On the Reversal of Historic ‘Superiority’ of Tribal Mortality and Gender Relations in India

Abstract

Given that population sex ratio and sex differentials in mortality are the two commonly employed indicators of gender-discrimination/anti-female biases in intra-household distribution of resources, this article performs two major tasks: (a) it reviews existing estimates of sex differentials in mortality among tribal (ST) children (including neonates) up to 6 years of age (in comparison with those of their counterparts of SC and other communities) and (b) it presents and analyses the author’s own estimates of sex-specific infant and child mortality rates separately for ST, SC and other social categories at all-India level by utilising three consecutive National Family Health Survey data. It is shown that the picture of tribal gender relations, while having traditionally been more balanced and equitable, has of late been one of trailing or having caught up with long-standing, albeit unenviable, mainstream anti-female features, resulting in an annihilation of a potentially rewarding opportunity for mainstream to learn from pristine tribal culture ideologically supportive of gender balance and equality.