FACTORS INHIBITING AND PROMOTING CHANGE IN DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE PROGRAMMES AMONG THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES: A STUDY IN THE TRIBAL AREAS OF ANDHRA PRADESH Major Research Project Report Sponsored by University Grants Commission Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi Sri D RAMESH PROF. CH BAPU HARANATH (Rtd) Assistant Professor (SG) & Co-Investigator Principal Investigator DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY ANDHRA UNIVERSITY VISAKHAPATNAM 530003 ANDHRA PRADESH Acknowledgement This project work is the out come of financial support provided by the University Grant Commission under Major Research Project Scheme. We are great full to UGC for sanctioning the Major Research Project. We would like to express our thanks to the University administration for their support. Our gratitude to Prof. P D S Pal Kumar the Head of the Department of Anthropology and Prof. G Jaikishan (Rtd) the ex-Head of the Department for their support thorough out the Project. Our special thanks are due to Prof. P Vijay Prakash (Rtd) for his constant encouragement throughout the project. We would like to express our appreciation to Dr V Venkata Lakshmi, Sri B. S S Mruthym Jai research scholars for their services (hiring charges) during the study. Special thanks are due to Sri Chetti Srinivas and Sri P Appala Naidu, for their assistants during the analysis, tabulation, typing and finalization of the report. Thanks are also due to Smt G Bhagyalakshmi and Smt Chelli Avanthi for their assistances in the preparation and analysis of the schedules. We would like to thank Dr. P Bindtiya, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Andhra University for her help in the preparation of Genealogies. Our special thanks to Sri K Manmadha Rao (Branch Post Master, Kukidi village) for his help in the field work at Gummalakshmipuram and Kurpam Mandal and to Sri B S S Choudary, Project Director, Janachetana Organization at Palakonda for his assistance in the field work at Seethampeta agency. Our appreciation to the Jatapu, Savara and Konda Dora informant’s beneficiaries for their cooperation in data collection. Our thanks to Sri N Ellisha, Sri B Mahesh and N Kumar for their secretarial assistance. Sri D Ramesh Prof. Ch Bapu Harnath (Rtd) Assistant Professor (SG) & Co-Investigator Principal Investigator UGC MRP UGC MRP Department of Anthropology Department of Anthropology Andhra University Andhra University CONTENTS P.No Chapter 1 Introduction 1-11 Chapter 2 Area and people 12-22 Chapter 3 Programmes and implementations in the selected tribes 23-139 under study Chapter 4 Conclusion 140-145 References Photos MAPS Map 1 Map showing the study area: Andhra Pradesh state 13 Map 2 Map showing study area: Vizianagaram and Srikakulam district 14 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A quarter of the Global tribal population lives in India, which stands at 104,281,034 (2011 census) which is more than the entire population of many countries in Europe and other parts of the world. The area of tribal concentration in India accounts for 15 per cent of the Indian geographical area and the Indian tribes present fascinating diversity with their variegated socio-economic tradition, plurality of occupation and diverse linguistic heritage. Tribal habitation has been demarcated mainly into three tribal zones i.e North Eastern, Central and Southern. The North Eastern Zone consists of sub- Himalayan region and the mountain ranges of northeastern India. The central zone consists of the plateaus and mountainous belts between Indo-Gangetic Basin in the north and the Krishna River in South. The southern Zone consists of Peninsular India south of the river Krishna. The majority of tribes are concentrated in eight states of the country, viz., Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Andhra Pradesh. In some of the states in the North-Eastern region like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland the tribal population is quite preponderant, while the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala have the lowest proportion of tribal population. A few tribal communities like Gonds, Bhils, Santals and Oraons etc., are in millions but some tribal communities like Onge, Andamanese and Jarawas are very few in number. It was reported that there are 64 Indian tribal communities whose population is less than 500 individuals. Most of the tribal communities live in hilly terrain and they inhabit all climatic zones. They are endogamous and they are from four ethnic stocks i.e., Proto-Austroloid, Mongoloid, Negrito and Caucasoid (Guha). A study made by the Anthropological Survey of India states that 163 tribal communities speak Indo-Aryan languages, 107 tribal communities speak Dravidian, 143 communities speak Tibeto-Burman and 30 communities speak Austro-Asiatic languages. Most of the tribal communities are bilingual and they speak the respective regional languages in addition to their own tribal 1 language/dialect. The most common form of family is nuclear family and monogamy is the predominant practice. They practice clan exogamy and few bigger tribal communities are divided into moieties and phratries and sub-tribes. The tribes occupy a significant position in India by contributing variety and richness to Indian culture. Their distinct style of life is preserved over centuries, which is in sharp contrast with the other populations of the country. The tribal communities live in forest, hills, and other isolated regions. Anthropologists and social scientists have classified Indian tribals into several categories. Vidhyarthi and Rai (1977) classified the tribes into six cultural types (1) Forest hunting (2) Primitive hill cultivation (3) Plain agriculture (4) Simple artisan (6) Cattle herders and (6)Industrial urban workers. Meghe (1979) classified the Indian tribal population into four distinct categories viz., (i) Tribals who confine themselves to original forest habitats and are still distinctive in their pattern of life. These may be termed as tribal communities. (ii) Tribals who have more or less settled down in rural areas taking to agriculture and other allied occupations. This category of people may be recognized as semi tribal communities; (iii) Tribals who have migrated to urban or semi-urban and rural areas and are engaged in occupations in industries and other vocations have adopted traits and culture of the other population of the country. (iv) Totally assimilated tribes. Land is the principle source of livelihood and the bulk of tribal population depends on agriculture as more than 80 per cent are engaged in cultivation of one form or the other. The tribal communities are endowed with craftsmanship. The primitive technology as a result of generations of isolation, ignorance, and illiteracy placed them in utter backwardness compared to the rest of the population. Nothing much was done during the British period for their welfare. Immigration of plains men into the agency area attracted by the natural resources have resulted in culture contact where by the innocent tribals because of their honesty ignorance and illiteracy became the victims of contact situations. In the earlier phase of contact, the British administrators felt that the contact situation will result in the improvement of technology of tribal communities for better utilization of the natural resource potential. However on the control the non-tribal immigration coupled with the policies of the British administrators which are beneficiary of the non-tribals has lead in 2 sever exploitation of tribal communities which resulted in the loss of control over their natural resources. Introduction of money economy in the agency areas of the country have resulted in the entry of money lenders in the area and consequence indebtedness, which ultimately paved the way for land alienation in the tribal areas and various other forms of exploitations. The money lenders, liquor venders and petty merchants and other non-tribal exploitative elements who understood the vital elements of tribal culture have employed methods to the determinant of the tribals. Nothing much was done for the tribals during the British rule except the enactment of certain protective legislation and their policy of leave them alone and the policy of isolation resulted in the utter backwardness. After independence Sri Jawayar lal Nehru the prime minister of India presented his views on tribal development which lead to the emergence of national tribal policy after independence. He advocated a policy i.e Panchasheel to guide the tribal welfare and development. The main philosophy behind is that 1. People should develop along the lines of their own genius and one should not impose anything on them. 2. Tribals rights in lands and forests should be respected. 3. We should avoid introducing to many outsiders into the tribal territory. 4. We should not over administers these areas or over well them with the multiple city of schemes. We should rather work through and not in rivalry to their own social and cultural institutions. 5. We should judge results by the quality of human character that is involved. In consonance with the Nehrue’s Philosophy, the foundation is laid on tribal policy after independence. This policy was endorsed by Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission (U N Dhebar) and later by Shilu Ao Committee which supported this approach and recommended for gradual socio-economic advancement of tribals with a view to integrating them with the rest of the population within a reasonable period. Realizing the tribal situation who are