IPP28 Volume 2 Section 3 Tribal Development Strategy 3.1 Introduction Public Disclosure Authorized Chhattisgarh has a tribal population of 32.45 percent (Census, 1991). Tribals are concentrated over nearly 65 percent of the states area, and this area covers seven districts entirely and another six districts partly'. The state is home to several tribes - small, large and even those nearing extinction in numbers - and it presents among the most challenging scenario for human development anywhere in the country. This strategy document broadly outlines the context of socio-economic and development status of tribal groups in Chhattisgarh and presents a plan to address these within the framework of the World Bank financed District Rural Poverty Project (DRPP). The DRPP is a people centred, participatory, poverty alleviation programme that targets the poor and disadvantaged section of the population in all 16 districts of Chhattisgarh. The implementation of the project is based on an innovative approach that highlights demand- sensitive development, promoting and supporting effective decentralised governance and Public Disclosure Authorized addressing obstacles to income security. It is well established that the tribal communities as anywhere else in the country, are one of the most vulnerable and marginalised group. They face social diversity, oppression and economic hardships in various forms. They have to contend with unequal and insecure access to productive resources and share poor participation in governance. Tribal areas and communities largely remain underserved through public systems - both on account of supply (resources fail to reach the target or programmes fail to bring long term change) and demand (poor ability to demand and elicit resources and services) factors. Poor educational achievements, vulnerable health status and insecure livelihood base have kept these groups to the margins of development in Chhattisgarh. The number and status of tribals, thus warrant specific attention to aspects of their participation and intended Public Disclosure Authorized benefits from DRPP. Through this tribal development strategy the government makes an attempt to recognise the fact that benefits from programmes and schemes intended for the tribals do not reach them automatically and that deliberate and strategic measures and protective regimes have to combine with relevant programmes in order to ensure that benefits actually accrue to vulnerable sections such as tribals. Accordingly, this document sets out an agenda of action for DRPP and identifies measures and provisions intended to protect and enhance the participation of and benefit to the tribal communities in the selected DRPP districts. This paper identifies broad principles and directions for institutional and programmatic intervention with the tribals in DRPP. This strategy document is structured as follows: Public Disclosure Authorized 1. Context of Tribal Communities in Chhattisgarh and their status in DRPP Districts - An Overview. 2. Legal and Policy Framework for Tribals in Chhattisgarh. Census, 1991 F~~~ECOPY ~~~~46 3. Government and Non Government Organisations working for Tribal Development in Chhattisgarh. 4. Tribal Development Strategy for DRPP. 5. Institutional and Programmatic Interventions for Tribals in DRPP. 3.2 The Context of Tribal Communities in Chhattisgarh and their status in DRPP Districts 3.2.1 An Overview The state of Chhattisgarh is home to a large tribal population, which is diverse in location, origin, socio-cultural history, language, livelihood and level of development. With the exception of some isolated tribes, which continue to be in the food gathering stage, settled cultivation is the dominant mode of occupation for most of them. However, forests continue to be significant source of livelihood. This is a result of the historical pattern of settlement whereby the tribal communities reside in or near forested areas. The areas of tribal concentration in Chhattisgarh can be classified as under: North Eastern Zone: Comprises of Surguja, Raigarh, Bilaspur and areas of other adjoining districts. The primary hilly north-eastern zone is the abode to the Oraons, Kawar, Majhi, Bharia, Agaria, Nagasia, Khairwar, Dhanwar and Korwas. The area has a number of primitive tribes such as Korwas and smaller groups of Baiga. In Chhattisgarh, six agencies have been set up especially for development of these primitive tribes. These six agencies are: I. Kamar Vikas Abhikaran, Gariyaband (Kamar Development Authority, Gariyaband) 2. Abhujmarh Vikas Abhikaran, Narayanpur (Abhujmarh Development Authority, Narayanpur) 3. Baiga Pahadi Korba Vikas Abhikaran, Bilaspur (Baiga Pahari Korba Development Authority, Bilaspur) 4. Pahadi Korba Vikas Abhikaran, Ambikapur (Pahari Korba Development Authority, Ambikapur) 5. Baiga Vikas Abhikaran, Kawardha (Baiga Development Authority, Kawardha) 6. Pahadi Korba evam Birhor Vikas Abhikaran, Jashpur (Pahadi korba and Birhor Development Authority, Jashpur) These agencies work towards all round development of these tribes by making provisions for drinking water sources, civil constructions, health facilities, schemes such as purchase of land for landless primitive tribe people, etc., all with the objective of making them self- reliant. Southern Zone: Comprising of Bastar and other districts carved out of Bastar, this is a large area with very high tribal concentration. This area is populated by various tribes like Gond, Bhatra, Halba, Maria and Pardhi. Numerically, Gond is the largest tribe of Chhattisgarh. 2 For notification as Primitive Tribes, four criteria have been laid down by Government of India - economy based on extremely backward agricultural technology, very low literacy rates, isolated from mainstream lifestyle due to geographical situation and less growth rate of population than expected for long period. 47 Table 1: Details of Scheduled Tribe Population in DRPP Districts of Chhattisgarh (1991) S District Total STs % Of Total Major Tribes Other Tribes No. Population Population I Bilaspur 1694883 347216 20 Gond, Kawar Dhanwar, Bhinjivar, 2 Korba 825891 356222 43 Sawar, Bhaina, Oraon, 3 Janjgir-Champa 1110200 135641 12 Majhwar 4 Surguja 1581872 897217 57 Gond, Kawar, Oraon Bharia, Agaria, Nagasia, 5 Koriya 500758 220360 44 Khairwar, Dhanwvar. Korwa 6 Raigarh 1065939 392385 37 Gond, Oraon, Bharia, Bhinjwvar, 7 Jashpur 656352 429092 65 Kawar, Sawar Dhanwar, Kharia. Korwa, Majhi, Nagasia 8 Raipur 2529166 331554 13 Gond. Kawar Bhinjwvar, Saur, Sawar, 9 Mahasamund 791197 222298 28 Flalba, Bhunjia, Kamar 10 Dhamtari 587679 160175 27 II Durg 2397134 298059 12 Gond, FHalba Kawar 12 Ra jnandgaon 1089047 293071 27 Gond, Kawar, Halba Baiga 13 Kawardha 513496 103946 20 14 Bastar 1116896 742799 67 Gond, Bhatra, Fllalba Pardhi 15 Kanker 532151 296584 56 16 Dantewada 622267 490505 79 TOT-AL 17614928 5717124 32 Source: Census 1991 & Chhattisgarh - A State is Born. There are a few sections of tribes, who by virtue of their location and entitlement have derived benefits of settled agriculture under favourable conditions and have also sought to assert a higher social identity. However, for most tribals, settlements along the hilly tracts, forests or marginalised lands; social status and economic endowment is low and precarious. The large number of tribals present in the state pose a challenge for all development and poverty reduction initiatives and programmes have to b sensitive to their social, cultural and livelihood context. A list of Scheduled Tribes in Chhattisgarh, numbering 42, is given in Annexure I and of the seven Primitive Tribes in Annexure 2. The following are the main development indicators that highlight the problems and challenges faced by the tribal communities in the state: 3.2.2 Education Education is one of the most powerful tools for socio-economic empowerment but the tribal communities of the state have lagged behind, both in terms of access as well as scholastic achievements. Although the state has invested considerably in infrastructure development for universalising education, large proportions of tribals, particularly girls, still remain outside the scope and reach of formal schooling. The 1991 census revealed that the overall literacy rate among the tribals was 26.7 percent, male literacy was 39.7 percent and female literacy rate a mere 13.9 percent. We may assume that these rates would have increased considerably over the last ten years, a period in which the literacy rate of Chhattisgarh state progressed from 42.9 percent in 1991 to 65.2 percent in 2001. 48 There are of course spatial variations. Lack of social motivation, economic stress, limited perceived relevance of schooling, poor teacher motivation and inadequate resources have combined tojeopardise the tribals' access to education. These act even more aggressively on the girl child. Hence, the gender gap in education remains persistent. A district wise presentation of literacy rate amongst scheduled tribes is given in table 2. Table 2: District wise presentation of Literacy Rate amongst STs in Chhattisgarh (1991) S No. Districts Literacy rate amongst STs (All) I Koriya 19.5 2 Surguja 3 Bilaspur 29.9 4 Korba 5 Janjgir-Champa 6 Jashpur 32.8 7 Raigarh 8 Kawardha 35.6 9 Rajnandgaon 10 Durg 50.6 11 Raipur 35.7 12 Mahasamund 13 Dhamtari 14 Kanker 15.5 15 Bastar 16 Dantewada Source: Sanket, Chhattisgarh - A State is Born, Bhopal. Chhattisgarh has been a witness to a number of innovative government programs like Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Alternative Schooling,