Indigenous and tribal peoples and the U. N. and international agencies

On the basis of discussions with a number of concerned persons -- tribal leaders, experts, activists and senior government officers dealing with tribal issues - RGICS took up the study of two subjects :

(i) Democratic Decentralisation in Tribal areas - Approach and Paradigm in the context of Constitution Seventy third and Seventy-fourth Amendment Acts.

(2) Indigenous' and 'Tribal' Peoples and the U.N. and International Agencies.

The final paper by Dr. Bhupinder Singh on the first subject was

published as RGICS Paper No. 20 in January 1995.

The Paper for discussion on the second subject was prepared by Prof. Roy Burman and was discussed at a meeting of experts, leaders, activists and Government officers. Prof. Roy Burman has since finalised the Paper taking into account the suggestions made during the discussions. We are happy to publish this important contribution as RGICS Paper No. 27.

The definition of 'indigenous' and 'tribal' peoples, the issues of collective and individual rights and those of national unity and self-determination are complex and sensitive subjects. There is considerable difference of opinion as well as ambivalence on the part of many. These are reflected in the attempts to deal with these subjects by the United Nations and its agencies, the most recent exercise being the one by the U.N. Working Group on the rights of indigeneous peoples. In his characteristic style, Prof. Roy Burman analyses the issues in a frank and forthright manner. He also suggests the changes needed in our approach to this exercise in U.N. agencies.