Q 20. tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation. discuss. (UPSC 2025, 15 Marks, 250 Words)

Theme: Tribal Development: Balancing Displacement and Rehabilitation Where in Syllabus: (The subject of the above question is "Sociology.")
क्या भारत में जनजातीय विकास दो धुरियों, विस्थापन और पुनर्वास के इर्द-गिर्द केंद्रित है? अपने विचार व्यक्त कीजिए।

Introduction

Tribal Development in India involves a delicate balance between displacement due to development projects and effective rehabilitation. According to the 2011 Census, tribals constitute 8.6% of India's population. Thinker Verrier Elwin emphasized the need for integrating tribals into the mainstream while preserving their culture. The PESA Act, 1996 aims to empower tribal communities, yet challenges persist in ensuring equitable development without compromising their rights and livelihoods. Balancing these aspects is crucial for sustainable tribal development.

Tribal Development: Balancing Displacement and Rehabilitation

Arguments in Favour: Tribal Development in India Centres around Displacement and Rehabilitation

  • Development-Induced Displacement as Core Experience
    • Large dams, mining, industries, and wildlife projects are concentrated in tribal-dominated regions (Central India, Eastern Ghats, North-East).
    • Tribals constitute ~8.6% of India’s population but ~40–50% of displaced persons since Independence (Planning Commission estimates).
    • Hence, displacement becomes a defining axis of tribal development.
  • Natural Resource–Based Development Model
    • Tribal areas are rich in minerals, forests, water resources.
    • Projects like Hirakud Dam, Sardar Sarovar Project, Coal mining in Jharkhand–Odisha belt led to large-scale tribal displacement.
    • Development is planned around resources, not people, making displacement inevitable.
  • State-Centric Rehabilitation Framework
    • Policies such as National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy (2007) and LARR Act, 2013 focus heavily on compensation, resettlement, and livelihood restoration.
    • Tribal welfare often gets reduced to R&R packages, not holistic development.
  • Erosion of Traditional Livelihoods
    • Displacement breaks forest-based livelihoods, shifting cultivation, common property resources.
    • Rehabilitation becomes the primary means to restore subsistence and income.
  • Conflict and Tribal Movements
    • Movements like Narmada Bachao Andolan, Pathalgadi movement, anti-mining protests in Niyamgiri highlight displacement as the central issue.
    • Development debate revolves around how to rehabilitate, not whether to displace.
  • Legal Recognition of Displacement
    • Laws like PESA (1996) and Forest Rights Act (2006) emerged mainly to address injustices arising from displacement and poor rehabilitation.
    • Shows how tribal development discourse is reactive, centred on displacement impacts.

Arguments Against: Tribal Development Is Not Limited to Displacement and Rehabilitation

  • Reductionist View of Tribal Development
    • Equating development with displacement ignores education, health, political empowerment, identity, and autonomy.
    • Tribal development is multi-dimensional, not displacement-centric.
  • Large Section of Tribals Are Non-Displaced
    • Many tribes, especially in North-East, Andaman & Nicobar, and Scheduled Areas, have not faced large-scale displacement.
    • Their development concerns focus on connectivity, education, healthcare, and cultural preservation.
  • Community-Led and In-Situ Development Models
    • Emphasis on in-situ development (development without displacement) through:
      • Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana
      • Aspirational Districts Programme
    • Shows a shift beyond rehabilitation-centric thinking.
  • Cultural and Identity-Based Issues
    • Tribals face challenges of cultural assimilation, loss of language, religious conversion, and identity assertion.
    • These issues are unrelated to displacement but central to development.
  • Governance and Political Marginalisation
    • Lack of effective implementation of Fifth Schedule, Sixth Schedule, and PESA limits self-governance.
    • Development deficits arise from administrative neglect, not displacement alone.
  • Human Development Indicators
    • Poor outcomes in nutrition, maternal mortality, literacy, and sanitation persist even in non-displaced tribal populations.
    • Indicates structural poverty rather than displacement-driven deprivation.
  • Changing Development Paradigm
    • Recent focus on rights-based development, Gram Sabha empowerment, and forest rights recognition.
    • Tribal development now includes participation, dignity, and sustainability, not just rehabilitation.

Conclusion

Achieving a balance between tribal development and displacement requires a nuanced approach. According to the Xaxa Committee Report, over 40% of displaced persons in India are tribals, highlighting the need for effective rehabilitation. Amartya Sen emphasizes the importance of enhancing capabilities, suggesting that development should empower tribals rather than displace them. A way forward involves implementing inclusive policies that respect tribal rights, ensuring sustainable development while preserving cultural heritage and providing equitable opportunities.