SANJANA BHARADWAJ
ASST. PROFESSOR FROM SCHOOL OF LAW, MIT WORLD PEACE UNIVERSITY, PUNE
ABSTRACT
The present study investigates the Gond Community, which is considered to be among the most populous indigenous groups globally. The Gond community, acknowledged as Scheduled Tribes by the Indian government, holds a notable position in the country. The nomenclature “Scheduled Tribes” was initially incorporated in the Constitution of India. As per the Constitution’s Article 366 (25), Scheduled Tribes are referred to as tribes, tribal communities, or specific subgroups within such tribes or communities. These groups are identified under Article 342 as Scheduled Tribes, specifically for the Constitution’s purposes.[1]
The classification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe is determined by the criteria outlined in Article 342. These criteria include primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the larger community, and backwardness.
The Gond Community, akin to other Adivasi tribes in India, has encountered significant socioeconomic obstacles and marginalization throughout history. This particular group is widely regarded as one of the most marginalized and underdeveloped segments of Indian society. As per the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes demographic comprises 10,42,81,034 individuals, which accounts for 8.6% of the overall population of the country. This figure marks a rise from 8.2% recorded in 2001. Of the total Scheduled Tribes population, 10.03% are located in urban areas, while the remaining 89.97% reside in other areas.[2]
The Government of India has proposed the development of a National Policy for the Scheduled Tribes since the country’s independence, acknowledging the necessity for concentrated attention and policy initiatives. The Scheduled Tribes encompass a total of 75 groups that are categorized as Primitive Tribal Groups. This classification is based on their comparatively rudimentary way of life and notably deficient levels of literacy. The aforementioned groups persist in a state of pre-agricultural economic development and encounter notable obstacles in their pursuit of socioeconomic progress.
Keywords: Tribal rights, Gond community, Article 29
[1] Smita Yadav, Precarity as a Coping Strategy of the Gonds: A Study of Insecure and Long-distance Seasonal Migration in Central India, 14 Indian J. Hum. Dev. 7 (2020).
[2] Neeraj Gohil, Potential and Planning for Tribal Tourism in India: A Case Study on Gond Tribes of Madhya Pradesh State, India, 6 Sch. Int. J. Multidiscip. Allied Stud. ISSN 2394-336X 72 (2019).