Tribal Governance

Why in the News?

Special Gram Sabhas held across 1 lakh tribal-dominated villages and Tolas adopted the Tribal Village Vision 2030 Declaration as part of Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan.

Key Features of Tribal Village Vision 2030 Declaration

• Village-Level Priorities: Each declaration outlines actionable goals in education, health, livelihood, social and financial inclusion, and infrastructure at the village level.
• Institutional Mechanism: Establishment of Adi Sewa Kendras in every village as single-window citizen service centres, with villagers contributing 1 hour per week of voluntary service (Adi Sewa Samay).

Tribal Governance

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Founded in 1999 to provide organised approach to integrated socioeconomic development of Scheduled Tribes. 
• The Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA):  It seeks to empower tribal communities in practicing self-governance and preserving their core beliefs, values, and way of life in Scheduled Areas.
  • It empowers Gram Sabhas, giving them authority over resources, land transfers, socio-economic development etc.
• Fifth and Sixth Schedule: Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides autonomy to tribal areas in the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
  • While, the Fifth Schedule deals with the administration of scheduled areas and scheduled tribes in states except those mentioned in the Sixth Schedule. 
• Customary tribal institutions (e.g., Adivasi Sabhas, Tribal Panchayats): Such institutions continue to play a meaningful role in internal governance, culture, resource management and conflict resolution in tribal communities, often co-existing with formal Panchayat institutions.

Issues in Tribal Governance

• Gaps in PESA implementation: Many states have been slow to adopt PESA provisions in state laws, and there is lack of awareness and capacity among local officials and communities about their rights under PESA.
  • E.g. Despite being formed in 1996, Jharkhand is yet to implement PESA.
• Limited Voice in Decision-Making: Studies have found that the formal Gram Panchayat system, often does not ensure adequate representation of tribal voices or preservation of their cultural heritage.
  • Moreover, in Fifth Schedule states, Tribes Advisory Councils (TACs) are purely advisory and have largely been ineffective in most states.
• Land Alienation and Displacement: In many areas, tribals are vulnerable to losing their land to outsiders or development projects. 
  • Even in regions with special constitutional protections (like Sixth Schedule areas), land alienation, displacement, and socio-economic marginalization of tribal people have been observed.
• Poor Implementation of Welfare Policies: Schemes targeting tribal welfare, such as the Forest Rights Act (FRA), often suffer from weak execution.
  • Over 38% FRA claims for land have been rejected till November 2022 (Central Government).
• Socio-Economic Marginalization: Poverty levels are very high, about 45% of tribals in rural areas and 24% in urban areas live below the poverty line.
  • Many are excluded from economic opportunities due to low education levels (literacy rate for Scheduled Tribes in India is 72.1% according to PLFS report 2022)

Steps towards Tribal Development 

• Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha AbhiyaN (PM JANMAN): A time-bound initiative for socio-economic development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18 states and one UT. 
• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA): Mission seeks to develop enabling infrastructure and enhance socio-economic conditions in selected tribal-majority villages (with a population of 500 or more, and at least 50% tribal residents as well as villages in Aspirational Districts with a tribal population of 50 or more).
• Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes (DAPST): Under it, besides Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 41 Ministries/Departments are allocating certain percentage of their total scheme budget every year for tribal development. 
• PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAAGY): Aims at transforming villages with significant tribal population into model village (Adarsh Gram) covering about 40% of the total tribal population.
• Development of Education: Eklavya Model Residential Schools, National Fellowship Scheme, Pre Matric Scholarship scheme, Top Class Education Scheme etc. 
• Promotion of Entrepreneurship: Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (sanctioning of 4,465 VDVKs across 29 states and union territories), Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission, and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) outlets with 118 TRIBES INDIA outlets.

Conclusion

The Tribal Village Vision 2030 and Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan represent a transformative shift in India's approach to tribal development, from a top-down welfare model to a bottom-up, community-led governance paradigm.