Tribal Cultural Group
Tribal communities, who carry on pre-agricultural activities for their survival, have been classified as so called Primitive Tribal Groups, Government of India have selected four criteria for identifying Primitive Tribal Groups. The criteria are :(i) pre-agricultural level of technology and economy, (ii) very low rate of literacy,(iii) declining or near stagnant population, and (iv) general backwardness due to seclusion, and consequential archaic mode of living.
The so called Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) are indeed vulnerable and techno economically backward. Their habitats are natural and serens. Development of infrastructure in their habitats is utterly inadequate. They have perfectly adapted to their eco-system, and lead a very simple life like natural men. However, it is ridiculous to brand them as “primitive”. This epithet is value-loaded and means peimeval, or abioriginal and archaic. When the mankind is at thethreshold of Twenty first Century there should be rethinking about these Colonial and imperiak jargons. “Primitive” is the world commonly used to describes with whom anthropologists have been traditionally concerned.
During 1950’s Evans-Pritchard, the famous British anthropologist, while attempting to answer three pertinent question, such as (i) what are primitive societies? (ii) Why do we study them? And (iii) what do we study in them? . These question provide clues for meaning as follows.” The word ‘Primitive” Evans-Pritchard clarifies the meaning as follows.” The word ‘primitive’ in the sense in which it has become established in anthropological literature does not mean that the societies have just as long a history as our own, and while they are less developed then our society in some respects they are often more developed than others. This being so, the word was perhaps an unfortunate choice but it has now been too widely accepted as a technical term to be avoided (1972:7). As the trem conveys inferior and spiteful meaning it ought we eliminated from anthropological literature. “The word” “primitive” came into use whwn Page no. 25
Anthropological theory was dominated by an evolutionary approach that equated living peoples, outside the stream of European culture, with the early inhabitants of the earth.” These early inhabitants, or primeval men-the first human beings-may justifiably be regarded as “primitive “ in the ethymological sense of the word . It is quite another matter to call present-day peoples by the same term. In other words, there is no justification for regarding any living group as our contemporary ancestors (1956:70-71). Therefore the term “primitive” be replaced by the term “vulnerable.”
Etymologically the term ‘primitive’ as an adjectival one is related to the earliest stage of development, implying rude, uncivilized, archetypal, etc. Denotatively speaking the term ‘primitive’ means ancient, thing of the past, olden primal, obsolete, ancestral, backward looking,etc.Therefore, it is fallacious and erroneous to designate them as primitive.They are certainly defenseless against rapacious exploitation and unhealthy cultural invasion.Their traditional natural resource base has been denuded.They are not poor because they do not have the concept of poverty. They through experience know that nature is bounteous and nature will sustain them.Imposition of several restrictions on their free use of natural resources has marginalized them,and has made them defenseless too.Leading a free life in the ever munificence of nature they used to lead a mirthful life. The tendency to acquire durable assets as a sort of gurantee against food insccurity never entered into their mind.But now the deprivation of resources has made them insecureand vulnerable.Of course the special micro projects, which are in operation, are helping them to overcome their crises. However, they continue to possess those characteristic features which Evans-Pritchard had earmarked for simple societies more than half a century go. The features are :
1. Small in scale with regard to numbers,territory and range of social contacts.
2. Possess simple technology and economy.
3. Little specialization of social Functions.
4. Absence of literature, and hence of any systematic art science or theology.
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5. Structurally so simple and culturally so homogeneous that they can be directly observed as wholes; and
6. Otherness in their way of life.
In addition to above-stated basic criteria for the identification of the so-called Primitive Tribal Groups, certain general characteristic features of these groups are to be taken into consideration not only for identification but also for the implementation of development programs among them. They may be stated as follows:
1.Such communities are consideration as the most Vulnerable Ethno-cultural Groups.(VEGs)
2. Some of them are on the verge of exitinction.
3.Some groups are struggling hard for their basic survival.
4. Their health condition and nutritional status are extremely low and some groups show internal genetics imbalances.
5. They are living in the most remote, inaccessible and eco-inhospitable areas.
6. OtheRNESS IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
In addition to above –stated basic criteria for the identification of the so-called Primitive Tribal Groups, Certain general characteristic features of these group are to be taken into consideration not only for identification but also for the implemention of development programs among them. They may be stated as follows:
1.Such communities are considered as the most vulnerableEthno-Cultural Groups.
2. Some of them are on the verge of exitinction.
3. Some groups are struggling hard for their basic survival..
4. Their health condition and nutritional status are extremely low and some groups show internal genetics imbalances.
5. They are living in the most remote, inaccessible and eco-inhospitable areas.
6. They are not poor, but experience relatve deprivation causing economic backwardness.
7. They have less command over resources and lack means for resources mobilization.
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8.They are characteristically isolated with unique and simple life –style.
9. They represent small societies with cultural homogencity.
10.Their economy is purely subsistence –oriented and less monetized.
11. They mostly constitute pre-literate societies with shallow history.
12. They still depend upon pre-agricultural modes of production, food gathering and hunting.
13. Some groups are nomads of semi-nomads without any permanent or sedentary settlement.
14.Their material culture status is simple with crude and hand –made tools ,implements,weapons and appliances.
15. Their traditional politico-jural mechanism is simple with Headman ,both secular and sacerdotal ,who look into the internal and external affairs.
16. The land utilized for swidden cultivation showed communal ownership rather than individualn record of right.
17. Theyir social organization is simple.
18. They are polytheists and some groups practice magic,witchcraft and sorcery.
19.Notwithstading all such characteristic features of simple societies ,they their own rich cultural heritage with ethos.ideologies and world-view reflected in myths,legends,table,riddles, oral lieterature,art performing art song , dance,music,etc.
20. They have their unique aesthetic sensibility ,ethno –scientific knowledge, ethno-medicine,ethno literature, ethno-musicology.etc.
The problems faced by each of the vulnerable groups are unique in nature,and therefore The concerned Micro Projects prepare ethnic group specific projects so as to assist them to overcome their plight and tribulations.
Economic –Problem.All the primitive tribes are still in the stage of food gathering ,collection,hunting and shifting cultivation. They continue to veer round pre agricultural technology .they are more egalitarian. They consider the natural resources as common Page no28 Communal properties and strictly abide by the community management of all resources.
Primitive tribes solely depend on the adjoining forest for their food and other requirements and their requirements are very simple . in the past their economy fully veered round the forest and forest resources . These tribes ,allover the country , continue to subsist cultivation ,rhetorically speaking , they live the life of ‘natural’ man’ considering their forest-clad habitat which is a perennial source of food and other requirements. Tribal societies have their own indigenous ways of choosing tribal items from the nature as they have their own methods of food production .Of course ,food production is related to the value system and regulated by their own categorization of food and –food within the scope of their environment and local Avalility. They used to glean form the forest a large variety of edible, commercial and industrial raw materials, namely, honey, fruits, nuts, roots, tubers, greens, arrow-root, mushrooms, flowers, leaves, creepers, barks, herbal, medicines, sal, resin, lac, cocoons, palm juice, larve of honey bees and wasps hides, horns, feather ,bones , meat and fish.
Forest collection , fishing and hunting have sharply declined in recent years , firstly because forest areas have diminished with the reclamation of forests for agricultural and industrial and rehabilitation purposes while pressure on forests have increased several fold with the rapid growth of population. Secondly in the past tribal used to depend on the forest and used to exploit forest resources almost exclusively for their sustenanance because they lioveds within or in the proximity of forests. But since non-tribals have been exertingb more pressure on the foretsfor commercial reasons. Thirdly , thir traditional rights over all the forests in their habital have been nullified with executive measures, and finally control and managementof forests have been taken over by the concerned State Governments.
All these incidents connote encroachment upon the traditional rights and sources of food and other needs of the tribal people who have no alternative source to depend upon for survival.
Page no29. Without substantial change in the enviorment tribals are not likely to modify their traditional “modes of living in few decades.
Depletion of forest resources on the one hand and imposition of restrictions on the use of existing forests on the other have brought miseries to the tribal people. Tribals feel that they are being systematically deprived of the rich natural resources, which are parts of their ecosystem, by unscrupulous money lenders, usurpers, land-grabbers and state agencies. Primitive tribes accept accept “members of larger and dominant tribes and Scheduled Castes in their habitat as part of the tribal universe but n ot other (the residuary groups). The National Forest Policy (1952) has drastically cut down the traditional rights of tribals in the forests. Forests now constitutes an important component of national wealth, and as such, it is now managed on a commercial line. But the policy ignored the existence of tribals who have been the denizens of forests for centuries. In the early 70 ‘s National commission on agriculture in its report on frostry accepted the essential needs of the tribal people , such as, fuel,fodder and timber , and held that those are to be met through integrated forestry development. In pursuance of this view the idea of ‘spcial forestry’ was conceivesed in the fifth five year plan. Social forestry is conceived as ancillary to commercial forestry. The National Commission of agriculture has defined the scope of social forestry to include farm forestry,, extension forestry , reforestation of degraded forests and receation forestry . there must be clear-cut reformulation of national forest police so that anomalies and ambiguities can be set aside . the N.C.A converted the customary rights of tribes into some concessions .
A viable social forestry should constitute the cardinal ingredient . in national forest policy a high priority will have to be given to the development of non-timber forest produces(NTFP).
Studies show that in several areas non- timber forest produce yields 10% to 50% of the income of the tribal households. In 1978 state Ministries’ Conference on Forest and Tribal Welfare decided to recognize rights of collection of non timber forest produce by the tribal communities. I this game, forest-dwelling primitive tribes are in a disadvantageous position. Pageno-30
In many quarters it is felt that the tribal be given partnership in forest management But no truethe people and the forest partnership between people and the forest management bureaucracy can be sustained unless their instituonalized arrangement to build up mutual turst and confidence . the 1988 Forest Policy has attempted to mitigate some of grievances of forest dwelling tribal communities. One of its objectives is “to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life forms, human snimsl snd plsnts. The derivation of direct economic benefit must be subordinated to this principal aim” (Paragraph 22 of 1988 NFP). Though this policy emphasizes on the one hand that right and concessions enjoyed by them should be fully protected on the other it states that their domestic requirements of fuel –wood, fodder, non-timer forest produce, and house construction material should be made available to hem at reasonable prices. This means that they cannot collect these materials themselves freely.
In many quarters it is felt that the tribal be given partnership in forest management But no truethe people and the forest partnership between people and the forest management bureaucracy can be sustained unless their instituonalized arrangement to build up mutual turst and confidence . the 1988 Forest Policy has attempted to mitigate some of grievances of forest dwelling tribal communities. One of its objectives is “to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life forms, human snimsl snd plsnts. The derivation of direct economic benefit must be subordinated to this principal aim” (Paragraph 22 of 1988 NFP). Though this policy emphasizes on the one hand that right and concessions enjoyed by them should be fully protected on the other it states that their domestic requirements of fuel –wood, fodder, non-timer forest produce, and house construction material should be made available to hem at reasonable prices. This means that they cannot collect these materials themselves freely.
