The document discusses the status of tribal communities in West Bengal. It notes that tribes traditionally had subsistence-based economies and tight-knit social structures. British colonial policies displaced tribes from fertile lands and pushed them into hilly areas. After independence, tribes faced loss of land and displacement due to development projects. Tribal communities have high poverty, low literacy and health outcomes. The document calls for positive integration of tribes while preserving culture, and prioritizing education, health, and livelihood support.

1. Status of Tribal Districts in
West Bengal
Pradeep Kumar Panda
Whatsapp: 9951178889
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2. Traditional Tribal Characteristics
Subsistence non-accumulative
economy
Living in small communities
tightly knit by kinship and labour
pooling customs
Fierce defenders of their
resource bases which are
crucial to their livelihoods.
Non-literate song and dance
based culture
Patriarchal Social Structure
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3. British Policy in Tribal Areas
 Creation of Forest Department -In search of timber needed for ships
and railway lines
 Extension of settled agriculture to enhance land revenue -
Zamindari/Malguzari and Ryotwari land settlement.
 Introduction of non-adivasi settler communities to facilitate the above
policies
 Adivasis pushed out from plains areas into the upper watersheds and
hilly regions
 Adivasis fought back valiantly against this injustice
 Promotion of adivasi difference as a counter to the movement for
national independence
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4. Areas Inhabited by “Tribal”
Groups, 19th
century
Bhils
Gonds
santals
Bedars
Gujjars
Bhattis
Afghan, Gujjar
Lohani tribes

5. Post-independence Legal
Framework – A Dicey Proposition
 Constitution retains colonial centralised structure of the
Govt of India Act of 1935
 Indian Forest Act, Land Acquisition Act, Indian Penal
Code, Crim. Proc. Code retained
 Fundamental Rights and enabling legal entitlements
have to be secured through expensive litigation
 Provisions of Fifth Schedule not binding
 Provisions of Sixth Schedule clash with State Powers
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6. The Constitution Within the
Constitution
Fifth Schedule – Governor may on the
advice of the Tribal Advisory Council
prevent the application of general laws
to Scheduled Areas. Applicable in nine
states in the Eastern, Central, Western,
Northern and Southern India.
Sixth Schedule – Autonomous District
Councils with extensive fiscal and
administrative powers. Applicable in
the states of the Northeast.
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7. Denial of Entitlements after
Independence
Zamindari/Ryotwari common lands taken over by
FD but without following proper procedure.
Settlement in Princely States heavily dispossessed
Adivasi communities. Problem of Forest Villages.
Encroachments into revenue common lands and
forest lands and regularisation.
Displacement due to development projects
Mal-functioning of social and development sector
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8. Developmental Mal-function
Introduction of Tribal Subplan in
1975 to target adivasis
Neglect of Dryland Agriculture in
the Upper Watersheds
Unsuitability of IRDP packages
Unsuitability of Education
Irrationality of Health Services
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9. Legal Wrangles
Denial of Basic Liberal
Democratic Rights
Non-implementation of
Atrocities Act, Usury Acts,
Restoration of alienated land
provision.
Conflicting laws, policies, GRs,
Court Judgments.
Legality of JFM GRs
Denial of Right to Livelihood
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10. Other Socio-economic Dynamics
Tribals considered as
menials by the OBCs and
the Upper Castes and this
gives strength to the State’s
oppressive policies.
Globalisation has resulted in
an increase in the value put
on natural resources and so
adivasi habitats are being
targeted even more.
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11. Repressive Whip, Cooptive Sop and
Adivasi Self-rule
 Bhuria Committee Report and
the recommendation of 50%
share for adivasis in
development projects
 PESA.
 Confrontation in adivasi areas
 Consequences of Maoist
Movement
 Influence of Money Power in
Elections
 Decay of Traditional Adivasi
Culture
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12. Zones of conflict:
Irrigation projects
Extension of farming
Tea Plantations
Mining
Timber Industry
Tea/Coffee
Plantations
Timber

13. Tribals of West Bengal
As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950,
the following were listed as scheduled tribes in West
Bengal:
1. Asur, 2. Baiga, 3. Badia, Bediya, 4. Bhumji, 5. Bhutia,
Sherpa, Toto, Dukpa, Kagatay, Tibetan, Yolmo, 6. Birhor,
7. Birjia, 8. Chakma, 9. Chero, 10. Chik Baraik, 11. Garo,
12. Gond, 13. Gorait, 14. Hajang, 15. Ho, 16. Karmali, 17.
Kharwar, 18. Khond, 19. Kisan, 20. Kora, 21. Korwa, 22.
Lepcha, 23. Lodha, Kheria, Kharia, 24. Lohara, Lohra, 25.
Magh, 26. Mahali, 27. Mahli, 28. Mal Pahariya, 29. Mech,
30. Mru, 31. Munda, 32. Nagesia, 33. Oraon, 34. Parhaiya,
35. Rabha, 36. Santal 37. Savars

14. Neglected Status of Tribals
 ST Population : Census 2011
 Persons : 1045.5 lakh
 Percentage of ST To Total Population :
 Total : 8.6% |Rural : 11.3% |Urban : 2.8%
 Education
 Literacy Rates : Census 2011
 Person - All : 73% |ST : 59% | Gap : 14% Male
- All : 81% | ST : 69% | Gap : 12% Female - All
: 65% | ST : 49% | Gap : 15% Dropout rates
(Class I to X) : U-DISE 2014-15 All : 47.4% | ST
: 62.4%

15. Neglected Status of Tribals
 Low Literacy Rate
 High Infant Mortality Rate
 High Maternal Mortality Rate
 High Malnutrition
 Bad Health Conditions
 Low Employment
 Less Land and other assets
 High Poverty
 Low Human Development
 Less opportunities
 Low access to resources
 Vicious Circle of Under Development

16. Tribals of West Bengal

17. Neglected Status of Tribals
 Health : NFHS-4 (2015-16)
 Infant Mortality Rate
 All : 57.0 | ST : 62.1
 Child Mortality Rate
 All : 18.4 | ST : 35.8
 Under Five Mortality Rate
 All : 74.3 | ST : 95.7
 Prevalence of any anaemia (<12.0 grams
 per decilitre) in women
 All : 55.3 %| ST : 68.5%

18. Neglected Status of Tribals
 Three Particular Vunerbale Tribal Groups
 Birhor
 Lodha
 Totos
 Only 2,241 population of Birhor is left in West
Bengal

19. Neglected Status of Tribals
 Percentage ST Population in West Bengal
 Jalpaiguri – 18.9%
 Purulia – 18.3%
 Dakshin Dinajpur – 16.1%
 Darjiling – 12.7%
 Bankura – 10.4%
 Medinipur – 8.3%
 Malda – 6.9%
 Birbhum – 6.7%
 Bardhaman – 6.4%

20. Neglected Status of Tribals
 Per Capita Income of Tribal Districts (2013-14)
 Jalpaiguri – 59,651
 Purulia –50,074
 Dakshin Dinajpur – 50,991
 Darjiling – 87,694
 Bankura – 57,879
 Medinipur – 57,951
 Malda – 50,942
 Birbhum – 53,122
 Bardhaman – 81,606
 All are below Kolkata (1,12,736)

21. Neglected Status of Tribals
 West Bengal tribals battling food scarcity:
study (The Hindu, 06 January 2019)

22. The Road Ahead
Positive integration into Modern Society,
Economy and Polity
Scope for Cultural Revival
Anarchism as a lifeline from the perils of Modern
Development
Opportunities for Research, Advocacy, Legal and
Mass Action
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23. The Road Ahead
 Since agriculture as primary sector occupations
account for 80% of ST HHs livelihood – dependence
these activities must get prioritized, for ensuring
immediate income support and thereby better quality
of life.
 For future generation, education is only option
available, by and large. Hence, priority to be accorded
to education.
 Of rural poor ST HHs, biggest loss in asset base is for
health issues. Thus, health must be accorded priority
to ensure safety of family asset base.
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24. Thank You
Pradeep Kumar Panda
Email: pradeep25687@yahoo.co.in
Whatsapp: 9951178889
Website:
www.pradeepkumarpanda.weebly.com
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