Published in IIPS Mumbai, ENVIS center, Volume 5, No. 4,  January-March 2009

Summary and Recommendations National Seminar On Tribal Demography, Health and Development in India held at Raipur, February 25- 26, 2005


 

Scheduled tribes with a population of 84 million constitute a little over 8 per cent of India’s population as per 2001 census. The tribal territory represents one of the distinct situations of contrast in the country. While development processes are making inroads in terms of localization of industries, mining and quarrying, construction of dams etc, its impact on the upliftment of tribal life is much to be known. The 2001 census shows that nearly 47 per cent of the scheduled tribe (ST) were literate in the age group 7 and above, compared to 65 per cent in the total population. Even the literacy rate among scheduled caste (SC) was much higher (55 per cent) than the ST. Among the scheduled tribes again, the literacy rate among the tribes of Central India was one of the lowest in the country. The recent data on poverty also show that the scheduled tribes have the highest level of poverty. Nearly half the rural population belonging to scheduled tribes is found living below the poverty line compared to one-fourth in general population (excluding scheduled castes). Poverty is also much higher among STs compared with SCs particularly in rural areas.The development process has displaced sizable number of tribal people from their natural habitat and from the sources of their livelihood in recent times. This has further kept them below poverty line. In tribal areas there is a lack of infrastructure particularly related to the supply of drinking water, electricity and educational and health services.  The tribal territory is rich in mineral, forest and water resources, but   the poorest of the poor live here.  The area has also an abundance of rare flora-fauna and is rich in bio-diversity. Despite this, tribes have to migrate in search of their livelihood, have low access to heath care and education and have higher morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is required that the development processes are speeded up in the tribal areas ensuring that the fruits of development must reach the tribal communities. On this backdrop, the IIPS has organized a national seminar on ‘Tribal Demography, Health and Development’ from Feb. 25-25, 2005 at Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The focus of the seminar was to examine in-depth the issues related to the tribal demography, health and development process unfolding in the tribal areas particularly with reference to Central India where majority of tribes reside. Chhatisgarh   is the most predominantly tribal state in Central India with nearly one-third of its population classified as ST as per 2001 Census followed by Jharkhand (one-fourth), Orissa and Madhya Pradesh (one-fifth each). The seminar aimed to sensitize researchers and policy makers about the priority areas, from the perspective of the changing needs and demands of the tribal groups and will reflect on the directions of future research strategies on tribal demography and development in India. 

 

 

 

 

THEMES OF THE SEMINAR

 

Selected themes of the seminar on Tribal Demography, Health and Development in India were:

•          Socio-economic and Demographic Conditions of Tribal people and Development issues,

•          Dynamics of Fertility and Mortality among Tribal groups,

•          Linkages between Population and Environment in Tribal Areas,

•          Tribal women, Gender Inequality and   Development,

•          Tribal Migration, Displacement and Rehabilitation,

•          Tribal Area Development Policies and Programmes and their Demographic Consequences,

•          Health and Nutritional Status of Tribal people,

•          Reproductive Health and the Risk of HIV /AIDS among Tribes,

•          Tribal Medicine and Health Seeking Behaviour,

•          Role of NGOs in Tribal Development.

 

 

Recommendations 

 

The following recommendations emerged from the papers presented in the seminar. These recommendations if followed are likely to promote health and development among the tribal groups in the country.  

 

1. Strengthen health infrastructure in the tribal region to provide regular supply of standard medical facility. All services promised as per norms have to be delivered. This should be the first priority. At the moment there are severe shortages of manpower and supplies in the tribal areas.  There is also a need to change norms regarding opening of new PHCs, and staffing keeping in view the remoteness and population density of tribal villages.

 

2. Develop a more flexible approach, by expanding basic health care through mobile clinics and counseling services. In tribal areas which are remote, inaccessible, or sparsely populated mobile clinics can help a lot in treatment and counseling. This will particularly suit those tribes in which seasonality of work affects their availability at residence or at the work place. Mobile clinics can also help the aged and the physically challenged who would normally not be able to contact a PHC doctor. In the meantime supervisors may be trained and sent to villages according to approved plans to provide referral and common medicines.

 

3. As far as possible, draw the doctors and paramedic staff from the tribal population or from those who have a better understanding of tribal ways of life and sympathy for tribal population. Tribal people have practiced herbal medicine and exorcism for long. Their concepts of health and illness are unique. It is recommended that the traditional healers, traditional birth attendants and those practicing Indian System of Medicine & Homeopathy (ISM & H) must be identified, given some basic training in human physiology and medicine, and involved in health delivery for treatment of seasonal, and common infectious and viral diseases. This will help in three ways: (a) change the attitudes of the traditional healers themselves; (b) strengthen social and preventive component of health delivery system; and (b) make the modern health services more accessible to people.  

 

4.  Improve IEC activities through mass

communication and direct communication through the involvement of PRIs, NGOs, traditional healers, traditional birth attendants and local elites.  

 

5.  To initiate behavioral changes among the tribes they should be told about ill effects of liquor and tobacco consumption. Tribal men and women are addicted to liquor and often use them as remedies for various health problems. They must be told about the risks associated with liquor and other intoxicants.  

 

6.  During the seminar it was clear that some basic needs are lacking to most adivasi communities- clean water, sanitation, electricity, accessible roads and bus services for remote areas besides health facilities and educational institution. These basic needs should be addressed by programmes, and further development can be carried to specific areas to identify where and how this can be brought about.

 

7. The role of NGOs, voluntary organizations and self-effort of the adivasi communities in the development process should be recognized. The Chhattisgarh government should call a meeting of the NGOs in the state including the international NGOs and identify what each organization could do. The Rotary and Lions Clubs should be invited to participate. Religious NGOs such as the Ramakrishna Mission, Satya Sai Seva Samiti, Amirthanada Mayi Ashram, DAV School Organization, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan etc. could be involved.  

 

8. Education is a key area that needs attention.There was considerable criticism during the seminar about the functioning of schools in Adivasi areas. While there is no simple solution to this problem, the Education department in each state should study the situation in each area and work out solutions in consultation with the communities themselves. The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme should be adapted to the needs of the Adivasi communities.