Tribal Administration in India

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One of the main problems of tribal administration in India is that the State Governments which have been made largely responsible for administrating the tribal areas within their jurisdiction under the constitution, are either blissfully ignorant of the goals of tribal administration take little interest in achieving them. It is the misfortune of the tribal people that these vested interests weigh heavily with the State Governments, in formation of their tribal policy and shaping of their attitude towards tribal people and development, which for obvious reasons, are not always in the best interest of the tribal people. After Independence the Uttar Pradesh Government embarked upon a policy of normalizing tribal areas and diluting the special status of the tribal people. As a matter of fact, the Uttar Pradesh Government not only showed little interest in tribal development but played havoc with them. The author here presents the problems of tribal people in their true perspective and also offers practical solution of the tribal problems.

Amir Hasan (b.1929), an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, is a prolific writer on tribal affairs and folklore. His books and articles on these topics have already won him wide acclaim. He has been taking interest in preservation and promotion of Lucknow's culture for sometime. He has already published a number of articles depicting different facets of this rich culture, he is also a founder member and General Secretary of the Avadh Cultural-Council.

One of the main problems of tribal administration in India is that the State Governments which have been made largely responsible for administering the tribal areas within their jurisdiction under the Constitution, are either blissfully ignorant of the goals of tribal administration or take little interest in achieving them. Unfortunately tribal development has got linked up with exploitation of mineral deposits and minor forest produce as well as with the process of industrialization, for which most of the tribal areas have great potential and offer big opportunities to non-tribal businessmen, entrepreneurs and contractors, in addition to local political considerations and non tribal interests. It is the misfortune of the tribal people that these vested interests weigh heavily with the State Governments, in formulation of their tribal policy and shaping of their attitude towards tribal people and development, which for obvious reasons, are not always in the best interests of the tribal people. In Uttar Pradesh the situation becomes more complex and complicated because Uttar Pradesh did not have any Scheduled Tribes till 1967, i.e. for 17 long years since enforcement of the Constitution. This situation is almost diametrically opposite of the situation obtaining during the British period when tribal areas and tribal people in Uttar Pradesh enjoyed a special administration and status. After Independence, the State Government embarked upon a policy of normalizing tribal areas and diluting the special status of the tribal people. This attitude naturally had its repercussions on the administration of tribal areas and development of the tribal people. I have shown in some of earlier works especially those pertaining to Tarai and Mirzapur, how area development measures and industrialization undertaken after Independence, adversely affected the interests of the tribal people. As a matter of fact, the Uttar Pradesh Government not only showed little interest in tribal development but played havoc with tribal interests through their lop-sided area development programmes till late sixties. Even afterwards, they have hardly been able to chalk out a suitable strategy for development of the Scheduled Tribes and have continued to disregard the welfare and economic interests of the Non Scheduled Tribes, with impunity. No wonder, the administrative system evolved and enforced in tribal areas of Uttar Pradesh after Independence, was not at all conducive to safeguarding tribal interests. It was, as a matter of fact damaging them in many ways. recommendations of the Central Government regarding The administrative set-up in areas of tribal concentration, were either not accepted by the Uttar Pradesh Government or were implemented indifferently or in a faulty manner. It has all along been my endeavour to present the problems of tribal people in their true perspective. But despite my desire, I could not take up a study of tribal administration in Uttar Pradesh as such. It is a pity that the subject did not receive attention of any other author or researcher, either. I am grateful to Dr D.P. Singh, Professor and Head of Department of Public Administration, Lucknow University for suggesting this topic to me for an indepth study. In this study, I have examined various aspects of administration in tribal areas of Uttar Pradesh and other states and traced the development of tribal people, both Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Tribes, since Independence after reviewing the situation during the British period. In this, my earlier research works, field surveys and studies have proved handy and I have made full use of them. I have augmented these. with further field visits. In the course of this study, I also conducted interviews with tribals, officials and others on a purposive basis. The study is, otherwise, based on secondary sources of information. On the basis of my findings, I have given a number of suggestions regarding administration and development of the tribal people and areas. In view of my long association with tribal people, my intimate knowledge and study of tribal areas, I have tried to offer only practical solutions of the tribal problems. If these attract the attention of the Government and Planners as well as officials and non-officials working in tribal areas, I will consider my pains amply rewarded. I wish to thank Prof. D.P. Singh for his keen interest in this study and for his valuable suggestions. I am also grateful to various departments of Governments of India and Uttar Pradesh, which allowed me access to the source material used in this book. I am particularly indebted to my friend, Mr H.S. Saksena, Director SC & ST, Govt. of India, Lucknow, Dr. Ramji Shukla, Special Officer, Tribal Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Ravindra Kumar, Senior Research Officer SPI and Mr Murari Lal, Research Asstt. SPI who were of great help to me in procuring records and material in connection with this study. Lastly I must express my gratefulness to my wife, Fatima Hasan as usual. It is not a ritual. I mean it.

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