Who are Adivasis???

Adivasi the term means' original inhabitants'. Around 8 per cent of India’s population is Adivasi. Some Tribal groups live in the states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orrisa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, etc. There are more than 500 different Adivasi groups in India. Adivasis have always been influenced by different surrounding religions like Shakta, Buddhist, Vaishnav, Bhakti, Christianity. They have their own language.

Metal Ore like iron, copper, gold, silver, Metal Ore like iron, copper, gold, silver, coal and Diamonds invaluable Timber coal and Diamonds invaluable Timber and animals themselves, all came from and animals themselves, all came from the forests. Adivasis were traditionally the forests. Adivasis were traditionally ranged hunter gatherers and nomads ranged hunter gatherers and nomads and lived by shifting agriculture. and lived by shifting agriculture. According to the official figures, more According to the official figures, more than 50 per cent of persons displaced than 50 per cent of persons displaced due to mines and mining projects are due to mines and mining projects are tribals. In the North east, their lands tribals. In the North east, their lands remain highly militarized and war-torn.remain highly militarized and war-torn.

The term minority is used to refer to communities that are numerically small in relation to the rest of the population. The safeguard are needed to protect minority communities against the possibilities of being culturally dominated by the majority.

Muslims are 13.4 per cent of India’s population Muslims are 13.4 per cent of India’s population and are considered to be a marginalized and are considered to be a marginalized community in India today because in community in India today because in comparison to other communities, they have comparison to other communities, they have over the years been deprived of the benefits of over the years been deprived of the benefits of socio-economy development. Muslim customs socio-economy development. Muslim customs and practices are sometimes quite distinct from and practices are sometimes quite distinct from what is seen as the mainstream. They wear a what is seen as the mainstream. They wear a burqa, sport a long beard, wear a fez and these burqa, sport a long beard, wear a fez and these become ways to identify all Muslims.become ways to identify all Muslims.

The government makes the laws to The government makes the laws to protect its citizens. There are specific protect its citizens. There are specific laws and policies for the marginalized in laws and policies for the marginalized in our country. There are policies that our country. There are policies that emerge through other means like setting emerge through other means like setting up a committee or by undertaking a up a committee or by undertaking a survey etc. The government then makes survey etc. The government then makes an effort to promote such policies in an effort to promote such policies in order to give opportunity to specific order to give opportunity to specific groups.groups.

Both, Central and State Both, Central and State governments create specific governments create specific schemes for implementation in schemes for implementation in Tribal areas.Tribal areas.

For example, the government For example, the government provides free hotels for students provides free hotels for students of Adivasi communities so that of Adivasi communities so that they can avail for education they can avail for education facilities that may not be facilities that may not be available in their localities. available in their localities.

Students applying to educational institutions are expected to furnish proof of their caste in form of caste and tribe certificates.

The village of Jakmalgur are gearing The village of Jakmalgur are gearing up for a big festival. Once in five up for a big festival. Once in five years, the local deity is honored and years, the local deity is honored and priests from 20 neighboring villages priests from 20 neighboring villages come for this five days event.come for this five days event.

Those from Rathnam’s own caste Those from Rathnam’s own caste were fearful of angering the powerful. were fearful of angering the powerful. Many worked on their fields as daily Many worked on their fields as daily wage-labors. wage-labors.

The Act distinguishes several The Act distinguishes several levels of crimes:levels of crimes:

Firstly, it lists modes of Firstly, it lists modes of humiliation.humiliation.

Secondly, it lists action that Secondly, it lists action that dispossess Adivasis.dispossess Adivasis.

At another level, the Act At another level, the Act recognizes that crimes recognizes that crimes against Tribal women's. against Tribal women's.

We have seen that Marginalization is We have seen that Marginalization is also linked experiencing disadvantages also linked experiencing disadvantages and Powerlessness like Dalits. People and Powerlessness like Dalits. People have had to constantly work on to have had to constantly work on to translate these into principles that translate these into principles that guide the actions of their fellow guide the actions of their fellow citizens. A democratic society, similar citizens. A democratic society, similar processes of struggle, writing, processes of struggle, writing, negotiations and organizing needs to negotiations and organizing needs to continue…… continue……