CIUPTiOl T\((0
DHULi^: DISTRICT - A PIlOFILii
^,701
the President to specify certain groups as scheduled tribes. By the Constitutional Order 1950, the President has specified certain groups as scheduled tribes. This study is confined only to those groups which are officially known as schedulded tribes.
The district of Dhule was previously knovm as 'Khandesh'. In ancient times, it was known as I^sika. Later, under the Yadavas, it was called as Seunadesa after king Seunachandra vAio ruled over it. With the advent of Muslims, the name was changed to Khandesh to suit the title Khan, given to the Faruqui Kings. The entire area of Khandesh included two districts viz. Dhule and Jalgaon and was administered as one district with headquarters at Dhule. However, in 1906, for administrative purposes, the Khandesh was divided into two districts known as Infest Khandesh and East Khandesh.
Location; The District of Dnule formerly known as West Khandesh and known after the district headquarters since 19bO lies between ZO^JS' and 23'*3* North latitude and y?'*^?' and 75*11' East longitude. The distinguishing feature of the topography of the district is that unlike Deccan plateau, the orientation of the district is towards west coast. The Tapi river passes through the centre of the district from east to wuat with a deep cut-up 2 bed and black soil fertile plains along its banks.
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Rosha (Cymbopogon Martini) grass oil is another article of importance. Except these two items, other minor forest produce is of little importance. Gums, mycrobalans and charoli are 7 among other minor produce.
Population - By the Constitutioual order, 1950, the President has speci fied certiin groups as scheduled tribes. There are about 421 tribal communities all over India. The Anthropological Survey C1967) has estimated the nvunber 314, considering a number of tribes to be the constituents of a group of tribes designated by a common name such as the Gonds, the Bhills, etc. In 1950, the number of Scheduled Tribes was 212. This number increased with the revised list of 1955, looking at the various census reports, we find that the tribal population varies from Census to Census (see Table No. 2.1)
Table No. 2.1 Population Growth of Scheduled Tribes in Post-Independence Period
Cate 1951 1961 1971 1981 gory Conside Population Incr Population Incr Population Incr ring the eased eased eased modified % % % order. 1956
General 361151669 439072582 21.58 54794V829 24.66 665287849 21.4 S.T. 22511854 29879249 32.73 38015162 27.00 51628638 35.B Source; India Gazetteer Maharashtra, Dhulia district, Part I, Tribal Development Programmes and Adraini strati on India- p. 16, 74
There ar( n the Maharashtra State. Dhule account) age of scheduled tribes In the State. Out of the total districts population of 2,050294, scheduled tribes population is 8310b4 or 40,53 percent. The tahsils of Nawapur, Akkalkuwa and Akrani are predominantly tribal areas with more than 85 per cent scheduled tribe population, Nandurbar, Talode, Sakri, Shahade and Shirpur tahsils also have considerably large population of scheduled tribes. The principal scheduled tribes In the district are Bhils, Dhanka, Gavit,K.okna, iNlaikda and Pardhi. They are mostly concentrated in the Satpuda ranges in the north and the areas flanked by the ranges of the Sahyadri in the south and south west. About 798,543, persons or 9b.09 percent of the scheduled tribes population reside in tne vallages mostly surrounded by the forests. They subsist on forest produce and allied work.
The population of scheduled tribes in the district has increased from 37.05 percent in 1971 to 40,53 percent in 1931. In almost all the tahsils of the district, there is an increase of scheduled tribe population in 1981 as compared to 1971. This increase is mainly attributed to the amendment effected to the notified scheduled tribe lists under the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes orders, (Amendment), Act, 1976 (108 of 1976). Thio act virtually ruraoved all areaa rostrictlona with regard to residence in the specified districts or tahsils, which prevailed
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Table No,2.3
Proportion o£ ^Scheduled I'ribe Population to Total Population in the villages
Percentage range of No.. of villages Percentage of S.'i'. Population to in each range, villages in total population. eacn range. ( Kio.5.T. Po PM * tii"l'oM "^ -5 2 0.13 6-15 24 1.58 16-25 169 1.15 16-25 187 12.34 26-35 103 6.79 36-50 101 6.66 51 + 930 61.35
Source: India, Government of Census Report 1981, p. 17
It is seen from Table 2.3 that out of the total 1,5l6 inhabited villages only 2 villages have no scheduled tribe population, vrtiile 930 villages fall in the percentage range of 51 and above. Among the remaining 584 villages the proportion of scheduled tribe population to total population is less tnan 5 percent in 24 villages, 6 to 15 percent in 169 villages, 16 to 25 percent in 187 villages, 2.6 to 35 percent in 103 villages and 36 to 50 percent in 101 villages of district.
In the urban areas of the district, scheduled tribe poouLation constitutes a meagre 3.91 percent of the total scheduled tribe population of the district. 27.23 per cent ana 2o.l4 percent tribal population is recorded in Nawapur and Talode towns respec tively. For a detailed town-wise distribution of scheduled tribes population refer Table 2,k,
Table 2.4 Proportion of Scheduled Tribes Population in Towns.
Name and Civil- Total Total S.T. Percent oi 5.T. Status of the town Population Population Population to total population
Dhule City Cw»Cl.)' 210,759 8400 3.99 Dondaicha (M.Cl.) 25,890 3363 12.99 Wandurbar. C^'UCl.) 65,394 5648 8.64 Nawapur. (C.T.j 19,115 5205 27.23 Shahade (M.Cl.) 24,955 2639 10.58 Shirpur (i^.Cl) 34,013 2024 5.95 Talode Cw.Cl.; 20,055 5243 26.14
All Towns 400,181 32521 8.12
Source: India, Government of, Census Report 1981, p.18 1) Rural Tahsils: Dhule, Shindhkheda and Shirpur 2) l-lLxed Tahsils: Sakri, Nandurbar, Talode and Shahade. 3) Core Tribal Tahaila, Nawapur, Akranl and AkkulKuwa. 78
Tlae Maharashtra (iovemment has declared the following areas as a Scheduled Areas of Dhule District.
TaDle NO. 2.3 '
Scheduled Area of Dhulia District
Tahsil Area No, of No. of Population p in Km. Villages Towns Total to I'laharashtra Total S.T, population
Nawapur 919.7 93 1.31 1.14 Akkalkuwa b46.0 172 0.79 0.67 Akrani 600.00 156 0.46 0.43
Source: Maharashtra, Government of Annual Report on the Administration of Scheduled Areas in Maharashtra State for the year 1975^76.
A large number of these tribes and groups were in the olden regime contained in tne lixcluded Areas and or partially iixcluded Area. The Indian Census had been dealing with them under the religious heading of Animism through some of the well known Commissioners of Census were not satisfied with the procedure. After the study of various census reports, Dr. Ghurye came to the conclusion that the tribals are the imper fectly integrated classes of Hindu Society. For the sake of convenience they are designated the tribal classes of Hindu 79
Society, suggesting thereby the social fact that they have retained much more of the tribal creeds and organisation than many of the castes of Hindu Society, yet they are in reality Backward Hindus.
Hinduism is the prominent religion m the district. It is also the prominent religion In the Scheduled rribes community, though there was a dominsuit regime of Muslim rulers in this area in the nedieval period, the Advasts have not changed their religion. In fact, the economic position of the Advasis was very poor, but they never embraced other religion for that purpose. Also, the Christian Missionaries have started some schools and hospitals for the development of the Adivasis, but the Adivasis have not given proper response to them, therefore it has not been possible for the Christian Missionaries to spread their religious ideology in these communities. On tne contrary, the Adivasis stuck to their religion, Adivasis in different places differ in their religious beliefs and practices. Table Mo. 2.6 Population of Scheduled Tribes by Religion in Dhule District
1 Total Population of Hindu Christian Muslim Person S.T. n F M F M F M F Total 615801 311056 3047A5 310112 303946 742 588 4 6 Rural 596776 301207 295569 30031 294794 696 577 - 4 Urban 19925 9859 10066 9811 9152 46 11 Source; India, Govt, oi' India Census Report 1971. 80
Literacy - it is an accepted fact that education plays a vital role in the socio-economic and cultural changes of the country in general and in social mobility of the weaker sections in particular. It is believed that equalization of educational opportunities would pave the way for equalization of opportuni ties in all spheres of social life.9 The problem of Education for the 'Adivasi is mainly related with their poverty, as over y5 percent of the population concerned is found in the rural areas. The literacy rate for rural areas is about the aaiae as for the total. The literacy rate for scheduled tribes is too low, compared with that of the general population, iiduca- cation is a process of not only imparting specific sKiils and Knowledge but also inducting the human being into the norms and the values of the culture. The culture into which the human being is inducted varies from society to society, and educational process will reflect these differences. The cultural norms are inherent in the educational systems, where selection at a early age is a crucial feature and this to a large extent determines its future status. There has been an improvement Is slow in the case of general population where half of the males among the general population are literate, and less than one fifth liy percent) of the males among the achodulud tribua uro literate. 81
Tne position among the tribal iemales .1 d mal. I'ne female literacy rate for the all India general and scaeduled tribes is 26.43 and 12.8:? respectively., Even tne latter is higner than the literacy rate of ^^.^ for the entire tribal population in Maharashtra.^'^
'fable No. 2.7 The percentage of literacy among 3.T. fopulation and general population in 1931 General General General Population S.T. Wale S.T. Female S.T.
M.S. 47.18 22.29 53.19 32.38 34.79 11.54
Dnule 37.51 15.25 48.01 23.74 2b,U^ 6.72 Dist. 1
Source: Tribal Research Bulletin Vol. VI. wo.II i'iarch,1984, p. 29.
Table No. 2.8 Tribal Literacy in Manarashtra and Dnule District during last two decades, 19/1 and 1981
1971 1981 Tribal literacy rate Tribal literacy rate among persons among persons Maharashtra State 11,74 22.29 Dhule District 10.63 15.25 Uourouj Tribal Hooouroh uuiiutin Vol. Vi N0.II, t>» 3u, S2
Besides, the low percentage of liter :y : ardly two percent or the total trioal population nave attained tne primary education and very negligible percentage nad attained S.5.C. or higher education. Tnus, not only that the bulK of tribal population (90 percent) is illiterate, but out of those v^o are literate only 27 percent had completed the primary stage of education and only 0.5 per It cent could complete secondary education.
Social Status -
The Adivasia do not suffer from all the disaoilities suffered by the Harijans, Their backwardness is economic rather than social or religious. Their knowledge of agri culture is poor. Their standard of living is low. They are often looked down upon by the Caste Hindus as 'Primitive' or 'Feeble minded'. But, unlike, harijans, they have no obliga tory duties towards Caste Hindus, as they are not part of the Hindu Caste system. They infact, live an isolated life on hills and inaforests, where their interactions with caste Hindus are limited or occasional. Previously tiie relationship between the two was of a client and seller. As shop-keepers, and money-lenders, the caste Hindus used to visit tribal areas for selling goods.
There was the tradition of cnild marriage system in the Adivasia to so extent. /B3
Table iMo. 2.9 Age and Marital Status of S.T. In Dhule District.
Total 0 to 1^ age 15 to 4^ age Male Female I'lale temale i-iaie Female Total 615801 311066 304735 145299 141487 121469 122507 Never Married 178258 155154 144608 139919 33320 15119
Married 126786 130189 684 1536 85810 102796
Widowed 5138 18186 5 6 1599 3581 Divorced 819 1154 1 12 692 981 Unspecified 65 52 1 114 48 30
Source; Gofre and Aphale "The Tribals of Maharashtra" p.9.
The above figures show that the number of married in the age group of 0 to 14 has decreased in the Adivasis. Tnere is a dowry system in the Adivasis community, but it is totally reverse of that of the caste Hindus, since the dowry is demanded by the bride from the bride groom.
The tribals have a traditional Panchayat wnich is still in existence. All the social and religious problems are referred to the Panchayat. The head of the Panchayat is called NaiK. The eldest village person or the village head-man takes an initiative in starting, the discussion. The decision maae 84
by Him is respected by ail. However, there are also tne sub- caste barriers in tne Adivasls as mentioned earlier in this chapter. There is a hierarchical system amongst the castes of Adivasis. For example, the Kokana never enters into marital relation with the Gavit or with the other sub-castes, rneir social, economic and other problems are equal, but it is difficult for them to come together due to the sub-castes barriers. On the wnole, the Adivasis are socially backward, compared to the caste Hindus.
Employment -
The Article 46 of the Indian Constitution states: 'The state shall promote with special efforts the educational and economic interests oi weaker sections of the people, and m particular, of the iicheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all types of exploitation.
Over the years the representation of scheduled tribes in oobs and in public sector undertaking has been rather negligible. Only in class-lV sector their representation in government and public undertakings h'S increased. In a few cases there appears to be some over representation in manual occupations, however, in class-l, and Claas-ll positions tiieir representation has been poor even to this day. ^See Table 2.10 8 5
Table No. 2.10 percentage of Employment In Government of India and in Government of Maharashtra in 1980.
Cate Government of India Government of Maharashtra gories Total Per Total 3.T Per iiinployees S,T. cent Employees cent I 47937 506 1.08 5510 71 3.1 II 59161 763 1.29 15040 309 2.05 III 1752230 55334 3.16 398730 22983 5.3 IV 1272397 68401 5.38 121624 7534 6.2
Source: India, Government of Census Report 1981, p. 218.
Predominantly the Adivasis are a poverty ridden lot. in order to improve their lot, it is necessary to provide them with better employment opportunities. Moreover, even after 40 years of reservation in services and benefits, their representation in government services is far from satisfactory,
Seven percent-of the total seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes in every Department of the State as well as tne Central Government, but it is rather surprising to note that the vacancies are not yet filled though there are number of eiigiuio cundid.'itua ruglslurud in all thu "Uiatiict tunpioy- ment iicchange Offices", intact the Government snould looic m 0) II H o rn II ^'6 (d in in o II «) S tn II S-< 0) II O (K m 11 +> II to 11 > ii •H in r-
to this matter very seriously and should take the initiative in filling up the vacancies, it is but impossible to bring the Adivasis into the nations mainstream unless and until they are made economically sound. The economic development of these coraraunixies would ultimately bring certain changes in their traditions and customs by bringing them in close contact with the other developed cominunities. Making tribal employment a priority is the only solution to these problems.
The Adivasis mostly belong to the category of agricultural labourers. Agriculture depends on the vagaries of Honsoon and therefore provi<^es employment for only four montns. There fore these Adivasis have to migrate to other adjoining areas m aujarat. This creates the problem of shifting. C^*< r^M* 2-.*) Economic Position of the Adivasis - The economic organisation of Indian tribes is different according to their local, cultural and geographical diversities. Racial element has a significant contribution in tne economic organisation. Infact, the whole economic system of India is based on agriculture. But the economic organisation of the Indian tribes is mainly oased on forests and agriculture. Even today they are ignorant of the agricultural technology, of an industrialised country. The tribals hesitate to adopt new methods and tecnniquea. On the baala of tho chief means of livelihood Indian tribes can be divided into four classes: 88
1) Tribes gathering rood or edible stufrs; 2; Tribes doing cultivation; 5) Tribes depending on small scale industries; and 4) Tribes depending on herding and rearing of animals and depending upon other professions.
The vast number of tribal people are to be found at various levels of economic development, or rather unaer-development. Generally speaking, trlbals are in hunting, fishing, basket maKlng and working as an agricultural and industrial labour in certain areas, lijiiployment by the (iovemraent to make roads or work in forests is also a regular mode of occupation for these tribals.^*^
Kangnan Nuruke while discussing the economic development of under developed people and areas, put forth his idea of 'Vicious Circle Theory'. 'A country is poor because it is poor with regard to supply, the real income of the population is low, and it has out a small capacity to save and ro accumu late capital, hence, ixs productivity is low; hence, m turn, tne low level of real income is mentioned with regard to demand the country is poor, and it nas but a small buying power, xhus, it cannot attract capital, nence its productivity is low, therefore, its real income is low, which discourages investment. Each of tne links of tne circular chain is bozn
00
profits of wood cutting. This castes amongst others, mainly consists of Bhils, Dnanka, Gavit KoKana, waikada and Pardhl tribes,
A large percentage of Adivasis are cultivators, which is higher than that of the general average ^see. Table 2.11), But if we judge them by the size of holdings, the condition of tne Adivasis is poor and miserable. A large number of them hola less than five acres of infertile land. The smallness of tneir holdings, coupled with the poverty of soil, absence of irri gation and lacK of material resources are the greatest handicaps in the way of their being self-sufficient in agriculture.
Mostly, the Adivasis innaoit the rural areas and tney are agricultural labourers. The percentage of tnose v^o were active in trade and commerce is negligible.
Communication and Transport
Communication is the web of human society. The structure of communication with its more or less well-defined channels, is in a sense, the skeleton of the social body which eneveiops it. The context of communication is of course the very substance Of human intercourse. The flow of communications determines the direction and the pace of dynamic social and economic development.1 '7 91
The mass media comprise ot e Jio, television, cinema, newspapers and magazines. The m. in xUnction of the mass media is to open up the people in socitrty. to new ini iTnation, new thoughts, new attitudes, a.id nev. pi pacts and help them to acquire more knowledge and form op' >n about the outside world without moving from their village. This communication systea is closed to the Adivasis because of the high level of illiteracy in tnem. However the radio is a source of information. Tele vision a more powerful media is absent in the tribal areas of this district.
The Adivasis are living in isolated and hillside areas, therefore, it is costly and difficult to construct roads in these areas. Also, it is difficult and costly to manage the new railway tracks. With the introduction of Panchayati Raj, there is a definite development regarding the transport faci lities and, the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation is also providing transport services in this area. The need to increase the ways of communications and transport is imperative. 858 (56.60 %) villages out of the total 1516 inhabited villages of the district, have bus stop''railway station/water way witnm tne villages and they serve more than three-fourth (7t>.74%) of the rural population of the district. Within the district, Sakri tahsil has the highest communication facilities with (85.71 %^- villages covered by It, followed .by Shahade (84.44 %) 92
and Dhule tahsils (84.28 %)• There are 658 villages in tne district vftiich do not have aiiy Kind of communication facility. The same is available within a distance of 5 km. for 27 villages, at a distance of 5*10 Kms. in respect of 33 villages and oeyond 10 kms. for the remaining 598 villages. It is seen that the higher the population size oi the villages, more are the coaamu- nication facilities available. Among the 858 villages, 1:?^ villages with this amenity are in the population range of !?00- 1990, 49 villages are in the population range of 2000-4999 and the remaining 31 villages in the population range of 5000*
483 villages or 31•SS percent villages in the district are approachable by pucca road and they serve 48.75 per cent of the rural population of the district. Dhule tahail has the highest percentage (74.84 %) of villages linked with pucca road, v^ile Akrani -Tahsil has no approacnable pucca road at all. This may be due to the hilly area of the tcihsil. ^mon,;-: the 483 villages, 94 villages in the population range of less than 500263 villages in the population range of 500-1999» 102 villages in the population range of 2000-4999 and the remaining 24 villages in the population range of 5000+ respectively are linked with pucca road.
Historical Background The geographical situation of Dhule District was conducive 93
for guerrilla war techniques which were in vogue during the medieval period in this country. In the medieval period, this area was controlled and ruled by the I^oghals, the British dynasty administred the areas. The Adivasis were a backward but warlike comraimity inhabiting large areas in the ^^atpuda ranges. Therefore, they have been in the military services in the British era. But they were proud of their independence hence they had revolted against the British rulers, now and then.
Before independence the Adivasis rarely participated in the political affairs of the country. They confined themselves to their own tracts, where they had tribes or village level organisations or councils to manage their social and economic affairs. These organisations were dominated by eiders and headed by a chief whose office was generally hereditary and the sanctions of the councils were religious and supernatural.
Localizud chun^OB siowLy developed with Incroaaing roadti and communications. The tribal bhagats of the remote villages visited Hindu pilgrimage places. Besides, the British legal system, administrative structure and equalitarian values accelerated the process of change. Ideas of western civili zation got currency through iiiglish education, roads, railways, poist and pro.'.a. The Britiah rulers, in prlnciploiJ, did not intend to interfere in tne social system. They feared that 04
the disturbance in the social system might endanger their authority. iMot withstanding this attitude.pressures from Christian Missionaries, Hindu social reformers and some of the British administrators, led the Government to introduce social legislation. The British government looked upon tribes mainly from the administrative point of view. It was concerned with maintaining law and order in tribal areas. For this purpose, the government denotified time and again, tribal tracts or backward areas. In these areas a separate admini stration was maintained. The government enacted several laws for different tribal areas at two levels firstly, they provided safeguards to the tribals against money lenders and businessman and secondly, at places, certain general laws did not apply to the tribals which enabled the latter to maintain their customs 19 and social life.
The separate administration under British rule facilitated the work of the tribals and safe guarded their Interests. Yet they kept the -^^ivasls in isolation. In 1919, the government provided separate electorates for the untouchables, but Adivasis could not avail of that opportunity. In 1935» provision was made for the nomination of some representatives of tribals in the Legislatative Council. But, the Christian Missionaries, working in the tribal areas enjoyed tho opportunity of 20 representing tribals in the legislatures of the country.
There are various voluntary organisations wortcing for the development of Adivasls, like Shramik Sanghatana, Satya Shodak Communist Party, Bhii Seva ixiandal, Sarvodaya wandal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Christian Missions, Sangharsh Wahini and so on. The important organizations are:
1) Shrami|6 Sanghatana;
Tnis organization is functioning in Dhule District since 1972. It's activities are centred in Shahada and I'aloda Tahsils of Dhule District. This was previously working with the assi stance of Sarvodaya workers of the area. Late Amoer Singh, Who belonged to the bhil Tribe, was an active worker of this group.
The main activities of this group are:
1) To assist the tribal people in getting the possession of lands, Which have been alienated earlier, 2) To propagate the idea of prohibition for the all round development of tribal people, and 3) To organise the tribal Bhil women for their uplift.
Under this organization, tne tribal people offered Satyagraha, at various places, and at some places, there were clashes between these workers and the landlords of the area. Because of this movement political awakening his been created 97
in this area. The tribal women had broken pots of liquor at various places and thus tried to create social awakening against the evil. 'Sadaki Mdaki Phoda' was popular slogan during this movement, led by Bhil Tribal women under the leadership of the wife of late -\mber Singh.
This area is in the fertile part of upper Tapi basin. The Gujarathi peasants migrated to this area long before the esta blishment of the British Rule. The rate of migration incrensed considerably in 18b0s when coramercialization of agriculture in the area began. This resulted in large scale displacement of Bhils or Adivasi farmers in Shahade, Talode, Nandurbar and Akkalkuwa tahsils. The displaced Bhils began to work as landless labourers. The process of land alienation continued 22 and got impetus after Independence.
2) Vishwa Hindu Pari shad;
This organisation i4indus, is working all over India. Its main ob;3ective is to unite the Hindus and stop the religious conversions of the Hindus. Advasis are ignorant and poor. For their development this organization has opened bo-irdinji schools at various places in the tribal area. Also, it tries to oradicato t-ielr bad habita. In tho ftold of uducatlon, thl:; organization has done considerable work. 1)8
3) Satyashodak Communist Party:
This organization is working in tribal areas, particularly, in Sakri, Nawapur, and iMandurbar tahsils, under the leadership of Sharad Pa til. de is an extreme i^arxist. But, as far as their ideology is concerned, they believe that, it is difficult to distinguish the reciprocal relationship between the Inciian social system and its economy. It has increased the political participation of Mivasis and particularly, of Adivasi women, by organizing various activities like Morcha, long March, Dharane etc. According to their Constitution the aim of this party is:
'The Satyashodak Communist Party shall be the vanguard of the 'Ati-Shudras' for uprooting the caste system, and of the working class for uprooting the class system. The aim of the Satyashodak Communist Party shall be to establish the caste-class proletarian democratic dictatorship for building socialism and then communism by uprooting the caste, class and sexual inequalities. In order to achieve this aim the ideological basis of the Party shall be the Fusion of Marxism- Leninism with Phule, Ambedkarism. The rational and inter national salvations being independant, to Champion the 25 internationalism of the toilers and others.' 99
4) bhil Seva Mandal;
When Mahtma Gandhi started the movement against the Caste system, so many of his followers inspired by him, started social work for the development of the do\m trodden class. Shankarrao ITiakkar is one of them. He has established the Bhil Seva Mandal In the Khandesh and has opened Schools for Adivasis at various places, and showed che way of awakening to the Adivasis,
5) Christian missionaries;
The Christian Missionaries have done very good work for Adivasis, although their latent aim was different. But they have opened schools and hospitals for the Adivasis. But, there is no effective development of the Christian Missionaries in Dhule District.
6) Sarvodaya Movement;
The followers of Mahatma Gandhi began social work for the weaker sections. They opened schools and other cultural institution for Adivasis, and tried to eradicate their bad habits and also developed their standard of living. Bhau Mundallda, one of the followers of Mahatraa Gandhi, was working in the Sarvodaya no/ement In Dhule District.
Various insti ons which are working in the Adivast 100
areas are Adlvasi Jungle Kamgar Co.Op. Society Sangharsh Wahini Sanghatana, the cultural and religious movement of Gulab MaharaJ and others working for'the development of Adivasis in social, economic, political, cultural and educa tional fields. _„ -^ ^Y|. \0Z.SO The social movement among the tribes of Dhule District began in the 5O3 of this century. The leaders belonging to various organizations started educational and economic activities in the tribal areas. However, the workers developed different approaches towards tribal works. The Christian Missionaries, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, 3hil Seva Mandal, Sarvodaya V/orkers, Gulab Maharaj and other confined themselves to social work activities, while the other movements or organisations like Satyashodak Communist Party undertook political activities. The Adivasis were given protection against the tyranny of the money-lenders and the Subordinate officials. The main object of this above organizations, is to take steps for improving social and economic conditions of the Advasis.
Conclusion;
We must recognise the fact, that if one looked at a tribal in terras of his economic status, he is at the bottom, if one looked at his educational achievement, he is at the bottom, if one looked at the character of housing that he inhabits. 101
he is at the bottom. By every index that one could apply, he is at the bottom, for many years, therefore the prevailing mood of the Adivasis is that of frustration. So far, it is necessary to bring about an all round development in their life and to bring about an emotional integration with the rest of the society.
The problems which have a vital bearing on their develop ment are: i) exploitation in all forms; ii) inadequate infra-structural support like educational institutions, health facilities, purposeful development, administration, economic holding, irrigation, electrification, fertilizers etc. and proper market avenues. Political development of Adivasis is not possible without their economic development. 102
FOQTOOTES
1. India, Government,of, Census Report 1981. p. 9. 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid. k. Ibid. 5. Ibid. p. 10 6. Ibid. p. 10 7. India, Gazetteer Maharashtra, Dhule i-^istrict, p. 1, 8. Ghurye, G.S. The Scheduled Tribes, p. 19. 9. Lai, Shyam, Education ^mong Tribals, p. VII. 10. Gare and Aphale, The 'i'ribal of Maharashtra, p. 9. 11. Ibid. p. 9. 12. ohah, Ghanshyam and others (Eds.), Tribal Education in Gujarath, p. 2. 13. Singh, A.K,, Tribal Development In India, p. 1. 14. Gare and Aphale, n, 10, p. 76. 15. India, n, 7, p. 76. 16. Mamoria, C.B., Tribal Demography in India, p. 68. 17. Pye L.W. CEd.) Communication and Political Development, p. 4. 18. India, n, 1, p. 25. 19. Ghurye, G.S., n, 8, p. 20, 103
). Ibid. I. Mishra, S.li., Political Socialization in Rural India, p. 71. t. Kulkami, Sharad, "Tribal Movement in Maharashtra" in Tribal Research Bulletin Vol. No.1, Sept. 1982. p. 15. 23. Patil, Sharad, The Constitution of the Satyashodhak Communist Party, p. 28.