Question

Discuss any five government policies for the upliftment of tribals.

Answer 1

Measures for the upliftment of the tribes are as follows:

1. Constitutional safeguards:
   1. Article 15 provides equal rights and opportunities to all the citizens of India.
   2. Articles 16(4), 320(4) and 335 reserve seats for the tribal people in employment opportunities. Reservation of seats in the legislatures.
2. LAMPS: Large-sized Multipurpose Cooperative Societies were established in the tribal societies to give:
   1. Productive/unproductive loans.
   2. Sale of surplus produce and purchase of necessities of tribal life.
   3. Supply of modern agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, etc.
3. The 20-point program that focused on the development of the STs, assisting tribal families to aid them to cross the poverty line.
4. Tribal Panchasheela: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid down five principles which stated:
   1. Nothing should be imposed on the tribal people.
   2. Tribal rights in forests and land to be respected.
   3. Over-administration of tribal areas is not allowed.
   4. Tribal people to be trained to help them build their own team.
   5. Money is not to be used as a measuring rod to adjudge human development.
5. Medical and Educational Facilities have been improved in the tribal areas.
6. Encouragement of crafts and Home Industries: Both the old and new tribal crafts and handicraft industries are encouraged. E.g., Shilpo Melas (Artisan Fairs).
7. Five Year Plans:
   1. The Government concentrated on tribal welfare activities during the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Five Year Plans.
   2. Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDPs) evolved for tribal development during the 5th Five Year Plan (1974-79) cover today 19 states/union territories and 374 lakh tribal populations.