Tribal Development Approaches

• 20 Nov 2024

For Prelims: Haka, Sentinelese tribe, Traditional knowledge, Sixth Schedule, Tribal Panchsheel policy, Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana.

For Mains: Indigenous Rights, Tribal Development Policies in India, Challenges in Balancing Modern Governance and Cultural Heritage.

Source: IE

Why in News?

• Recently, Maori lawmakers in New Zealand staged a haka protest against the Treaty Principles Bill, which seeks to reinterpret the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi.
• The protest highlighted the debate on the approaches to tribal development policy in balancing cultural heritage with modern governance.

What is Haka?

• About: The haka is a traditional Maori dance, performed by warriors on the battlefield or to welcome others, involving chanting, facial expressions, and hand movements. It represents Maori identity and has become a symbol of resistance.
  • The Maori Tribe is an indigenous tribe who have inhabited New Zealand.
• Haka Protest: The haka protest is a response to the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill.
  • The Bill seeks to reinterpret the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, a foundational document that established the relationship between the British Crown and Maori chiefs.
• Treaty Principles Bill: It aims to ensure equality for all New Zealanders. Critics argue that by applying the Treaty principles equally to all New Zealanders, the bill fails to recognize the distinct rights of the Māori as Indigenous people.
  • This approach is seen as undermining the legal protections afforded to Maori under the Treaty of Waitangi.

What are the Approaches to Tribal Development Policy?

• Isolation: This approach emphasises protecting Indigenous communities by limiting their interaction with modern society to preserve their cultural and ecological systems.
  • Examples: The Sentinelese tribe in the Andaman Islands lives in total isolation, protected by strict laws under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Act,1956.
  • Benefits: Traditional lifestyles, languages, and knowledge systems are preserved.
    • Shields communities from external influences that may exploit resources or labour.
    • Indigenous lands are often rich in biodiversity, preserved through their sustainable practices.
  • Challenges: Isolation often results in lack of healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
    • Communities may remain excluded from national development processes.
    • Changes like climate impacts or encroachment can render isolation unsustainable.
• Assimilation: This approach incorporates Indigenous communities into mainstream society, aiming for a unified national identity, but it can undermine their unique cultural practices.
  • Examples: In the United States, Native American children were placed in boarding schools to “Americanize” them, suppressing their languages and traditions.
    • In Australia aboriginal children from the “Stolen Generations (aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people)” were forcibly removed from their families to assimilate into White culture.
  • Benefits: Access to basic amenities like education, healthcare, and job opportunities can improve quality of life. Assimilation can bridge gaps in economic and political representation.
  • Challenges: Forced assimilation erodes Indigenous identity by causing the loss of language, traditions, and spiritual practices, weakening cultural heritage.
    • The forced assimilation often meets resistance, fostering alienation and distrust between Indigenous peoples and the government, complicating efforts to balance cultural preservation with modern governance.
• Integration: It involves incorporating Indigenous peoples into modern governance while respecting their cultural identity, ensuring their rights, traditions, and autonomy are preserved within broader society.
  • Examples: The Gundjeihmi and Bininj tribes work alongside the Australian government in managing Kakadu National Park, combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation practices.
  • Benefits: Inclusion in governance gives Indigenous peoples a voice in decision-making processes that affect their communities.
    • Recognition of Indigenous rights through modern governance can enhance their ability to protect lands, traditions, and resources.
    • Collaborative frameworks can foster trust between Indigenous communities and governments.
  • Challenges: Indigenous communities may face systemic racism and inequality despite formal inclusion.
    • Governments and industries may resist ceding power or resources to Indigenous authorities.

What is India’s Approach to Tribal Development Policy?

• Pre-Independence Approach: The British enforced an isolationist approach for tribal areas by classifying them as “Excluded” or “Partially Excluded” zones to ensure law and order.
  • In 1874, the Scheduled District Act (Act XIV) was introduced in British India, which exempted certain areas from regular laws to protect them from exploitation.
• Post Independence: Government policies have been oriented towards both autonomy and integration.
  • Policies focused on autonomy include the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and constitutional safeguards such as the Fifth and Sixth Schedules.
    • These measures prioritise preserving tribal self-governance, ensuring minimal interference in their cultural and religious practices, and affirming their rights over land and forest resources.
  • The Integration-Oriented Policy aimed to incorporate tribals into the national framework while preserving their identity and autonomy. It is guided by Jawaharlal Nehru's Tribal Panchsheel policy, which emphasises self-development, respect for tribal rights, minimal external imposition, local participation in administration, and human-centred outcomes over financial metrics
  • Recent initiatives for integrating tribal communities in India include the Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Development Mission, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana, and a mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia.

Conclusion

Balancing the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage with modern governance is a complex challenge. While approaches like isolation, assimilation, and integration each have their pros and cons, recognizing Indigenous rights and preserving culture is crucial for their well-being. Globally and in India, policies that combine autonomy with integration are essential to ensuring the well-being and cultural integrity of tribal populations.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. Analyse the balance between isolation, assimilation, and integration in tribal development policies. What are their impacts on cultural heritage?

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Mains
Q: Analyse the perspectives of Isolation, Assimilation and Integration in understanding the trajectories of Indian Tribal Development. (2023)