26.

What are the factors behind the assertion of tribal identities today?

These are the factors behind the assertion of tribal identities today:

(i) Schemes for tribal development are being implemented. These are five-year plans, tribal sub-plans, tribal welfare blocks, special multipurpose area schemes etc.

(ii) Tribal movements against their eviction and extermination from the forest lands in the name of development are the major factors behind the assertion of tribal identities. Narmada Bachao Andolan is one of the examples of tribal movements.

(iii) Many tribal identities today are centred on ideas of resistance and opposition to the overwhelming force of the non-tribal world.

(iv) Many states in North-East including Manipur or Nagaland are with tribals whose civil liberties have been limited under special laws in which they have been declared as disturbed areas. State repression is provoking rebellions which have taken a heavy toll on the economy, culture and society of the North-Eastern States.

(v) In states like Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, tribals still are powerless because autonomy is not given to larger structures.

(vi) The educated middle class is emerging among tribal communities. Thus, different base is growing for the assertion of tribal identity