{"id":16847,"date":"2023-08-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/01-08-2023\/preserving-tribal-culture\/"},"modified":"2023-08-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T00:00:00","slug":"preserving-tribal-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/01-08-2023\/preserving-tribal-culture","title":{"rendered":"Preserving Tribal Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Preserving Tribal Culture<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
Syllabus: GS2\/Government Policies & Interventions<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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The <\/span><\/span><\/span>vision of inclusive growth and community-led development<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is not an idea but an <\/span><\/span><\/span>actionable strategy for Odisha <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>in its <\/span><\/span><\/span>5T <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>(transparency, technology, teamwork, time-limit, leading to transformation)-driven development model.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Tribal population in India\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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India comprises <\/span><\/span><\/span>8.6% tribal population,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has access to an <\/span><\/span><\/span>enormous indigenous knowledge <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>which through<\/span><\/span><\/span> recognition, adoption, and mainstreaming<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> has the potential to provide sustainable solutions to concerns related to falling <\/span><\/span><\/span>agricultural productivity and soil quality, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, pollution, and Climate Change challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About Tribal Culture<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Communal living:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Many tribal communities in India have a strong emphasis on communal living and sharing resources. They live in close-knit communities and often make decisions collectively.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Connection with nature:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Tribals have a strong connection with nature, with traditional beliefs and practices that revolve around the forests and animals.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Self-Sufficiency:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Tribe is a synonym for a self-reliant community, a tribe is a relatively closed society and its openness is inversely related to the extent of its self-sufficient pursuits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Spiritual beliefs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Tribals often have their own unique spiritual beliefs, which may involve the worship of ancestors, nature spirits, or deities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Folk arts and crafts:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Tribals are known for their unique art forms, including pottery, weaving, and jewellery making. These crafts often have spiritual or cultural significance and are passed down through generations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government initiatives to conserve tribal culture<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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TRIFED’s Initiatives For Tribal Population<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\n
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Sankalp Se Siddhi \u2013 Mission Van Dhan:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> The Government plans to establish 50,000 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras, 3000 Haat Bazaars, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Institutional Support for Development & Marketing of Tribal Products<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> \/ Produce (Central Sector Scheme)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Tribes India Outlets: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>The outlets will showcase tribal products from all over the country and the outlets will have a specific geographical indication (GI) and Vandhan corners.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The scheme covers activities like housing, land distribution, land development, agricultural development, animal husbandry, construction of link roads, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Support to <\/span><\/span><\/span>Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and Tribal Festivals, Research Information, and Mass Education.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Scholarships <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>for pre-matric, post-matric, and overseas education\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Support to <\/span><\/span><\/span>National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Vocational Training <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>in Tribal Areas.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The aim of the Scheme is<\/span><\/span><\/span> to develop the skills of the ST youth<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> for a variety of jobs as well as self-employment and to improve their socio-economic condition by enhancing their income.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The mechanism for Marketing of<\/span><\/span><\/span> Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through (MSP) <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>and Development of a Value Chain for MFP\u2019 as a measure of social safety for MFP gatherers (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Issues & challenges<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Loss of culture:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The<\/span><\/span><\/span> identity of tribal communities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> is rooted in their culture. Its uniqueness lies in the unbreakable bond between the community and nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
As societies embrace modernised development, the richness, diversity, and depth of tribal cultures tend to fade away.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
They tend to get overshadowed by the homogeneity of globalised norms.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Development vs cultural preservation:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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While the Central government has introduced several developmental projects for tribal people, it has a <\/span><\/span><\/span>one-size-fits-all approach <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>that divorces tribal development from tribal cultures.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Even in schemes such as the <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aspirational Districts Programme<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, the focus is exclusively on development-driven indicators; the cultural and societal contexts of those districts are sidelined.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Odisha\u2019s Special Development Councils (SDCs) initiative\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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In a significant move towards<\/span><\/span><\/span> preserving, promoting, and popularising tribal culture <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>while also continuing with the development process, the Odisha government launched the Special Development Councils (SDCs) initiative in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
This is an <\/span><\/span><\/span>active effort to preserve the culture and heritage of 62 tribes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the State under one umbrella while keeping economic development on course in the regions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The scheme, which <\/span><\/span><\/span>covered nine tribal-dominated districts<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span>60 lakh tribal households in 117 blocks<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>, has now been expanded to 23 districts covering more than 84 lakh tribal people.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
SDC\u2019s model: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>In this model, important cultural markers that are a reflection of tribal identity are identified and promoted.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Language:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Language is recognised as an important marker of culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
As Odisha is a land of over 22 diverse tribal languages, the focus is on the use and propagation of these languages.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Over 21 tribal proficiency centres have been established.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
These have modules to educate frontline workers like ASHA workers and non-Odia speakers about tribal culture and dialect.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Sacred Groves:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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More than 4,500 sacred groves that were close to vanishing from the village landscape are now being conserved.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
These groves hold immense cultural and conservational value for the tribal population, as they are considered to be inhabited by the gods. Resource extraction in these groves is strictly prohibited.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
More than 4,730 sacred groves are under protection in nine districts, and 1,609 tribal cultural clubs have been set up.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Artisan ID cards<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Artisan ID cards have been issued to over 40,000 tribal artisans.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
This initiative not only preserves culture, but also enables employment opportunities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Tribal Resource Centres:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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To ensure an efficient transfer of knowledge, more than 50 Tribal Resource Centres have been constructed in Sundargarh district. More are coming up in the remaining districts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Preserving all the tribes:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The SDC model also helps to preserve the culture and tradition of small tribal groups by giving them a role in decision-making processes. Thus, it takes care of intra-tribal majoritarianism.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Councils not only have people from major tribes, but also the PVTGs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
True representation:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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The Boards are formed under the chairmanship of an eminent tribal person of the locality.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The Council consists of the chairperson, vice chairperson (where one among the two has to be a female), and members from various tribal groups nominated by the government. This makes the bodies truly representative of the community.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Odisha\u2019s model of culture-sensitive and culture-inclusive tribal development is here to stay.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
It is about time that the Central government also takes inspiration for its tribal sub-plans and district\/nodal plans from this model in other tribal-dominated States such as Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, and in the north-east so that they can benefit from this.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Daily Mains Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
[Q]<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> What are the important Tribal cultural markers in India? What is the significance of culture-sensitive and culture-inclusive tribal development in India?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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Preserving Tribal Culture Syllabus: GS2\/Government Policies & Interventions In News The vision of inclusive growth and community-led development is not an idea but an actionable strategy for Odisha in its 5T (transparency, technology, teamwork, time-limit, leading to transformation)-driven development model.\u00a0 Tribal population in India\u00a0 India comprises 8.6% tribal population, has access to an enormous indigenous […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-16847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-thehindu"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/09\/1120168images.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}