International Day Of Indigenous People: Adivasis Strive For Dignity And Recognition 

These unforgettable lines of revolutionary Adivasi poet Vahru Sonawane rightly depict the concerns of indigenous communities across the globe: the fear of appropriation. Since the colonial days, the upper caste and the upper class population of the world have mostly taken three routes to address what they call the 바카라�Adivasi issue바카라� 바카라� appropriation, exoticisation, or exclusion. Perhaps this was the ground that pushed the indigenous population of the world to unite for a cause 바카라� to let the subaltern speak.  

In 1982, United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Population (UNWGIP) was formed and the group held its first conference on August 9 the same year. Twelve years later, on December 23, 1994, the UN General Assembly in its resolution 49/214 marked August 9 as the International Day of the World바카라�s Indigenous People­.  

Struggle for indigenous status  

Interestingly, though India voted in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007, it didn바카라�t give separate recognition to indigenous people in the country, citing the complex and nuanced histories of migrations and Independence struggle. Indian activists, however, have been claiming the indigenous status since the late 1980s.  

In 1987, they formed the Indian Council for Indigenous and Tribal People (ICITP) and in its representation to UNGWIP assertively claimed that 바카라�Adivasis are the indigenous people of India바카라�. In July 1998, ICITP바카라�s submission to UNGWIP accessed by Outlook even questioned the foundational notion behind putting the communities within 바카라�schedule바카라� if they are not recognised as indigenous.  

The submission notes: 바카라�While scheduling such peoples as 바카라�tribes바카라� in the Constitution and entrusting the President of India as the custodian with a special responsibility for their protection, it was clearly presumed that such people form the oldest ethnological sector of the population. And denying the oldest ethnological origin of such people, how was it possible to prepare a schedule?바카라� 

Emphasising further on the ancient roots of the people, rather than the colour of skin, shape of skill, custom or living conditions, the memorandum adds, 바카라�Ancestry or biological factor of descent from members of the oldest native population, culture 바카라�its naturalness and primitiveness, Indigenous languages바카라� which are still unspecified and unrecognised바카라� determine their indigenous identity. However, most of such efforts went in vain as the notion of Adivasis neither could accept the right-wing appropriation as Vanvasis nor it could win over the 바카라�sons of soil바카라� debate.  

While the debate over recognition and identity never found its conclusion, recognition of the fifth and sixth schedule, the affirmative actions 바카라�constitutionally guaranteed reservation for 705 ethnic groups바카라� known as Scheduled Tribes (ST), Forest Conservation Act, 1980; Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996; Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, besides some other provisions provided them with temporal relief. Yet, are these means sufficient? Could these stop the attacks on Adivasis across the country? The recent incidents of Manipur indicate otherwise.  

Conditions of Adivasis  

The latest data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that the atrocities against Adivasis increased by 6.4 per cent in 2021. Whereas the number of registered attacks on Adivasis was 7,570 in 2019, it went up to 8,802 in 2021 with Madhya Pradesh leading the list with 2,627 cases, followed by Rajasthan with 2,121 cases.  

A few studies even have shown that the condition of Indian Adivasis in terms of health is much worse than the other marginalised communities like Dalits and Muslims. Sangita Vyas, Payel Hathi, and Aashish Gupta in their 2022 study mention that in comparison to Hindu upper castes, Adivasis die four years earlier, whereas Dalits and Muslims die three years and one year earlier respectively.  

The Tribal Development Report, 2022, published by Bharat Rural Livelihood Foundation (BRLF), also found that Adivasis are the most deprived section of the society in terms of 바카라�livelihoods, agriculture, natural resources, economy, migration, governance, human development, gender, health, education, art, and culture바카라�.  

So, do the claims of the 바카라�substantial increase of 12.32 per cent in the budget outlay of Rs 8,451 crores for the Ministry of Tribal Affairs바카라�, as mentioned in the year-end review of the ministry stand the test of time? Dr Jaymati Kashyap, a Chhattisgarh-based scholar and activist, says, 바카라�It is not to say that Adivasis have not received support from the government. But, definitely, it is lacking in some places.바카라� Notably, as per the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, between April-December 2022, they disbursed scholarships to 26.37 lakh students who have received it through direct benefit transfer (DBT). 

However, in Chhattisgarh, the major problem in the path of development has been the fight with Maoists. 바카라�But still, we must work on the mentality of the people. If that is not changed, nothing can be done,바카라� adds Kashyap. 

Reclaiming the narratives  

While Kashyap thinks of assimilation through development as a way forward, Naga activist and scholar Dr Lanusangla Tzudir believes recognition of differences and restoring of Adivasi culture would facilitate their socio-cultural growth. Tzudir, the founder of Heritage Publishing House, says, 바카라�We should be recognised as we are. We are part of India with all the social and cultural differences.바카라� 

Another way of regaining identity is to 바카라�deconstruct and reconstruct바카라� the folklores and narratives. 바카라�The British started writing our histories in the 1880s and gave their interpretations. But unfortunately, in the next century, when the indigenous people started writing, they continued reproducing the same narratives. It was only in the early 2000s that we started reclaiming our folklores and narratives,바카라� says Tzudir, the author of Folktales from the North-East India.

Reclaiming what is rightfully theirs is a battle that Adivasis have been fighting for centuries. The Constitutional Assembly Debates give testimony to the fights of legendary Adivasi leader Jaipal Singh Munda for the right of the indigenous people. 바카라�Munda though tried his best to introduce land rights for Adivasis, it was overlapped by the fundamental rights. He several times said that for Adivasis land comes first and then any other right. But none paid heed to it,바카라� says Jharkhandi Adivasi activist and scholar A K Pankaj.  

Emphasising the provisions and administration of fifth and sixth schedule areas, Pankaj notes, 바카라�Jaipal Singh Munda tried to push for decisive political powers of Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) in the administration of fifth and sixth schedule area but they made it merely an advisory body. According to his proposition, the Governor could have never denied TAC바카라�s decision. But in its current form, TAC can advise, not decide.바카라�  

According to the 2011 census, 8.6 per cent of India바카라�s population belongs to tribal communities and 10 states are under the fifth schedule whereas four states of Northeastern India come under the sixth schedule.  

While the current debates over ST status for different communities like Pahadi, Kurmi, and Meitei amongst others as have charged the political environment, the indigenous people across the country are struggling for dignity and recognition. On the day marked to celebrate indigenous people, one can바카라�t help but remember the works of Australian aboriginal artist Richard Bell and his famous tent named 바카라�Aboriginal Embassy바카라�. The write-up on the tent reads: If You Can바카라�t Let Me Live Aboriginal Why Preach Democracy.