TRIBES IN MP

As per Art-342 of constitution, the …president  can declare any cast, community, class, group as ST on basis of some criteria. Since they are mentioned in …5^th& 6^th schedule of constitution hence known as scheduled. Since they are mountain dwellers hence known as…..`Girijan’. Since they are ancient dweller, hence known as …`Adivasi’.M.P. enjoys maximum tribal population & variety. M.P. has 21.1%% of tribes as per population 2011.

There are 46 recognized Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh, India, three of which have been identified as 'Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups' (PTGs)(formerly known as 'Special Primitive Tribal Groups').

 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

Some tribal groups have some specific features such as …dependency on hunting, gathering for food, having pre-agriculture level of technology, ……zero or negative growth of population and …..extremely low level of literacy. These groups are called Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

In India a total of 75 PVTGs are declared. These tribes are selected by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Maximum number of PVTGs are in Odisha. Madhya Pradesh has three PVTGs, they are Baiga, Sahariya, and Bhariya.

The maximum ST percentagepopulation  is in ………..Alirajpure (89%) &Jhabua which is 86.8%.

 followed by Barwani (67 percent), Dindori (64.5 percent), and Mandla (57.2 percent) districts.of tribal population.

 

Where as its minimum percentage in in ….Bhind 0.4%.

Major tribes & their Specialities

According to the 2011 Census of India, Bhil is the most populours tribe with a total population of 4,618,068, constituting 37.7 per cent of the total ST population.

Gond is the second largest tribe, with a population of 4,357,918 constituting 35.6 per cent.

The next four populous tribes are: Kol, Korku, Sahariya and Baiga. These six tribes constitute 92.2 per cent of the total ST population of the State.

1)  Gond:-

Term Gond is drived from term ……Kond means mountain dwellers. There are no. of classes within Gond.E.g. ….Rajgond, ..Agriya (smithy occupation), Mudia, Madia, Pradhan, Pathria etc. Gond are found on both sides of river Narmada on ranges of Satpura ,Maikal.

Major Gods of Gond are …..Dulhadev, Badadev&Nagdev .

By Physical structure they are strong.

They have normal height, black skin & broader nose.Gonds love art, culture & dance.

 

They perform ….Karma, Saila, Suaetc. They also perform ….Gammat&Swang among theatre Gond women love to make tattoo on their body.

 

Their houses are made up of bamboo, grass etc. walls are painted with soil, cow dung paste.

Special type of marriage,…..Dudhwalutwa found. It is cross cousin marriage.

The system of …..bride-price is found but due to modernization dowry system is increasing.

 

Ghotal system

One of the category of Gond is Mudia, in which ……..Ghotal system is found.They believe in animism. They find soul in no. of things. They use to cremate their dead bodies in fire.

'Nohodora' ornamentation made by clay on the walls by Gond Tribe.

2) Baiga:-

It is an important tribe of Mandla, Shadol ,Balaghat & adjoining districts. The technical meaning of …Baiga means `Purohit’, hence they are also known as `Panda’.There are number of subgroups of Baiga , e.g. Bharotiya, karotiyaKathmaina etc. ..

There is subgroup of Baiga known as ….Binzwar. They are regarged as advanced then Baigas. They derived their  name from VindhyavasimeansBinjwar.

 

Major God of baigas  is..Budhadev.

 

Vervin Elwin wrote a book on baiga. `The Baigas’ in 1951.

Baigas don’t perform agriculture , because they believe that it hurts the breast of Dharti-maa. That’s why their main occupation is to collect forest products. Their main working instrument is axe .Baigas are vegetarian as well as non-veg. they offer chicken & country wine to their god Budhadev.

 

Baigas are divided into…gotra known as… totem. They believe that totem sign will protect them they don’t perform marriage within gotra. Due to poverty they use to wear less cloths. The women put saree which starts from knee & cover breast.

They perform…….Saila, baiga, karma,…gendy etc.

3) Korku:-

Korku is group of Munda tribe. They are found in southern M.P., e.gNimar, Betul, Chhindwaraetc.’ko’ means male .They worship Mahadev and moon.Inkorku’s rich korku are known as  Pothriya. By physical structure they are strong. They have normal height, black skin & border nose. There are 4-types of marriage found in Korku important is  ….Lamjhana- It is form of residential son-in –law system.

 

(4) Banjara :-

 is famous wandering tribe of M.P. Because they move from forest to forest that’s why known as `Banjara’. Head of kabila is Nayak.Banjara claimed their origin from Rajasthan. They are influenced by sikh religion. They worship Guru Nanak. Culturally they are not rich’by…. nature violent,there settlements known as Tandas.They are found of ornaments,but lack cleanliness.

 

(5) Kol :

It belongs to Mundari/Munda which means man .

In Jabalpureknown as …..Gotia. 

Their God is…..Dulhadev,Budadev.They believe on evil sprits,Ghosts.

They perform Manganimarriage,therepunchyats known as ……Gohia there head is Chaudhary.There group of houses known as Kolhantol.

Walter  Gift has written a book-Kol Tribes of central India.

(6)Bhil –

Word "Bhil" is originated from the term Bhillubar, which means bowman.

Bheemsen is considered as chief Devta (Lord) of Bhils.

Bhilalais a branch of Bhils, they adopted Rajputana customs, in this way Status of Bhilalas is considered ……more higher than Bhils.

A detailed discription of Bhils is found in Khathasarit Sagar Grantha of Gunandya .

 In Mahabharat also there is a story of a bhil…..Eklavyawho was a competitor of Arjun, who was possibly equal or better than Arjun, Dornacharya demanded his thumb in the story.

 

"Tadvi Bhil" -Another group of Bhils is "Tadvi Bhil" ,who adopted Islaam religion during time of Emperor Aurangzeb. Impressions of Gujrat and Rajasthani are found in Bhil's language.

 

Another group of Bhils…"Meena" is also lived in Madhya Pradesh, they considered meen or fish as theirs caste Symbol  This tribe is involved in Criminal activities & is considered as ……criminal tribe at some places.

Bhils are divided in "Gotras" They do not perform marriages in common Gotra. Physically they are thin slim and having intermediate height of body.

 

Several marriage types are found in Bhils as …Gharjamai custom, Mangicustom,..Apaharan marriage , Bhagoria marriage.

Bhagoria :Bhagoria is an assembly or  Haat of Bhils during this Bhagoria dance is normally performed in which boys have bow and arrow in their hands and thereafter they run away or escape from  with some girl and marry her.  Robbert Ekka, the only tribe who won Param veer chakra also married with this Bhagoria custom. In this custom marriages can be done by paying less bridal price.

 

GharGhussi- Another marriage type is also there which is..GharGhussimarriage, Bhils normally performed agricultural activities, they also involved in hunting.

 

Bhils also work as labour in Urban areas where they are called as "Mama" .

Bhils generally worships Lord shiva as Mahadev .

 Villages of Bhils are generally widely spreaded .

Goalghaghedcustom is also found in Bhils . This is a type of  marriage(Goal ghaghed means making circles).

 

(7)Bhariya :-

It is regarded as one of branch of Gond. They regard Gond as their elder brother. They originated from Bharut. They derived their name asBhariya.They regard widow re-marriage with Gond widow as their first right.

They belong to colorian group. Their height is average & their body structure is muscular. Their headman is known as Patel.Bhariyas are devided into Gotra. They don’t follow Sangotra marriages, but as an exception, they follow….cross cousin marriages.

 

(8) Sehariya - 

Regarded as only tribe of northern M.P., Probably originated from tiger, i.e.sher that’s why known as Sehariya. The sehariya of Gwalior district has been given the status of most backward tribe of state. In M.P. sehariya live in Bhind, Murena& Shivpuri. Their body…structure  is weak. Their height is average . Their head is known as Patel. They collect forest product. They also sell honey. They perform hunting. They work as labour. Their major gods are Lord sun, moon & fire. They worship nature &Shivji.

 

(9)Meena :-

Meena claims themselves to be originated from meen i.e. fish that’s why their totem sign is fish. They normaly live in western M.P. the meenas of Shironj (district Vidisha) enjoy status of S.T.& the other Meenas come under OBC &fallow tradition of Rajasthan & they speak Braj language. They are regarded as ….criminal tribe.

 

(10) Pardhi :-

Pardhi is term of Marathi language, which means..hunting. In M.P. it is found in Sehore, Raisen. Their main occupation is…… poaching & selling   of wild life.

 

(11)Agarias –

Agariya is one of the major tribes of India engaged in the production of iron especially in Central India and the major population of the Agaria tribe lived in the Mandla, Dindori, Balaghat and Sidhi districts of Madhya Pradesh .

Agarias are traditional iron smelter. Their kiln is very near to their houses.

 

loha-sur, -The deity who presides over their profession is loha-sur, the iron demon, who is supposed to live in the smelting kilns. They worship their smelting, implements on the day of dusshera and during phagun.

'De-notified Tribes'-

The term 'De-notified Tribes' stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British Raj between l87l and I947.

 

51 castes of Madhya Pradesh have been included in the denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. The main problem of these tribes is the lack of permanent housing due to educational backwardness, economic deprivation, and nomadic tendency. Example- ??????, ?????? ??? ????? 

Vimukta Jatis day in India –

31 August is celebrated as Vimukta Jatis day in India/MP. After being Denotified in 1952, about 200 communities were included in Scheduled Tribe (ST), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Other Backward Caste lists because they come from diverse social backgrounds.

Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

-The Government has declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

 

Shifting cultivation in Madhya Pradesh

 

Bewar

Bewar is a term for shifting cultivation in Madhya Pradesh. Shifting agriculture is a common method of crop cultivation among India's indigenous people.

In MP Baiga tribe follow shifting cultivation.

Farmers use the technique, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, to clear land for farming by chopping down vegetation and burning forests and woodlands.

 

Cultural Specialities of Tribes

Already disussed –

 

Marriages in Tribes in MP

 

-Ghotul -inMuriya tribe of Gond.

-DhudhwaLutwa-

in Gond.

-Ata-sata-

Found in areas adjoining Rajasthan .

Ata saata is a system where a family that enters into an alliance of their daughter only when the other family pledges to give them a daughter to be married in their family

-Lamjhana'-

 is the practice of selecting a groom for a son-in-law in the tribes like Gond, Baiga, Korku etc. According to this, a young man is tested for the daughter by keeping her in the house, who can handle the responsibility of the family.

- Natra-

Widow remarriage is found known as Natra, like Bhariyas claim the marriage with gond widow as their first right.

 

Rituals related with funerals :-

In tribes normally the dead bodies are buried, like in Gond. But in Raj gonds dead body is cremated because of impact of Hindus. General funeral is done near the river & ashes are flown in the river.

After death, death feast is given known as ….Nukta, the Bheel makes elevated platform in memory of departed person & they make the shape of camel & horse on it.    

 

 

Other specialties

-There is gender equality as compared to Hindu society but the birth of a male child is always welcomed.

-They believe in animism, god is one .

-Tatooing  on body is found with the name Godna.

 

Trible fairs & festivals

Madai mela. It is famous fair of Gond in Mandla from Jan to April. The…goat is sacrificed in this mela. In this occasion Gonds performs ……Abalttor dance.

 

Rasnewamela,- in Mandla organized by Baigas to venerate…..Nagababa.

 

MeghnathMela:-in Gond, it is fair of Gond. It is regarded as Gond’s principle god.

 

LarukajMela:- It is a fair of Gond, it is to venerate Narayan dev. It  symbolizes the marriage of pig.

 

 

Tribal problems in M.P.

M.P. enjoys largest tribal population of country. The problems of tribes are unlimited because there  difference from main stream is also unlimited.

1) Agro related problem:-No. of tribes of  the state do agriculture by ancient means and to talk about height yielding seeds & irrigation is on apple in the sky as a result their productivity is low. The average size of land holding among the tribes is very low (10 acres) & is not sufficient for subsistence of their family members. There  crops  are kudki, Makka, Jowar etc. which are not so economically important as other food grains.

 

2) Land alienation :- Forest are lifeline of tribes but after freedom, their rights on forests are not respected. As a result, they alienated from their land. The forest officers don’t  allow  tribes to cut fuel wood for their personal use. The tribes are indebted by the local landlords because of socio-economic activities. Such loans are at very high rate of interest & whole life passes in order to repay  the interest where as the principle amount remains  as it is. In such conditions, while receiving of loan they have to keep their land mortgage.

 

3) The govt. policies related with forest :- The  forest polices of govt. in tribal areas are unfriendly. The people who are  living for  generations  in a forest are denied their rights on land.

On govt. waste land developmentprogram . In the 44^th parliamentary committees on SC & ST under Bramhadev Sharma, has expressed, the waste land development  programme Of govt are a conspiracy

against the ST & poor because whenever land is given for plantation by industrialist or by anyone the end result is destruction because  in the name of plantation teak is planted which neither provide proper shadow nor support the animal fodder & after some year the whole teak plantation  gulliotined  the area.

Recently, by the parliament act, govt. has taken some reformatory steps & if the tribal community is living in a forest from 3 generations or 75 years, will enjoy theownership rights over the forest area.

 

4) Problem related with tribal women:- Normally there is a perception in tribal areas that position of women is respectable, there is no gender discrimination. In tribal areas the sex-ratio is  respectable .But actually there are problems related with women. There is over whelming ……..illiteracy ,mal nutrition among women .Thus  gender sensitive approach should be taken.

 

5) The problem of tribal language & literature. The dialect of community is the soul of community. But in M.P., the tribes are gradually losing their dialects & literature. After freedom there were 84 tribal languages but now there are just 19. The tribal literature is also at the death bed.

 

6)  The tribal rehabilitation:- Usually at the pretext of big hydro schemes, industrial townships, power projects the tribal areas are acquired by the government with a promise alternative rehabilitation program of tribes. But such promises are often  fallowed.

 

7) Criminalization:- Since their means of subsistence is limited because of limited forest, so , they are engaged in criminal activities.

The pardhi tribe of M.P. is engaged in poaching .

Meenas are also engaged in loot, theft.

The Banjara tribes also create a problem of loot, theft etc.

 

8) Prostitution:- Tribal women because of  money , tradition adopt this  profession like Bedia tribe

 

9)  Problem related with health & nutrition support :- because of cutting of forests means are limited for food & nutrition , proper safe drinking water isn’t available.

 

10) The reservation policy:-Constitution provides reservation to the tribes but its advantage is taken by the creamy layer tribe.

 

11. The problem of Pseudo tribalisation– for the sake of reservation and benefits, many non- tribes by hook and  crook get the certificates of tribes.

 

12) The problem of tribal leader - Before freedom the tribal leadership was natural leadership, they were aware with the tribal problems, because they were ordinary tribes. But after independence  the political leadership is evolved  with a   motto  to get the votes rather than development of tribes.

 

13) ‘Naxalism  :- the Naxalism is orignated in 1966-67 from Naxalwarvillage of the Bengal. In 1967,  a landless labourBighal kisan was made owner of land, but when he went for possession for land he was physically beaten by landlords. Bighalkisan  organized oppressed landless labour&  revenged fromLandlords. Communist leader Charu Mazumdar & Kanu Sanyal supported &Naxalism began.

Structure of Naxalism

Naxalism in M.P. is tribal naxalism. It’s  PWG(Peoples war Group) by Konda pillaiSitarammaiya. It entered from Southern M.P. Now it is spreaded in Balaghat, Mandla etc. There is following structure -

 

A) Central committee :- Chairman-Sitarammaiya it is divided into 3 divisions-

(a) Urban division, (b) Rural division (c) Forest division.

 

B) Provincial Committee:-

 

C) District Committee:- The naxalite has two groups at district level-

(i)  Dalam :- It is underground group, they are responsible for whole execution. There head is commander who has AK-47 or 56. There are some women in it. Apart from preparing food they also work for their entertainment. The dalam is trained in Gurrila  warfare. The members of dalam are known as NakchareorVanchare. They organize the people’s court.

 

(ii) Sangam:- Their external structure is known as sangam. The members of sangam live among people. They may be in the form of leader, journalist or may be in any other form. Members of sangam send information to dalam.

 Techniques

1)  To survey the areas & to search hide outs & target ……like minded people.

2) To Demoralized the police, took help of explosives & to keep an impact on public.

3)  To make Naxalism as people’s movement .

4) Try to capture the power.

 

There are following demands of Naxalites

1)Better wages to labour.  2) Better execution of land reform.  3) To enhance literacy.4) Irrigation projects.  

5) Remunerative minimum support prices. 6) To make available fertilizers, seeds at remunerative prices.

 

 

Programmes for welfare of ST/SC

Introduction-In M.P. the Dept. Of tribal welfare is nodal agency for tribal development in M.P. For this, M.P. Adivasi vitta &vikas Nigam (Tribal Finance & Development Corporation) is established.

 

Major schemes for their develpment

1)  Kanya Shiksha Parisar:-Provides better opportunities for tribal girls , in the field of engineering, Medical, UPSC, PSC & sub-sector.

2)  Centre for excellence hostel scheme:-For special studies  .

3) Ashram Shala:-It is a tribal boarding schools for students for  Class 1^st to 8^th.

4) Arrival allowances in post metric hostels :- After post metric  tribal students get arrival allowance to buy saucer, bowls , pillow, bed sheets, glass etc.

5) The merit scholarship scheme :- Get scholarship after coming in merit.

6) Scholarship for abroad:- To study abroad for their P.G., Ph.D., Post M.D. etc. Five SC/ST students get scholarship every year.

7) Girl child literacy promotion Program:- Child taking admission in 9th gets lump sum support of Rs 1000=00.

8)Reparation  of exam fee:- Exam fees paid for board exam & professional exams, reparation is done by tribal department.

9) Scheme to provide free of cost text books:- Primary & middle level.

10) Book bank scheme :- For graduate and post graduate level. For professional, technical education. In graduation, 1 set is given for 2 students. In PG, 1 set  per student is given.

11) The free uniform distribution scheme :-For Girl child for class 1^st to 5^th.

12) Computer based office mgmt. training scheme:-for youth for providing training in field of office management So that their employment can be ensured. Managed by organization based on Indo-German corporation  name is CRISP.

13) Financial aid for law graduates:-On the recommendations for bar-association, get aid of Rs. 200/- month.

14 Margin money scheme:- Tribal entrepreneur interested to take loan but  is unable to pay the margin money is provided margin money by the dept.

15) Tribal women empowerment:-Social, economic, educational development .To make them above poverty line., to make them loans easily available e.g. finance for following trades-incense stick making, bakery, health centers, book binding ,plantation of medicine, dairy, dhaba etc.

16) Loan facility to the association/society of physically challenged - Loans upto 25 Lakh.

17) Auxiliary nurse motivation scheme:-A.N. responsible for safe delivery gets the incentives and training.

18) Vocational scheme of tailoring for Bachhda, Bedni, sansi tribes. To take out them from customary prostitution. Their alternative rehabilitation by giving training. During training incentive money of Rs. 260/- is given.

19)  Mass marriage scheme:-To contribute economic help, aware against unnecessary expenditure in marriages.

20) Intra-cast marriage for Bachhda, &Bediatribe:- Youth of above tribe is married to girl of same tribe given a cash of Rs 10,000/- & a certificate.

21) S.T.  atrocities prevention act 1989:- Apex parliamentary act  1989, applicable in M.P. In case of proven atrocities there may be imprisonment from 6 months-5years.

22) Special courts- Establishment of fast track special courts to entertain matters of atrocities against ST:-

23) ST/SC contingency scheme-1995:- To provide contingency help due to their poverty or other reasons. They are given direct benefit of Rs. 10,000/-. If sum is more than their account is opened in nearby post office.

AdivaasiVanadhikarpatra in MP

Why in News?

In MP 2.70 Lakh personalVanadhikarpatra& 36.996 thousand  communityVanadhikarpatra are distributed in MP  .

Under which act such rights are given ?

The Forest act-2006 recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in Forest land in forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD)who have been residing in such forests for generations.

The current title deeds to Adivassis  in MP are given under the above act.

What is Forest Act-2006?

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, is a key piece of forest legislation passed in India on 18 December 2006.

 It has also been called the Forest Rights Act, the Tribal Rights Act,  and the Tribal Land Act.

The law concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities to land and other resources, denied to them over decades as a result of the continuance of colonial forest laws in India.

Any member or community who has for at least three generations (75 years) prior to the 13th day of December, 2005 primarily resided in forests land for bona fide livelihood needs.

The Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) or Community Forest Rights (CFR) or both that may be given to FDST and OTFD

 

The Act was notified into force on 31 December 2007 .

On 1 January 2008, this was followed by the notification of the Rules framed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to supplement the procedural aspects of the Act .

Forest Act-2019-

What is the decision of SC in 2019 regarding Forest Act-2006

On February 13th 2019, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Arun Mishra issued an extremely important order to ensure protection of forests, which have been severely affected due to ineligible/bogus claimants under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

 Such claimants continue to occupy a huge area of forestland, including within National Parks and Sanctuaries, even though their claims have been rejected after due verification and an appeals process.

What are challenges in implementation?

- Lack of awarenessat the Lower level of forest officials who are supposed to help process forest rights claims is high and majority of the aggrieved population too remains in the dark regarding their rights.

-Implementation of the act remains the biggest challenge as acts related to the environment are not entirely compliant with the law, illegal encroachments have happened as much as that claims have been unfairly rejected.

-Environmentalist raise the concern that FRA bend more in the favour of individual rights, giving lesser scope for community rights.

Way Forward

-Large-scale awareness and information dissemination campaigns are required at local level informing both tribal and lower level officials.

-It is important to develop a detailed strategy of training and capacity building of people responsible for implementing the FRA, such as Panchayats, Gram Sabha, village level Forest Rights committee etc.

Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas

The Government has declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas dedicated to the memory of brave tribal freedom fighters so that coming generations can know about their sacrifices for the country.

The date is the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda who is revered as Bhagwan by tribal communities across the country.

 

At the 'Janjatiya Gaurav DiwasMahasammelan' at Jamburi Maidan in Bhopal, Prime Minister Modi had launch the 'Ration Aapke Gram' scheme in Madhya Pradesh.

 

Madhya Pradesh notifies PESA Act-November -2023

Madhya Pradesh has notified its PESA Rules on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas on 15th November, 2022.

 At the State Level Janjatiya Gaurav Divas Sammelan at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, Governor of Madhya Pradesh Shri Mangubhai Patel handed over the first copy of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA Act) Manual to the President of India Smt. DroupadiMurmu.

PESA-Features-

State Legislatures have been empowered to frame all laws concerning the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats in Fifth Scheduled Areas, subject to such exceptions and modifications as are provided in section 4 of the Act.

- Article 243M – Part 9 of Indian Constitution- Part not to apply to certain areas.

(1) Nothing in this Part shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas referred to in clause (2), of article 244.(2) Nothing in this Part shall apply to—(a) the States of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram;

-The Bhuria Committee recommendations in 1995, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act 1996 came into existence for ensuring tribal self-rule for people living in scheduled areas of India.

What will be the impact of PESA in MP?

-The PESA Act,  in Madhya Pradesh, will empower the Gram Sabhas to take decision on the rules and regulations with regard to all natural resources in the forest areas.

The Act will give more constitutional rights to the tribal people to reap the benefits of natural resources from the forest areas where they live.

-The new PESA Rules made for the scheduled areas in Madhya Pradesh will be effective in empowering the lives of tribal communities and giving the tribals their rights.

Mandla: First ‘functionally literate’ district

 

Tribal-dominated Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh has become the first completely “functionally literate” district of India. During 2011 survey, literacy rate in Mandla district was 68%.

 Another report of 2020 highlights that, more than 2.25 lakh people in this district were not literate, most of them were tribals from forest areas.

To make people functionally literate, a major campaign was launched on Independence Day 2020, in association with the school education department, anganwadi& social workers, women and child development department, to educate women and senior citizens.

Functional Literacy:

A person is called functionally literate when he or she is able to write his or her own name, count and read & write in Hindi or in language other than the predominant language.

Functional illiteracy comprises of reading and writing skills that are required to manage daily living and employment tasks.

Tantya Bhil - the “Indian Robin Hood”

In November 2021, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh announced that the Patalpani Railway Station in Indore will be renamed after Tantya Bhil, also known as the “Indian Robin Hood”.

Tantya Bhil, who belonged to the Bhil tribe, was born in 1840 in Badada village under East Nimar, now known as Khandwa, in Madhya Pradesh

Tantya is hailed as one of the revolutionaries who waged an armed struggle against British rule for 12 years. He used to plunder the treasuries of the British government and the wealth of their followers to distribute it among the poor and needy.

‘Raja Sangram Shah Award’-

Madhya Pradesh has announced to create ‘Raja Sangram Shah Award’ for work in the field of tribal art and culture.

Sangram Shah was a king of the Garha Kingdom of Gondwana, in the state of Madhya Pradesh. He belonged to the Gond Dynasty in central India.

He was never defeated in his whole life. His initial name was Aman Das and after conquering 52 forts, he later renamed himself.

Sangram Shah was best known as a patron of arts and literature and he had great knowledge of Sanskrit. "Rasratnamala" was written by him.

His eldest son, Dalpat Shah, married Rani Durgawati.

 

Role of tribes of Madhya Pradesh in Environmental Conservation

 

Tribal communities constitute around 21% of the population of MP with 46 recognized Schedule Tribes living in the stretches between Narmada River to the north and Godavari River to the southeast.

 These communities have accumulated indigenous knowledge on agriculture and cohabiting that have little consequence on the forest ecosystems. 

 

-Sustainable agriculture practices

The tribes play a role in sustainable agriculture practices of wet rice cultivation .

Soil fertility is maintained by organic wastes and the recycling of crop residues.

Sustainable agriculture is defined as engaging in farming practices that promote long-term food and livestock production while minimizing negative effects on the environment.

Tribes often follow mixed cropping system wherein several types of crops are grown simultaneously in a specific area. This prevents overexploitation of the water table and soil nutrients as different crops have different requirements and in addition, prevents soil erosion. 

Utera farming-The Gond, Pradhan, and Baiga communities of Madhya Pradesh undertake Utera farming, a method where the next seeds are sown in paddy fields before the primary crops are harvested to make use of the existing moisture from the soil before the land dries up.

Badi cropping system-These communities also follow the Badi cropping system in which fruit crops and trees are planted along the periphery serving as a barricade from droughts and heavy rains while preventing soil erosion.

Mulching(a covering (as of straw or sawdust) spread over the ground to protect the roots of plants from heat, cold, or evaporation, prevent soil loss, control weeds, enrich the soil,), burning of leaves for residue, and retainment of roots and stumps allow for soil fertility and nutrient cycling    

-Wildlife Protection

Native animal populations are protected . The community head lays down rules on hunting and extraction, nonadherence to which can lead to penalties.

Tribal communities often employ totems and religious beliefs that restrict the culling of animals and certain plants.

Example of Totem may be tigers, sparrows, and pangolins ….are believed to be well-wishers of humankind and hence are not hunted.

-Specie preservation -

Likewise, it is believed that cutting down banyan trees can lead to famine and death. This ultimately helps in specie preservation. Such belives help preserve the local flora and fauna.

-Sacred groves

The  tribes have  extensive knowledge about the ethnomedicinal plants . To protect them, tribal communities have developed patches of forest termed sacred groves for folk deities. 

In Madhya Pradesh Sharana, Devkot, Matikot, Devsthali, Budhadev are the local names used for the sacred groves in M.P.

 Sacred groves in Jhabua and Alirajpur districts shelter rare, endangered and threatened species of plants.. 

-Fishing

Tribal communities employ more sustainable techniques for fishing withut using the pesticides.. For example, tribes can create obstructions in streams by using bamboos, stones, coir, and tree branches in which fishes get trapped and are then collected and distributed amongst the communities.

Fishes caught are inspected and juvenile fishes are released back into the stream. This practice is carried out during the winter months to prevent people from fishing during the breeding season. In this manner, fish populations are kept intact while local needs are fulfilled.

 The Biodiversity Act, 2002 mentions about the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use and knowledge of biological resources with the local communities.
 

Therefore, all the stakeholders should realise that indigenous people’s traditional knowledge is a way forward for more effective conservation of biodiversity.

Tribals, The Forest Scientists: 

Tribal peoples are generally regarded as the best conservationists, as they connect with nature more spiritually.

As the Tribes are integral to Biodiversity conservation ,MAB (Man &Biosphere)  a sense of respect needs to be developed for the Adivassi people .