Tribal India: Issues and Challenges

Book Details

• Author: Mridula Sharda and Inder Kumar

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2021

• ISBN: 9788131612002

• Pages: 168

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 10-08-2021

About the Book

India’s tribal population, comprising 8.6% of the total and mostly residing in rural areas, remains one of the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of society. This book offers a comprehensive study of tribal communities, their ethnographic context, and the policies designed to support their development. At the heart of this analysis is the Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996, a landmark legislative initiative rooted in the spirit of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. The authors thoughtfully assess the tribal scenario post the 1991 New Economic Policy, drawing attention to the dual forces of liberalization and local empowerment through PESA.

The book provides a critical examination of the growing corporate presence in tribal regions under the guise of development, particularly in the context of Himachal Pradesh's hydro-power projects. These activities, while aimed at progress, have significantly disrupted the ecological balance and traditional livelihoods of tribal communities. An empirical case study of various Himachali tribes—such as the Kinnaura, Bharmour, and communities in Lahaul and Spiti—lays bare the complexities and contradictions in balancing development with indigenous rights.

Through 13 detailed chapters, including discussions on decentralization, tribal politics, local governance, and constitutional safeguards, the book illuminates the challenges and prospects of tribal empowerment in the era of liberalization, privatization, and globalization (LPG).

This scholarly work will prove invaluable not only to academicians and policy-makers, but also to socially conscious readers and tribal communities striving for justice, equity, and sustainable development.