastructure, dismal teaching and learning methods, lack of focus, the affect of armed conflict on teacher absenteeism and other school practices have taken a heavy toll of studies of the tribal children.

Further, tribal land alienation and dispossession are at the centre of crisis faced by the tribal areas. Also, land acquisition by the state, manipulation of the records and also wrong interpretation of law etc. have led to massive neglect of the tribals and their needs.