Tribes Of India Research Articles

Construction of identity among the Nats of Bihar: a narrative analysis

ABSTRACT Tribes have a distinct ethnic identity, which has been threatened by various social, economic, technological, and political forces after 1970s and 1980s. In such scenarios, the legislature has the obligation to provide tribes with certain safeguards to ensure their ability to endure the transformation. However, research suggests that even in situations where the nomadic tribes do not get much support from other groups or institutions, they explore and continue to maintain their identities to a great extent with strategically. Based on this premise, this study explored a similar situation in which the Nat, a peripatetic nomadic tribe in India, has been negotiating its distinctiveness in order to cope with societal pressures. To understand this process, the narratives of 26 Nat, both men and women, were analyzed using the social constructionism model and narrative thematic analysis. The findings of the study establish that Nat is a motivated community for livelihood generation that has adopted strategies across various social domains and diverse socio-economic contexts. These include shifting identities that are ‘dynamic’ in nature. It is through these strategies that the Nat continues to exist as a community.

Environmental Justice and Human Rights: The Impact of Industrial Pollution on Indigenous Tribes in India

Environmental Justice and Human Rights: The Impact of Industrial Pollution on Indigenous Tribes in India

Factors associated with under-five mortality in Scheduled Tribes in India: An analysis of national family health survey-5 (2019-2021).

Background & objectives Under-five mortality is high among the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in India compared with the general population. This study examined the association of different maternal, child, socio demographic, and household factors associated with under-five mortality among Scheduled Tribes in India. Methods Data from the National Family and Health Survey (NFHS)-5 (2019-2021) for the ST, across all Indian States and Union Territories were used for analyses. Binary and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify the association of maternal, child, socio-demographic, and household factors with under-five mortality among the ST population. Results Different maternal, child, socio demographic, and household factors were significantly associated with under-five mortality. The odds of under-five mortality were highest among women who gave birth to their children at home [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.268-1.59] as compared with women who gave birth at institution. Literate women have lesser odds of under-five mortality than women with no formal education (AOR: 0.666; 95% CI: 0.501-0.885). The risk of under-five mortality was higher among four or more birth order children (AOR: 1.422; 95% CI: 1.246-1.624) compared with the first to third birth order children. The odds of under-five mortality decreased among children with a rich wealth index (AOR: 0.742; 95% CI: 0.592-0.93) compared to children with a poor wealth index. Interpretation & conclusions Analyses of under-five mortality among ST in India showed a significant association between different maternal, child, sociodemographic, and household factors. Grass-roots-level interventions such as promoting female education, addressing vast wealth differentials, and providing family planning services with a focus on reducing under-five mortality are essential in improving the survival of under-five children among the ST population in India.

Socio-cultural Factors Influencing Women Empowerment: A Cross-sectional Study Among an Ex-criminal Tribe in West Bengal, India

This article critically examines whether socio-cultural factors like education, family type and earning opportunity influence women’s decision-making capacity, and thereby, their empowerment or not. It is established through earlier research that women are the most disempowered section in our society, and tribal women, especially the women from ex-criminal tribes, are relatively more deprived than others, and their decision-making ability is a significant criterion that reflects their empowerment status. The present cross-sectional study was carried out among 110 women of the Lodha, an ex-criminal tribe in India. The data of the earner women were compared with those of a control group who were not involved in any earning pursuit. The findings show that women’s participation in self-help groups (SHGs) and/or their involvement as wage laborers effectively enhance their decision-making ability within family, and education, family type and earning opportunity are significantly associated with the level of participation in decision-making.

COVID-19 and Tribal Education: Addressing the Issues and Challenges Faced by the Children of the Konda Dora Tribe in India

COVID-19 resulted in disruptions that were both economic and social, significantly impacting the school education of tribal children. This study captures such experiences of the Konda Dora tribe in India by applying Mill’s Sociological Imagination to the interviews of 43 children (6–13 years) and their families. A narrative thematic analysis was applied. The findings suggest that COVID-19 aggravated the existing infrastructural and academic inequalities as well as patriarchal norms, negatively influencing school outcomes. As the gap in learning persists, the study proposes measures to minimize the impact of the pandemic and historical biases on the education of tribal children.

Child Acrobats as a Family Labor Force: An Exploratory Study on the Involvement of Children in Traditional Economic Activities

Child labor has majorly been analyzed through the socio-economic lens, because the deterministic cultural factors have not received much attention. This study attempts to understand the cultural influences on children’s involvement in traditional economic activities. Applying a cultural sociological approach, an intrinsic case study was conducted on the nomadic Nat tribe in India that generates its livelihood through children’s involvement in acrobatics. Findings suggest that the cultural existence of the tribe significantly determines children’s involvement in socio-economic exchanges. Policy attempts toward child upliftment must consider the cultural aspects essential for the tribe’s survival.

Socio-Economic Status of Scheduled Tribes: A Study of Tamilnadu State

Background: Scheduled Tribe are the oldest inhabitants of their native place. Economically and technologically they are still backward. Their language, culture, beliefs and customs are different. In India there are 427 main tribal communities living and Tamilnadu accounts for 36(Rao, 1993). In Tamilnadu, majority of the tribes were illiteracy, ignorance. There is no proper awareness about the government welfare schemes. They are dominated, exploited and controlled by their mainstream in the living area and occupational area. In this context this paper addresses the “Socio-Economic Status of Scheduled Tribes: A Study of Tamilnadu State”. Data and Method: The paper uses the secondary data from the Census India 2001 & 2011 and Statistical Profile of Scheduled Tribes in India, 2013and other research studies and carries out the cross classification analysis to realise its objectives. Conclusion: Majority of the tribal people live in below poverty line in Tamil Nadu. The result of the study shows that the educational, employment and economic conditions of the tribal people of Tamil Nadu are very poor in the present situation. Therefore, the state of Tamil Nadu needs to pay special attention to the problems of the indigenous people and improve their education, employment and economic status. Already, Aboriginal people have been given special reservations in education and employment. This is very low compared to the growing tribal population. Hence, it is the duty of the state to secure social and economic justice for the tribal people.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONSTITUTIONAL DYNAMICS OF TRIBAL POLITY IN INDIA: THE STUDY OF LADAKH AND RAJASTHAN

The term ‘Federalism’ refers to and deals with multiple aspects; it relates to administrative setup in the constitutional distribution of power in various layers of government. At the same time, it also works as a system to accommodate multiple identities in a plural administrative setup; it is fiscal and administrative, it can accommodate aspirations, and at the same time, it can adopt exclusivity. Comparative and cooperative can also be the dimension of federalism. As the word Federation is derived from the Latin word ‘foedus’, which means agreement or treaty, ironically, in modern plural democracies, it acts as the consensus builder and the reason for conflict, protest and movements.The paper will explore the various dimensions of federalism in India, particularly tribal polity. The tribes in India are not homogenous groups, and their heterogeneities can be seen in terms of their regional, culturally specific demands within the scope of federal arrangements in India. Politically and administratively, the Post-Independent India struggled to address the tribal aspirations. Even though administrative arrangements have been made to the constitution in the form of the Vth and VIth schedules, the tribal aspirations in the federal polity of India demand further accommodation and representation.

Abujhmadiya A Primitive Tribe: Their Livelihood

The Indian society is home to various species. There are about 500 tribal groups and their sub-tribal groups in India, who live in remote areas of the country, forests and mountains. With time, other societies and cultures kept getting incorporated. Despite this, most of the tribal communities were successful in preserving their cultural heritage. However, in some tribal communities, the culture of other Indian societies definitely seems to have disappeared, which is a factor in the change in their traditional culture. The study of tribes in India was started by British administrators, missionaries and travellers individually or collectively to know and understand their culture. Research work on tribes started in India after the establishment of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1974). Sir William Jones (1974) highlighted the importance of tribal chapters in “Nature and Man”. Generally, the general public knows them as Adivasis, Vanvasis, Primitive Tribes, Janjati, Van Jati. In the Indian Constitution, special provisions have been made with the objective of bringing them at par with the main society by naming them as Scheduled Tribes.

Wealth and education-related inequalities in the utilisation of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health interventions within scheduled tribes in India: an analysis of Odisha and Jharkhand

BackgroundThe utilisation of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) services remains lower among the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in India than among the rest of the country’s population. The tribal population’s poorest and least-educated households are further denied access to RMNCH care due to the intersection of their social status, wealth, and education levels. The study analyses the wealth- and education-related inequalities in the utilisation of RMNCH services within the ST population in Odisha and Jharkhand.MethodologyWe have constructed two summary measures, namely, the Co-coverage indicator and a modified Composite Coverage Index (CC), to determine wealth- and education-related inequalities in the utilisation of RMNCH indicators within the ST population in Odisha and Jharkhand. The absolute and relative inequalities with respect to wealth and education within the ST population are estimated by employing the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII).ResultsThe results of the study highlight that access to RMNCH services is easier for women who are better educated and belong to wealthier households. The SII and RII values in the co-coverage indicator and modified CCI exhibit an increase in wealth-related inequalities in Odisha between NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21) whereas in Jharkhand, the wealth- and education-related absolute and relative inequalities present a reduction between 2016 and 2021. Among the indicators, utilisation of vaccination was high, while the uptake of Antenatal Care Centre Visits and Vitamin A supplementation should be improved.InterpretationThe study results underscore the urgent need of targeted policies and interventions to address the inequalities in accessing RMNCH services among ST communities. A multi-dimensional approach that considers the socioeconomic, cultural and geographical factors affecting healthcare should be adopted while formulating health policies to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare.

AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF BHIL ART-INSPIRED DESIGN IN CONTEMPORARY TEXTILE PRODUCTS

Known for the intricate motifs, vibrant colors, and deep cultural symbolism, Bhil art is the cultural heritage of the Bhil tribe in India. This paper presents an in-depth study of Bhil art- inspired designs in contemporary textile products. The study also explores the adaptation of traditional artistic elements into modern textile design, exploring the synergy between heritage and innovation. Emphasizing a qualitative approach, the research delves into the cultural nuances embedded in Bhil artistry and examines how these elements are translated into textile products through innovative design methodologies. The focus of the paper is to contribute to the discourse on the preservation of cultural heritage in the context of evolving design practices. This study not only sheds light on the artistic evolution but also addresses the ethical considerations and challenges in preserving the authenticity of Bhil culture amidst modern design processes. The primary findings contribute to a full consideration of the active chemistry between cultural heritage and the ever-evolving area of textile product design.

Sexual Politics in Select DNT Autobiographies: A Study

The implementation of the Criminal Tribes Act by the British Government in 1871 branded certain nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes in India as born criminals who lived by thieving. Despite the official denotification of such tribes in 1952, the stigma associated with their names still remains and they still continue to face various discriminations and violations of human rights in the society. The sufferings of these communities remain mostly ignored by the government. They also hardly find any place in the books of historical, sociological and literary studies. However, the autobiographical narratives produced by writers themselves belonging to such tribes act as authentic documentation of the historical injustices and various casteist segregations faced by their people. But there is hardly any female writer from the nomadic tribes. As a result, the specific concerns of the women of such marginalized communities are even less known than those of their male counterparts. The predicament of the denotified and nomadic tribes (DNT) women is known only so far as it is represented by the male DNT writers. The present study is an attempt to understand the sexual politics and vulnerabilities of the DNT women as represented in the autobiographies of Laxman Gaikwad and Laxman Mane.

A Study on Health Profile of 3 ITDA Spots of Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Introduction: The Adivasi, often referred to as Indigenous people or original inhabitants, constitute approximately 17 million prospective tribes in India. The term “designated Tribe” holds a legal designation. According to the 2011 census, the number of planned tribes in India is 104,281,034, which equals 8.6% of India’s total population. This paper aims to examine the health profile of Tribals in 3 ITDA spots of Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. Objectives: The main aim of the study was to assess the health profile and shed light on the top 10 diseases prevalent in the 3 selected ITDA spots of Kurnool district, as well as to promote the Unani system through mobile medical camps under the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP). Additionally, it aims to analyse the health profile and determinants of tribes in the study area. Methodology: This study focuses on the health profile of the 3 ITDA spots based on OPD data, including the distribution of patients by sex and age groups, and identifying the top 10 common diseases in these areas. Results: A total of 2583 individuals attended the OPD of the 3 ITDA spots in the year 2022-2023. Among them, the top 10 diseases were identified, and their distribution by sex and age group was analysed. Conclusion: The present study revealed that most of the tribals in the study area suffered from Sual o surfa (Cough), Sardi wa Zukam (Common cold & coryza), and Humma (Fever), which are common in the 3 ITDA spots, followed by Warm I Halaq (Pharyngitis), Suda (Headache), and Polyarthritis.

Some Ethnomedicinal Plants of Dhar District

Dhar district is inhabited by dominating tribes, bhils and bhiialas. Bhils constitute the third largest tribe of India. There are many sub-tribes of bhils viz., tarvi, nayar, nhal, barela, and kotwal. At the same time sub-tribes of bhilalas, darbari bhilala, dhaplya bhilala, rathya bhilala, also live here. They utilize a large number of plant species occurring in wild as herbal remedies on various diseases and ailments in the area. The paper lists 32 such species.

Sustainable Development Goals: A Developmental Agenda for the Sustainable Development of Scheduled Tribes in India Based on Educational Development

Sustainable Development Goals: A Developmental Agenda for the Sustainable Development of Scheduled Tribes in India Based on Educational Development

Can Digital Skills Empower Disadvantaged Castes and Women? Evidence From India

How do digital skills influence individuals’ wages in contexts where caste-based and gender-based social stratification play an important role? We draw on sociology and economics literature to argue that the returns to digital skills in such contexts are shaped by caste and gender, and that digital skills empower disadvantaged individuals to increase their wages. Our empirical analysis of a rich micro-dataset on more than 20,000 individuals across all states in India from two waves of Indian Human Development Survey in 2005 and 2011 yields two key findings. First, we find that the positive returns to digital skills are greater for individuals from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India than for individuals from other castes. Second, we find that the returns to digital skills are greater for women than for men. We also find that movement up the skilled occupation ladder is a mechanism that mediates the relationship between digital skills and wages. Our post hoc exploratory analyses suggest that among individuals from the lowest castes (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes), the returns to digital skills are greater for women than for men, and that returns to digital skills are lower in regions with less developed infrastructure and lower literacy rates than in other regions. We discuss the implications of our findings for diversity, equity, and inclusion research in operations management.

Ayurveda is on the Way to Open the Golden Door of Indian Tourism through Panchakarma - A Review

ABSTRACT Over the years, Ayurveda, the science of healing and regeneration, has become increasingly popular throughout the world. Numerous Ayurvedic centres are expanding nowadays, as they are one of the primary tourist attractions in the southern region. India is becoming a popular destination for medical tourism due to a number of draw factors, including easy accessibility, affordable and high-quality medical care, beautiful vacation spots, etc. The best place is in South India, which is also the nation's centre of health. The boundaries and opportunities of Ayurvedic tourism have undoubtedly expanded with the recognition of Ayurvedic healing on a national and worldwide level. With any fortunate, India will be the world's top choice for high-quality medical facilities within the next several years. Ayurveda was supposedly bestowed upon humanity by the gods to enable us to live long, healthy lives free from illness. Nearly every tribe in India swiftly embraced ayurveda, and it soon started to spread to nations like Afghanistan, China, and Iran. Panchakarma can provide a long-lasting or permanent treatment for multi-system disruptions. Panchakarma is becoming a vital component of medical travel. Therefore, the government ought to actively support the growth of Panchakarma travel. This review discusses the many facets of ayurvedic travel to India, including Panchakarma, its development, and current trends. Keywords-Ayurveda, Tourism, Panchakarma, health .

Ethnobotanical importance of families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae (Angiosperms) among Rajasthan tribes, India

The families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae are well-known among Angiosperms for providing ethnic or traditional food and medicine. The Apocynaceae family is highly valued for its medicinal properties, providing a rich source of drugs used in conventional and modern medicine. This family is a powerhouse of medicinal activity with 4600 species under 415 genera. Similarly, the Asteraceae family is renowned for its edible and medicinal weeds grown for over 3000 years, making it a well-known source of natural remedies. The family mainly contains taxa with inulin, a natural polysaccharide with pro-biotic properties. However, it has been recognized that many other bioactive compounds can be found within this family. With approximately 665 genera and 17500 species worldwide and over 1100 species and 100 genera in India alone, the Fabaceae family significantly contributes to the world's flora. The genera of this family are well known for producing a diverse range of phytochemicals, including 3-nitropropanoic acid, a potent mycotoxin. It is worth noting that almost every tribe in India, particularly Rajasthan, is aware of the therapeutic properties of various plants from these families. The arid state of India boasts rich territories that host an array of plant families. By delving into the scientific literature on the phytochemical properties and ethnobotanical uses of various plant families, valuable insights can be gained that could enable us to better understand and utilize these plants. This knowledge could lead to discoveries and innovations in plant-based medicine and agriculture.

Problem of Drop out among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India: An analysis on the basis of Secondary Data

Problem of Drop out among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India: An analysis on the basis of Secondary Data

Empowering Indigenous Wealth: Analyzing Financial Literacy, Risk Preferences and Stock Market Engagement within Scheduled Tribes in India

The purpose of this study is to address the enduring multi-dimensional poverty faced by nearly 65 million Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India, with one prominent cause being their limited investments in productive financial assets. Financial literacy has been identified as a crucial factor in enhancing personal financial management skills. The focus is specifically on investigating the relationship between financial literacy, sociodemographic factors and stock market participation among STs in Himachal Pradesh, India. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from 300 ST households. The study employed multinomial logistic regression to analyze the impact of financial literacy and sociodemographic variables on stock market participation. The findings indicate that a significant majority of STs (over 80%) lack financial awareness and do not participate in the stock market. Notably, financial illiteracy, risk tolerance, age, education and income were identified as significant factors influencing SMP. The insights derived from this research offer valuable guidance for policymakers, financial institutions and educators, urging the development of targeted interventions. These interventions should empower tribal individuals to make informed financial decisions and encourage their engagement in stock market activities.