Education definitely a great uplifter of tribals

The tribals are said to be autochthonous people of the land as per studies. They are called ‘indigenous’ or ‘adivasis’. They have got their own traditions and customs and are rich with their cultural heritage. Self-respect and trust are integral part of their culture.

“A great deal of things can be learnt from their culture,” says Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. They are rich in every respect except in terms of wealth. They are being alienated from their land in the name of development. Whenever there is a project, it is the tribals who will be displaced. Mere compensations won’t serve the purpose. They require more support and succor from the governments.

The tribals have been marginalised and downtrodden for generations. They have been deprived of everything. They have been kept away from the so-called civilised world. As a result, they have become backward. The root cause of their backwardness lies in their illiteracy which leads to their getting exploited easily by landlords or even non-tribals. Mere literacy is not enough.

It is education that emancipates them from all these evils and empowers them. Technology is still a sour grape for them. The Articles 15 (4) and 46 of the Indian Constitution strongly stand for tribal education.

While providing all facilities to their students, even the parents should be given some incentives for sending their children to schools. Here the language may be a barrier and the people who know their languages may be encouraged and posted in such areas.

Textbooks have to be prepared in their native languages and success stories of tribal officials, tribal leaders and tribal festivities should be incorporated in them to make the contents more interesting for the tribal children. Their festivals should be celebrated in the institutions to attract the students.

Of course, the tribal welfare residential institutions have been established and they have changed the scenario to a considerable extent. An exclusive BEd college for the STs of agency area has been running at Bhadrachalam in the erstwhile Khammam district for nearly two decades and it has produced many teachers.

Hundreds of IITians, NITians, doctors and other professionals have been produced through excellence centres. They proved their mettle in studies as well as their professions. It’s our duty to support them at every moment.

The tribals are good at some skills. The authorities will have to study those, and try to encourage them in those skills. The youth generally have good physique and such people can be trained in sports and games. They will definitely win Olympic medals for India. Last year a tribal student conquered the Mt. Everest and some other tribal students scaled the Mt Renok.

Many a great personality rendered extremely valuable service for the development of these sections. Dr B D Sharma, IAS, the first Chairman of the National SC&ST Commission fought for their rights till his last breath. S R Shankaran, IAS, who strove hard for their development, is also a rare example of people’s officers.

Prof Alok Sagar, the teacher of Raghuram Rajan, the former RBI Governor, still lives amidst the tribals in the forests is straining every sinew of his for their uplift. We should emulate the ways of such eminent and rare officials to develop these alienated communities.

By Sriramakavacham S K