ECONOMIES OF INDIAN TRIBES
Different types of economies amongst the Indian tribal:
Various classification of economic life and occupation of Indian tribe have been suggested by anthropologists and are not sequential. Therefore, the economic system of any Indian tribe cannot be exclusively placed in any particular typology in its strict sense. For example, Santhals earn their livelihood by farming and collecting forest resources.
The important economic categories among Indian tribes are –
Food gathering:
The tribes who principally depend on food collecting come under this type. Tribes like the Birhor, Chenchu, Kadar and Kharia are food gatherers and hunters. They live by gathering forest products, fishing and trapping small animals.
Agriculture:
Agriculture is the most popular occupation with the tribal people. According to 2011 Agricultural Census of India, 1300 million depend on agriculture. Prominent examples of agricultural tribes include Oraon, Munda, Bhil, Santhal and Ho.
Shifting axe cultivation:
Shifting axe cultivation is known by different names and it’s very popular among the tribal people. This implies changing the place of cultivation after the cultivation of the crop. After independence the government has not been encouraging this since it led to deforestation. The Kamar are engaged in primitive shifting axe cultivation known as ‘dahi’.
Handicrafts:
A number of tribes engage on crafts and cottage industries and baskets making, spinning, weaving, pottery, metal works and cane work. For example, the Kanjars of U.P. are engaged in basketry and rope making. The Mahalis of Bihar make basket and bamboo product.
Pastoralism:
This is the economic organization based on animal rearing and obtains their living by drawing directly upon milk and milk products. The Toda and Bhotiya are pastoralists. They live by selling and distributing milk products with the neighbouring people to acquire other necessities of life.
Industrial labour:
An Indian tribal person comes into contacts with industrial life in two ways. Either they have migrated to industrial areas or industries have sprung up in the area they inhabit. 2,50,000 of Bihar’s tribal population works in the mica industry and 17,000 work in TISCO (Tata Iron and Steel Company). In Madhya Pradesh a large number work in the manganese industry. This region is rich in minerals such as coal, iron manganese and needs cheap labour.
Over the past decades, tribal economy is witnessing a continuous change. The education and reservation in government and semi government establishments have opened up new avenues for tribal people. The tribals are fast moving towards urban and industrial fields for white collar jobs in public and private enterprises in business.
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