Primitive Tribes (PVTGs) Of Central India Then And Now

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Dr. S.N. Chaudhary, Professor of Sociology and Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences is also Rajiv Gandhi Chair Professor at Barkatullah University, Bhopal. He has been a fellow of the A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna, Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Shimla and SMH, Paris. He has conducted field work among Red Indians in British Columbia (Canada). Dr. Chaudhary has completed 28 research projects and has published over 31 books and 63 research papers. Currently, he is working on Social Status of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Tribal Youth, Tribal Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities among Tribes and Tribal Livelihood.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are more backward and under-developed in comparison to other tribes in terms of their socio-economic and health status. Over the time various institutional and voluntary efforts have been made for their upliftment. Their exposures to outside world have also increased over the period. Articles covered in this volume make attempt to examine impact of these initiatives on their status from human rights and social justice point of view. Attempts have been made to present comprehensive picture of their condition with the help of both "Book View" and "Field View". The book will be quite useful for planners, researchers and change agents working in the area of tribal development.

This edited volume has huge contemporary relevance in understanding the tribal situation of Central India with reference to PVTG who spread across the regional boundaries of India. In fact, Prof. Surajit Sinha and B.D. Sharma's seminal book titled Primitive Tribes: The First Step published by Government of India in 1977, has brought this segment of Indian tribes into focus leading to state's special intervention through tribal development policy which is perceived as Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) which became effective since Fifth Five Year Plan. Since then there are multiple publications dealing with the PTGs which was reframed as PVTG in order to shade off the conceptual negativity which was embedded within the word 'Primitive'. This precious volume with seventeen contributions is the latest addition for understanding as well as examining the existing status of such vulnerable tribes by engaging anthropologist, sociologist and other social scientists. This volume deserves special appreciation as the contributors collectively focussed on various crucial issues like education, health, economy or livelihood patterns which may provide much deeper insights to our policy-makers and various agencies to reassess the impact of developmental initiatives on this marginalised segment of Indian tribes who also deserves equal rights or privileges which our Constitution enshrined while formulating tribal development policy in post-colonial era. Of course, a few cases studies are incorporated from eastern India to reflect on some crucial domains leading to some sociological constraints which need urgent attention so that the PVTG can also lead a sustainable livelihood pattern which our nation must ensure.

Adivasis constitutionally known as Scheduled Tribes constitute slightly more than 8.2 per cent population in the country. It is claimed that their social and economic condition is not upto the mark. Historically, inspite of various efforts significant number of tribes have moved towards insecurity and deprivation zone. But the condition of primitive tribes, now known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGS) is more pitiable and vulnerable. After identifying some objective parameters these groups were termed as primitive tribes. There are seventy-five tribes across the country who are PVTGS. Various efforts have been made to improve their quality of life and standard of living. But inspite of these initiatives they are still at the critical stage. Why it is so? What are the factors and conditions, both local and outside, which works as inhibiting factors for their development? Why it is so that even civil societies are not fruitful and functional for them upto the desired level? What effort needs to be taken for their holistic development in a sustainable manner? These are some of the pertinent issues which need introspection for academic and policy perspective. For this purpose in mind RG Chair organized a national seminar during May 29-30, 2015 in collaboration with Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), Kolkata. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi also provided partial financial support to organize the seminar.

Present volume is an outcome of the above seminar. Several papers were re-submitted after needful revision, but logistically only 16 papers are included in this volume.

I am extremely thankful to ASI, Kolkata and ICSSR, New Delhi for their kind support and needful help. I am also obliged and thankful to university administration particularly Vice-Chancellor Dr. M.D. Tiwari for his guidance and cooperation at all levels.

Prof. Jagannath Dash and Prof. S.N. Ratha delivered Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture. Revised version of their presentation is published in this volume. We are obliged and thankful to Prof. Dash and Prof. Ratha. Prof. M.N. Karna delivered keynote address and Prof. K.G. Iyer delivered valedictory address. Presentation of Prof. Karna could not be included in this volume. We are also thankful and obliged to Prof. Kama and Prof. Iyer. I am extremely thankful to all the scholars who participated in the seminar, particularly those who responded to our request and provided their articles in time after needful revision for its inclusion in the present volume. Paper of Sajal Samadder although deals with PVTG of outside Central India, but it has been incorporated in the volume to get an idea about the quality of life of PVTG elsewhere for comparative comprehension.

I am also obliged and thankful to Professor Sarit K. Chaudhari, who inspite of his busy schedule kindly wrote foreword of this volume.

Last but not the least, all the academic staffs of RG Chair needs appreciation and acknowledgement for their help and hard work in both organization of the seminar as well as preparation of this volume for its publication.

**Contents and Sample Pages**