Scheduled Tribes

The Road so Far: Forest Rights Act and Constitutionality

March 12, 2021

It is argued that the Act is a colourable piece of legislation that is outside the legislative competence of the Parliament as it falls under the State List, and therefore, ultra vires the Constitution. The petitioners contend that the forest lands referred to in the Act are more closely associated with the item ‘Land’ instead of ‘Forests’ because it deals with the conversion of forest lands into revenue lands and pertains to rights accrued in and over such land.

Governance Mechanisms in the Forest Rights Act 2006: A Review

October 13, 2020

The process of implementation of the FR Act in Kerala has many serious lapses, which could actually defeat the purpose of the original Act. One fundamental problem is the abysmal level of awareness about the Act, rights and processes among the beneficiaries and the officials. Another problem is the burden of workload, as the state nodal agency is invested with the implementation of several other welfare schemes for the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste communities.

Empowering Tribal People, Deepening Democracy

April 27, 2020

The Scheduled Tribes constitute nearly 1.45 percent of Kerala’s population. However, their human development indicators are significantly lower than those of the mainstream population. Their female literacy rate is nearly 36 percent lower than that of the state as a whole. Poverty among them is nearly 2.5 times higher than that of the rural population. This reflects their inadequate access to resources considering their spatial settlements in forests, their socio-cultural specificities, and historical deprivation.

Intercultural Universities in Latin America: Lessons for India

November 6, 2019

Intercultural universities have emerged in the 21st century in the Latin American countries to address the limitations of conventional universities in addressing the needs of the indigenous people.

Development Path for Indigenous People: Lessons from India and Brazil

February 19, 2019

The focus on the tribal communities in choosing a right balance between tradition and modernity is because they are at the threshold of what can be termed as `modernity’ and these choices can be crucial for them.

The Need for Intercultural Education in India: Lessons from QUEST, Maharashtra

January 29, 2019

It may not be desirable to advocate for a separate curriculum for tribal children. Instead, teaching should be localised to achieve the objectives of the present curriculum.

The Education of Scheduled Tribes in a Conflict Zone

November 19, 2018

The schooling of tribal children in conflict zones is riddled with severe challenges. We study the work of a relatively small and new NGO, Shiksharth, which is trying to support the public education system. In light of this, we present the situation, the challenges and some possible solutions.

The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Education of Scheduled Tribes in India

October 8, 2018

Tribal groups in India speak their own languages and not the mainstream language of the state they live in, which is a major hurdle in the education of their children. MLE and other innovative practices are being attempted in Odisha by NGOs like Sikshasandhan.

A Better Life for the Scheduled Tribes: Lessons from Gadchiroli, Maharashtra

April 13, 2018

Lessons from Gadchiroli (Maharashtra)

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