A Multifaceted Approach to Uplifting Tribal Communities: A Viewpoint of Tribes through Empowerment and Development
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ijsrd.v2i1.3744Keywords:
Empowerment, Multi-Pronged Approach, Land and livelihood Management, Sustainable Development, Women's EmpowermentAbstract
Tribal communities face marginalization and limited access to necessities and economic opportunities. This research proposes a multi-pronged development approach to empower these communities. It emphasizes education (including culturally sensitive early childhood programs and skill development), women’s empowerment (through promoting gender equality and economic independence), and sustainable land and livelihood practices. Additionally, it explores fostering economic development by supporting traditional livelihoods and micro and small enterprises, alongside ensuring access to healthcare and addressing social issues. By analysing existing literature and conducting interviews with community members, this research aims to assess the effectiveness of this multi-faceted approach in achieving sustainable development and uplifting tribal communities. This research explores fascinating results of tribal communities’ perspective and actual problems that include, these 84.2% remote dwelling families encounter difficulties accessing basic healthcare services due to the absence of primary health centres (PHCs). Decision-making power typically lies with family heads, predominantly male figures. While agriculture remains the primary occupation, 66.7% tribal individuals work as agricultural labourers despite owning land. Superstitions persist, impacting health-seeking behaviour. Education and awareness play a crucial role, and addressing irrational practices is essential. Additionally, alcohol consumption patterns affect tribal health. Bridging gaps in healthcare, promoting education, and dispelling superstitions are vital steps toward improving the well-being of tribal communities.
References
Acharya, S., Yoshino, E., Jimba, M., & Wakai, S. (2007). Empowering rural women through a community development approach in Nepal. Community Development Journal, 42(1), 34–46. https://doi.org/10.1093/CDJ/BSI064
Afza, T., & Amir Rashid, M. (2009). Marginalized women social well‐being through enterprise development: A glimpse of remote women status in Pakistan. Journal of Chinese Entrepreneurship, 1(3), 248–267. https://doi.org/10.1108/17561390910999533
Ali, S. K. J. (2013). Cultural and educational rights of minorities: A human right and constitutional law perspective. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2208559
Alshammari, M. M. (2011). The use of the mother tongue in Saudi EFL classrooms. Journal of International Education Research, 7(4), 95–102. https://doi.org/10.19030/JIER.V7I4.6055
Amin, S., & Lindbeck, A. (1981). Some thoughts on self-reliant development, collective self-reliance and the new international economic order. In The World Economic Order (pp. 534–557). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16488-2_16
Amzat, I. H., Al-Ani, W. T. K., Ismail, O. H., & Al Omairi, T. (2019). Women’s empowerment and its effect on community development in Oman: predictive model and indicators for best practices. Community, Work & Family, 22(3), 338–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2017.1367274
Andaregie, A., Worku, A., Getachew, B., Fentahun, Y., & Astatkie, T. (2022). Determinants of micro and small enterprises’ (MSEs) growth in northwest Ethiopia. Development in Practice, 32(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2020.1866497
Barik, D., & Thorat, A. (2015). Issues of unequal access to public health in India. Frontiers in Public Health, 3, 166553. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2015.00245
Bayeh, E. (2016). The role of empowering women and achieving gender equality to the sustainable development of Ethiopia. Pacific Science Review B: Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PSRB.2016.09.013
Binns, T., & Nel, E. (2019). Beyond the development impasse: the role of local economic development and community self-reliance in rural South Africa. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 37(3), 389–408. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X99003067
Boon, H. J., & Lewthwaite, B. (2015). Development of an instrument to measure a facet of quality teaching: Culturally responsive pedagogy. International Journal of Educational Research, 72, 38–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJER.2015.05.002
Borda-Rodriguez, A., Johnson, H., Shaw, L., & Vicari, S. (2016). What makes rural co-operatives resilient in developing countries? Journal of International Development, 28(1), 89–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/JID.3125
Browne, A. J., Varcoe, C., Lavoie, J., Smye, V., Wong, S. T., Krause, M., Tu, D., Godwin, O., Khan, K., & Fridkin, A. (2016). Enhancing health care equity with Indigenous populations: evidence-based strategies from an ethnographic study. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12913-016-1707-9/FIGURES/1
Carlson, J., Johnston, M., & Dawson, J. (2017). Territorial economic development strategies in Nunavut: A hindrance or a help to community economic development? Journal of Rural and Community Development, 12(2–3), 236–255. https://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/view/1389
Castagno, A. E., & Brayboy, B. M. K. J. (2008). Culturally responsive schooling for Indigenous youth: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 78(4), 941–993. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654308323036
Catino, J. (2012). The health of vulnerable adolescent girls: A strategic investment for double return. Poverty, Gender, and Youth. https://doi.org/10.31899/pgy12.1002
Chakrabarty, K. (2019). Tribe and tribal welfare in Gandhian thoughts. Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, 68(2), 225–233. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277436X19881261
Chatterjee, K., Sinha, R. K., Kundu, A. K., Shankar, D., Gope, R., Nair, N., & Tripathy, P. K. (2016). Social determinants of inequities in under-nutrition (weight-for-age) among under-5 children: A cross sectional study in Gumla district of Jharkhand, India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 15(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12939-016-0392-Y/FIGURES/7
Cubbage, F., Harou, P., & Sills, E. (2007). Policy instruments to enhance multi-functional forest management. Forest Policy and Economics, 9(7), 833–851. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FORPOL.2006.03.010
Das, L. (2021). Multilingual education (MLE) for inclusion: The case of a tribal community. In Contextualising Educational Studies in India (pp. 49–69). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003098997-4
Dhal, S. (2018). Situating tribal women in gender discourse: A study of the socio-economic roots of gender violence in Odisha. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 64(1), 87–102. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556117735459
Duflo, E. (2012). Women empowerment and economic development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(4), 1051–1079. https://doi.org/10.1257/JEL.50.4.1051
Fahad, S., Chavan, S. B., Chichaghare, A. R., Uthappa, A. R., Kumar, M., Kakade, V., Pradhan, A., Jinger, D., Rawale, G., Yadav, D. K., Kumar, V., Farooq, T. H., Ali, B., Sawant, A. V., Saud, S., Chen, S., & Poczai, P. (2022). Agroforestry systems for soil health improvement and maintenance. Sustainability, 14(22), 14877. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU142214877
Farkhari, G. (2020). Skill development/employability enhancement programs for marginalized youth in Kerala. TSpace. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/104347
Fernández, A., Fernández-Llamazares, F., Cabeza, M., Correspondencé, C., & Fernán, A. F. (2018). Rediscovering the potential of Indigenous storytelling for conservation practice. Conservation Letters, 11(3), e12398. https://doi.org/10.1111/CONL.12398
García-Moreno, C., Zimmerman, C., Morris-Gehring, A., Heise, L., Amin, A., Abrahams, N., Montoya, O., Bhate-Deosthali, P., Kilonzo, N., & Watts, C. (2015). Addressing violence against women: A call to action. The Lancet, 385(9978), 1685–1695. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61830-4
Gómez-Baggethun, E. (2022). Is there a future for indigenous and local knowledge? The Journal of Peasant Studies, 49(6), 1139–1157. https://doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2021.1926994
Griffiths, V. F., Bull, J. W., Baker, J., Infield, M., Roe, D., Nalwanga, D., Byaruhanga, A., & Milner-Gulland, E. J. (2020). Incorporating local nature-based cultural values into biodiversity No Net Loss strategies. World Development, 128, 104858. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WORLDDEV.2019.104858
Grobar, L. M. (2019). Policies to promote employment and preserve cultural heritage in the handicraft sector. International Journal of Cultural Policy, 25(4), 515–527. https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2017.1330887
Harrop, S. R. (2007). Traditional agricultural landscapes as protected areas in international law and policy. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 121(3), 296–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AGEE.2006.12.020
Heymann, J., Raub, A., & Cassola, A. (2014). Constitutional rights to education and their relationship to national policy and school enrolment. International Journal of Educational Development, 39, 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJEDUDEV.2014.08.005
Hitchcock, R. K. (2002). “We are the First People”: Land, Natural Resources and Identity in the Central Kalahari, Botswana. Journal of Southern African Studies, 28(4), 797–824. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305707022000043520
Hora, E. A. (2014). Factors that Affect Women Participation in Leadership and Decision Making Position. In Asian Journal of Humanity, Art and Literature. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=2601782
Jena, D. S. (2024). Future of vocational education in India: Nurturing entrepreneurial talents and bridging employability gaps. OCAD University Open Research Repository.
Jha, S. K., Mishra, S., Sinha, B., Alatalo, J. M., & Pandey, R. (2017). Rural development program in tribal region: A protocol for adaptation and addressing climate change vulnerability. Journal of Rural Studies, 51, 151–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JRURSTUD.2017.02.013
Joffrion, E., & Fernández, N. (2015). Collaborations between tribal and nontribal organizations: Suggested best practices for sharing expertise, cultural resources, and knowledge. The American Archivist, 78(1), 192–237. https://doi.org/10.17723/0360-9081.78.1.192
Kadaba, M. K. M., Aithal, P. S., & K R S, S. (2022). Role of MUDRA in promoting SMEs/MSE, MSMEs, and allied agriculture sector in the rural and urban areas: To achieve a 5 trillion economy. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.4137480
Kapoor, N., Ahmad, N., Nayak, S. K., Singh, S. P., Ilavarasan, P. V., & Ramamoorthy, P. (2021). Identifying infrastructural gap areas for smart and sustainable tribal village development: A data science approach from India. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 1(2), 100041. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JJIMEI.2021.100041
Katherasala, S., & Bheenaveni, R. S. (2024). Balancing act: Insights into Telangana farmers’ perspectives on intensive vs. sustainable agriculture. Agricultural Research Journal, 61(2), 167–175. https://doi.org/10.5958/2395-146X.2024.00023.4
Khan, I., Ndubuka, N., Stewart, K., McKinney, V., & Mendez, I. (2017). Indigenous health: The use of technology to improve health care to Saskatchewan’s First Nations communities. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 43(6), 120. https://doi.org/10.14745/CCDR.V43I06A01
Kirmayer, L. J., Dandeneau, S., Marshall, E., Phillips, M. K., & Williamson, K. J. (2012). Toward an ecology of stories: Indigenous perspectives on resilience. In The social ecology of resilience: A handbook of theory and practice (pp. 399–414). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0586-3_31
Kulkarni, K., & Shivagunde, S. (2022). Virtual regions strategy for development of tribal communities. Review of Market Integration, 14(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/09749292221081581
Kumar, A. (2008). Universal primary education among tribals in Jharkhand: A situational analysis. ERIC. www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_jharkhand.pdf
Kuteesa, K. N., Akpuokwe, C. U., & Udeh, C. A. (2024). Gender equity in education: Addressing challenges and promoting opportunities for social empowerment. International Journal of Applied Research in Social Sciences, 6(4), 631–641. https://doi.org/10.51594/IJARSS.V6I4.1034
Lakshmypriya, K., & Varghese, B. (2024). Indigenous tribes and inclusive engagement: An integrated approach for sustainable livelihood into the future. In Future tourism trends volume 1: Tourism in the changing world (pp. 99–114). https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-244-520241008/FULL/XML
Marrone, S. (2007). Understanding barriers to health care: A review of disparities in health care services among indigenous populations. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 66(3), 188–198. https://doi.org/10.3402/IJCH.V66I3.18254
Mashon, D. N. (2010). Realizing “quality” in Indigenous early childhood development. University of British Columbia. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0069216
Maton, K. I. (2008). Empowering community settings: Agents of individual development, community betterment, and positive social change. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(1–2), 4–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10464-007-9148-6/METRICS
Midgley, J. O. (1995). Social development: The developmental perspective in social welfare. Torrossa.
Mohanty, A. K. (2006). Multilingualism of the unequals and predicaments of education in India: Mother tongue or other tongue? In Imagining multilingual schools: Languages in education and glocalization (pp. 262–283). https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853598968-014/HTML
Moohin, A. (2022). Building social cohesion through community leadership. Australian Journal of Islamic Studies, 7(3), 101–123. https://doi.org/10.55831/AJIS.V7I3.571
Mshenga, P. M., Richardson, R. B., Njehia, B. K., & Birachi, E. A. (2010). The contribution of tourism to micro and small enterprise growth. Tourism Economics, 16(4), 953–964. https://doi.org/10.5367/TE.2010.0018
Newson, R. S., Lion, R., Crawford, R. J., Curtis, V., Elmadfa, I., Feunekes, G. I. J., Hicks, C., Van Liere, M., Lowe, C. F., Meijer, G. W., Pradeep, B., Reddy, K. S., Sidibe, M., & Uauy, R. (2013). Behaviour change for better health: Nutrition, hygiene and sustainability. BMC Public Health, 13(SUPPL. 1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-S1-S1
Porter, E. (2003). Women, political decision-making, and peace-building. Global Change, Peace & Security, 15(3), 245–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/0951274032000124965
Porthé, V., García-Subirats, I., Ariza, C., Villalbí, J. R., Bartroli, M., Júarez, O., & Díez, E. (2021). Community-based interventions to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in adults. Journal of Community Health, 46(3), 565–576. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10900-020-00898-6
Pulhin, J., Inoue, M., & Enters, T. (2007). Three decades of community-based forest management in the Philippines: Emerging lessons for sustainable and equitable forest management. International Forestry Review, 9(4), 865–883. https://doi.org/10.1505/IFOR.9.4.865
Ranasinghe, T. T. (2005). Youth in the face of vocational agricultural training for sustainable development: Whether to push forward or pull back. The International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 12(4), 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504500509469649
Rose Atong, L. C., & Joy Ventura-Escote, M. (2023). Implementation of mother tongue-based multilingual education in a multicultural and multilingual community: A teacher’s perspective. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 12(5), 462–480. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.8255775
Rupavath, R. (2023). Tribal life in schools: Critical pedagogy. In Education as development (pp. 23–42). https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429285561-4
Rwakipamba, E., Sseremba, G., Byalebeka, J., Ssekandi, J., & Mwine, J. (2020). Over reliance on pesticides and poor handling practices characterize intensive vegetable farming: Case of selected smallholders in southwestern Uganda. Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/RS.3.RS-16579/V1
Rycroft, D. J., & Dasgupta, S. (2011). The politics of belonging in India: Becoming Adivasi. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203826010
Sabates-Wheeler, R., & Devereux, S. (2008). Transformative social protection: The currency of social justice. In Social protection for the poor and poorest (pp. 64–84). https://doi.org/10.1057/978-0-230-58309-2_4
Samal, R., & Dash, M. (2023). Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation and livelihoods: Understanding the convergence and divergence. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 11(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJGEOP.2022.11.001
Sebastian, R., Jose, S. P., & K, M. P. (2021). MSMEs and sustained national economic development: Micro enterprises for empowering tribal populace in the knowledge economy of Kerala, India. Stochastic Modeling & Applications, 25(3).
Shankar, R., Lavekar, G. S., Deb, S., & Sharma, B. K. (2012). Traditional healing practice and folk medicines used by Mishing community of North East India. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 3(3), 124. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-9476.100171
Shiferaw, B., Hellin, J., & Muricho, G. (2011). Improving market access and agricultural productivity growth in Africa: What role for producer organizations and collective action institutions? Food Security, 3(4), 475–489. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12571-011-0153-0
Shirsath, S. T. (2014). Reinventing tribal local governance through administrative reforms in India: With special reference to Fifth Schedule area. International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Literature, 2(4), 15–22. www.impactjournals.us
Sheheli, S., von, Shonia, Olbertz Dekan der Landwirtschaftlich-Gärtnerischen Fakultät hc Frank Ellmer Gutachter, J.-H., Nagel, P., Bauhardt, P., & Werner, J. (2012). Improving livelihood of rural women through income generating activities in Bangladesh. Publikationsserver Der Humboldt-Universität. https://doi.org/10.18452/16588
Singh, D. (2016). Determinants of microenterprise development in North-Eastern region of India: Evidences from Imphal West District of Manipur. Journal of Rural Development, 35(2), 191–209. http://www.nirdprojms.in/index.php/jrd/article/view/100042
Singh, R., Pretty, J., & Pilgrim, S. (2010). Traditional knowledge and biocultural diversity: Learning from tribal communities for sustainable development in northeast India. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 53(4), 511–533. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640561003722343
Šūmane, S., Kunda, I., Knickel, K., Strauss, A., Tisenkopfs, T., Rios, I. des I., Rivera, M., Chebach, T., & Ashkenazy, A. (2018). Local and farmers’ knowledge matters! How integrating informal and formal knowledge enhances sustainable and resilient agriculture. Journal of Rural Studies, 59, 232–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JRURSTUD.2017.01.020
Tariq, S., & Sangmi, M.-D. (2020). Microfinance and women’s economic empowerment: An experimental evidence. Abhigyan, 38(3), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.56401/ABHIGYAN_38.3.2020.10-19
Trivedi, H. R. (1991). Planning and tribal development. Indian Journal of Public Administration, 37(2), 182–198. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019556119910204
Whitehead, A., & Tsikata, D. (2003). Policy discourses on women’s land rights in Sub–Saharan Africa: The implications of the re–turn to the customary. Journal of Agrarian Change, 3(1–2), 67–112. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0366.00051
Willow, A. J. (2014). The new politics of environmental degradation: Un/expected landscapes of disempowerment and vulnerability. Journal of Political Ecology, 21(1), 237–257. https://doi.org/10.2458/V21I1.21135
Xaba, F., & Hadebe, N. (2023). Sustainable development, social work practitioners, indigenous communities, and traditional leadership interface in biodiversity conservation. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, 17(5), 11–20. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=4817702
Zhong, Y., Tang, S., & Lan, M. (2023). Research on the inheritance path and the branding inheritance model of traditional crafts. Sustainability, 15(7), 5878. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU15075878
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Parandamulu Chinthakindi, Srinivas Katherasala

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.