Tribal Education in India

Abstract

Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India occupy the lowest rung in the educational ladder. In spite of various public incentives, concessions and welfare measures, their educational development is far from satisfaction. Specific constraints impeding education of different tribal groups have never been seriously taken into account by the policy makers and planners. The tribal communities which remained ignorant for a long time require not only the general literacy but also other skills which equip them to face boldly and experience the exogenous force of modernization. Despite 60 years of independence and more than 55 years of planned development and social provisions for accelerated socio-economic development of weaker sections, the gap in Literacy level among the general population and the socially disadvantaged sections is persisting and in some cases this gap is further widening. For the overall development of the nation the problem of education for the tribal needs immediate attention and early resolution.