“Who are Scheduled Tribes? The framers of the Constitution took note of the fact that certain communities in the country were suffering from extreme social, educational and economic backwardness on account of the primitive agricultural practices, lack of infrastructure facilities and geographical isolation. The Constitution of India in Article 366 (25) prescribe that the Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 of the Constitution to be Scheduled Tribes.” – National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (Frequently Asked Questions)
http://www.ncst.gov.in/content/frequently-asked-questions
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?page_id=22496
The first report on minority rights, made public in late August 1947, provided for reservation for Untouchables only. Muslims were denied the right, which in the circumstances was to be expected. However, one member [of the Constituent Assembly of India] regretted that ‘the most needy, the most deserving group of adibasis [tribals] has been completely … Read more
Date Visited: 13 March 2024 […] Ranchi Jesuits are now [2012] working on a revamp of Gumla’s Jharkhand Tribal Museum, spending Rs 1 crore on a cultural corridor, a boutique store and a hall depicting evolution of tribal groups of the state. Jesuits led by Belgian priest Father P.P. Vaneffel had set up the museum … Read more
Adivasis in India receive the “lowest-cost, poorest-quality and indifferently administered education”, a study backed by the UNICEF has revealed. Not only are the Adivasis marginalised, even affirmative action/reservation programmes for Adivasis (as Scheduled Tribes) in higher educational institutions have not had the desired effect, the report suggests. Conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies, … Read more
A Contentious Term to denote Tribes as Indigenous Peoples of India | Full article >> In India the term ‘Adivasi’ has gained immense popularity in the last few decades to identify the tribes. This term is more commonly brought to use by the NGO circles and activists of the ‘mainstream’ or ‘mainland’ India. The term has also … Read more
The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is a result of the protracted struggle by the marginal and tribal communities of our country to assert their rights over the forestland over which they were traditionally dependent. This Act is crucial to the rights of millions of tribals and … Read more