Tribal development and its administration

SINCE the book was first published the Indian tribal scene has undergone a sea change. Demographically from 39 million in 1971 the tribal population has risen to 52 million in 1981. Now they account for as much as 7 per cent of the total Indian population. The Administration stirred itself to the task of a well-coordinated integrated Tribal Development.

The new Tribal Sub-Plan strategy, formulated in 1947-75 made concerted effort to quicken the pace of the development in the tribal areas, classified into three categories. The impact was felt in the Sixth Five Year Plan which earmarked a whooping Rs. 5,535 crores for development programme of tribals, backward and scheduled castes. The increase has been fourfold to that of the Fifth Plan. The Seventh Plan

(1985-90) now in progress, will have a higher outlay. The Working Group on Tribal Development during the Seventh Plan has suggested an ambitious training programme for the scheduled tribes. In the words of the working Group, one of the aims will be to provide appropriate training facilities for tribal population to participate in the new venture commensurate with their skills should be organised."

About 42.5 per cent of the tribal population (5.38 crores) work for a living against the national average of 33.5% (22.25 crores). They are cultivators, agricultural labourers and cottage industrial workers. Marginal workers are 17 per cent against the national average of 3.3 per cent. This is indicative of the poor economic status of the tribal workers. Unless their occupational pattern is diversified, it is not possible to ameoliorate the condition of mass poverty in tribal India.

The effort is on since 1957 to provide vocational guidance through National Employment service programme. A network of guidance centres at Employment Exchanges and Univer sity employment bureau have done a remarkable job to wean away the agriculture based tribal workers to industrial occupations. In 1982 about 20,270 scheduled tribe candidate were given individuals guidance and 19,080 candidates given group guidance. Special coaching-cum-guidance centres helped 17,000 scheduled tribe candidates to other occupations. The Seventh Plan envisages manifold increase in the vocational guidance facilities, drawing candidates from the interior tribal areas.

The over-all impact of the dynamic programme in felt throughout the tribal habitats in India. This book assumed special significance in the context of the enlarged tribal train ing programme. In the absence of literature on the subject, the book became a taxtbook and manual for the training staff. The whole edition was consumed and the demand for a fresh edition grew. To meet the overwhelming demand this new edition is being brought out. The Vth National Orient ation Training Programmes on Tribal Development conducted for the senior and middle level officers and researchers working in the tribal areas of India which concluded in July 28, 1985 underlined the scarcity of appropriate books in the subject.

The training programme has been taken up in all earnest ness by the state governments. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi has himself taken interest in tribal development schemes and training programmes and advised the state governments to release officers on deputation for this purpose.