The traditional livelihoods of India’s tribal communities have historically been aligned with their natural surroundings, aimed at meeting basic subsistence needs. However, as modernization and industrialization encroach upon their territories, tribal populations have been increasingly forced to enter the formal job market. Unfortunately, they often face severe unemployment and underemployment, compounded by displacement, lack of skills, and exploitation.
Key Statistics
According to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Report 2017:
- 80% of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) workforce is engaged in the primary sector (mainly agriculture), with 44% employed as agricultural laborers.
- 21% of ST households rely on casual labor, the highest among all social groups in India.
- ST households have the lowest annual income, earning less than half of what the general population earns on average.
Current Occupational Patterns of Tribals in India
- Agricultural Sector: Most tribals work as cultivators, marginal farmers, or agricultural laborers.
- Industrial Sector: Only a small fraction is employed as factory laborers.
- Artisanal Work: Tribes such as the Toda in Tamil Nadu are cattle herders, while the Mahali of West Bengal, Asur, and Agaria of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are engaged in traditional crafts such as iron smelting and blacksmithing.
- Migrant Labor: Increasingly, tribals are being pushed into migrant labor, working in construction, brick kilns, and agricultural labor in states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
- Government and Professional Jobs: A limited number of educated tribals work as government employees or professionals such as doctors and teachers.
Causes of Unemployment and Underemployment
1. Low Awareness About Rights
Many tribals are unaware of their constitutional and legal rights, making them vulnerable to exploitation in the job market.
2. Exploitation by Outsiders
Tribals are often exploited by non-tribal employers or moneylenders who take advantage of their ignorance and economic vulnerability.
3. Indebtedness and Poverty
Persistent poverty and indebtedness force many tribals into low-paying jobs or exploitative labor conditions, where they work for meager wages.
4. Poor Agricultural Productivity
Due to traditional methods and lack of modern techniques, tribal agricultural productivity is low, leading to economic stress and unemployment.
5. Land Alienation
Tribal lands are frequently taken for development projects, displacing the original inhabitants without adequate rehabilitation or compensation, leaving them landless and jobless.
6. Low Literacy and Skill Levels
The majority of tribals have low literacy rates and lack marketable skills, limiting their employment opportunities in higher-paying jobs or the industrial sector.
7. Displacement Due to Industrialization
The influx of industrialization and urbanization has led to the displacement of tribals from their land and traditional livelihoods, forcing them into unemployment or underemployment.
Case Study: Bikash Singh, 2018
In Assam, the tea tribes—a tribal community of around 60 lakhs—live in tea estates under poor working conditions. Collecting 25 kilograms of tea leaves in eight hours, they earn a daily wage of Rs. 145 to Rs. 167, which is far below the Rs. 350 they demand. This leaves them trapped in poverty and underemployment, with no provision of basic amenities like drinking water.
Problems of Migrant Laborers
Reasons for Migration
Many tribals are forced into migrant labor due to:
- Poverty and indebtedness
- Land alienation
- Lack of employment opportunities in their areas of domicile
- Educational backwardness
- Industrialization in tribal areas that fails to provide jobs for the local population
- The inability to cope with the socio-economic and cultural impacts of urbanization
Exploitation of Migrant Tribal Laborers
- Low Wages: Many migrant tribal laborers are not paid minimum wages.
- Harassment: They face physical, mental, and sexual exploitation, especially women.
- Inhumane Working Conditions: They work in unhygienic, unsafe environments, often in bondage.
- Lack of Basic Facilities: There are no provisions for medical care, childcare, or safety, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation.
Bonded Labor Among Tribals
Reasons for Bonded Labor
- Poverty and indebtedness
- Land alienation
- Lack of legal protection and administrative apathy
- Educational backwardness and exploitation of their simplicity and innocence
Extent of the Problem
According to the Planning Commission’s Programme Evaluation Organization, 83% of bonded laborers in India belong to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with a higher incidence in states with feudal backgrounds like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Government Protection for Bonded Laborers
- Article 23 of the Indian Constitution prohibits bonded labor.
- The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 abolished the bonded labor system.
- A centrally sponsored scheme for the rehabilitation of bonded laborers provides support such as land allotment, ploughs, bullocks, seeds, and skills training.
Government Efforts
Interstate Migrant Workmen Act, 1979
This law regulates the employment and conditions of service for interstate migrant workers but is poorly implemented.
MGNREGS
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme targets rural and tribal jobless people, providing 100 days of guaranteed work.
National Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Finance Development Corporation
This corporation supports the identification of trades, businesses, and professions for tribals and provides financial assistance to raise their income levels.
Vocational Training in Tribal Areas
Vocational training programs have been initiated to improve the employability of tribals in both traditional and non-traditional sectors.
Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP)
A mechanism has been set up for marketing Minor Forest Produce through Minimum Support Prices to ensure fair wages for tribals engaged in forest produce collection.
Recommendations
Organization of Tribals into Cooperatives
Self-help groups and cooperatives should be formed to collectively market tribal products and generate employment.
Employment Generation
Promote agro-based and labor-intensive industries that align with tribal traditions and local resources.
Promotion of Organic Farming and Eco-Forestry
Farming methods like organic farming and eco-forestry should be promoted, which are sustainable and aligned with the tribal way of life. For instance, in Koraput district, Odisha, the Porja tribe received support for organic farming, resulting in increased yields and agricultural income.
TRIFED Expansion
The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) should expand its Tribe India brand to market tribal products on a larger scale, creating more employment opportunities for tribal communities.
Fulfillment of Reserved Job Vacancies
All reserved vacancies for STs in the public sector should be filled, providing stable employment opportunities for educated tribals.
Strict Regulation of Moneylending
There should be firm action against exploitation by moneylenders in tribal areas. Tribals often fall into debt traps due to high-interest loans and lack of access to institutional credit. Strict regulation and monitoring of moneylending practices can help prevent land alienation and bonded labor.
Recognition of Tribal Rights
The Forest Rights Act, 2006 should be implemented effectively to recognize the rights of tribals over land and forest produce. This will enable tribals to maintain their traditional livelihoods and avoid being displaced from their land.
Prevention of Illegal Land Alienation
Land alienation is a major cause of both unemployment and underemployment among tribal communities. Strict enforcement of laws to prevent the illegal acquisition of tribal lands is necessary to protect their economic security.
Conclusion
Addressing the problems of unemployment and underemployment among tribals requires tribal-centric employment generation programs that leverage their traditional skills and resources. Promoting self-employment opportunities, strengthening cooperative institutions, and ensuring fair access to jobs in the public and private sectors can significantly reduce unemployment among tribals. Additionally, recognition of tribal rights over land and resources, combined with stringent regulation of exploitative practices like bonded labor, can protect tribal communities from poverty and displacement.
In the end, adequate state support, combined with respect for tribal autonomy and self-employment potential, is crucial to solving the employment-related woes of tribals in India. Empowering them economically through education, vocational training, and fair employment opportunities will pave the way for their social and economic development.
- Discuss the impact of land alienation and displacement on unemployment and underemployment among tribal communities in India. (250 words)
- Analyze the role of vocational training and skill development programs in reducing underemployment among tribals. (250 words)
- Evaluate the effectiveness of government schemes like MGNREGS and the Forest Rights Act in addressing employment challenges in tribal areas. (250 words)
Responses