Tribal Population in Dahod District of Gujarat: An Evaluation of Socio-Economic Profile
Tribal Population in Dahod District of Gujarat: An Evaluation of Socio-Economic Profile
Tribal Population in Dahod District of Gujarat: An Evaluation of Socio-Economic Profile
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the Anas is a perennial river where as the other are The study has taken 50 households respondent from
seasonal rivers. Dahod talukas of Dahod district.
4.THE PROBLEMS
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Out of the 50 households, this study hasfound 12 joint is considered as a determining factor of economic
families (24 per cent) and whereas 38 families were status.
interested to live in a nuclear family set up. It forms (76
per cent) of total. Table-4 Distribution of Age of Head of
The size of the family is a crucial factor in determining the Tribal Households
the well-being of each and every tribal individual.
Distributions of tribal households by the family size are Sr.No Age of the Head of the Percent
shown in the following table. respondents households
1 2–4 14 28 4 Above 60 1 2
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It was observed that, income of the family depends on At present, the most tribal parents are concerned about
size of family. However, the income of the households is the schooling of their children and drop-out-rate is also
spent on necessity goods only. not much; it was 18 per cent.
More than 70per cent of male and female workers in The most important indicator of socio-economic status
Dahod district are agricultural labourers. The male namely habitation and housing condition would provide
a better understanding of the social life of tribes. It is
workers wage is ( 100) and female working groups are
observed that, most of tribe lives in remote areas and
( 80) per day. transport available to the villages.
11.LITERACY STATUS
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Table No. 7 shows that, the large numbers of tribal the tribes are slowly following the footsteps of the non-
family having kachha houses and only six per -cent of tribes. Both government and non-government are
family have semi-pucca houses. providing irrigation facilities to the tribal villages.
13.LAND OWNERSHIP
Table-9 Irrigation Facilities
Broadlytribal peasantry has been divided in to two
categories viz- landed and landless. Distribution of tribal Sr.No Categories Households Per cent
households according to the possession of land is
presented in the table 8 below. This following table
1 Irrigated 28 56
shows that 92 per cent of tribal populations are land
holders.
2 Unirrigated 18 36
Table -8 Land Holdings ( in Guntha)
3 Landless 4 8
Sr.No Categories Households Per cent
4 Total 50 100
1 Land less 4 8
Source-Field survey, 2012
2 Less than 1 Guntha 9 18 This data shows fifty six per cent of tribal farmers have
benefited through source of irrigation.
3 1-2 13 26
4 2-4 2 4
Table 10- Source of Irrigation
5 4-6 7 14
Sr.No Categories No. of tribal percent
farmers (uses)
6 6 to above 15 30
1 Tank 8 16
7 Total 50 100
2 Bore well 10 20
Source- Field survey 2012
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15.AVAILABILITY OF BASIC AMENITIES IN THE but double cropping (Kharif and Rabi) is also regular
HOUSE practice of a highest number of tribal farmers. At some
places third crop is also growing due to availability of
A house that is well set with the minimum level of basic
adequate irrigation facilities. As a result, there is greater
amenities is very necessary for a healthy living but the
contribution on wheat and vegetable and thus, food
housing conditions of the tribes very poor. Some of the
security is ensured from five to seven months in a year.
basic luxurious items like television, refrigerator, and
It is clear that, agriculture is an important livelihood
vehicle etc. are the indicators of economic condition,
source for tribal people in Dahod district. Nearly 95
and it also depends on income size of the tribal families.
percent of tribal populations are engaged in this sector.
The details about the availability of basis amenities in
In the study area land holding variation are not found
house are given in following table.
much and majority of tribal’s have not more than 6
Guntha of land from which they can earns an income of
Table-11 Availability of Basic Amenities 1500 /- per Guntha. This income is not sufficient for
their subsistence livelihood. A couple numbers of tribal
Sr.No Amenities Per cent are migrating to other regions for getting employment
and income sources in off season.
1 Electricity 23 46 The study has found that the greater market orientation
of commodities like mango, guava, banana, amla, etc.
2 TV 10 20 Almost 62 percent of female workers are still engaged
in the agricultural and allied activities cum forest-based
3 Toilet 1 2 economies. Thus, women workers play an important role
in overall activities for the survival of their families. No
doubt, both Government and NGO policies have
4 Bicycle 10 20
brought positive impact on agricultural, horticultural
and floricultural activities. But from this above analysis,
5 Bike 4 8 it is clear that, both government and NGOs policies are
not giving more emphasize on related activities in allied
6 Fan 13 26 sector like fisheries etc and the multiple or additional
income can’t be generated by tribal people.
Source-Field survey 2012
Due to degradation of environment and the intervention
It was observed that, tribal person who is financially of non-tribal, they face problems and challenges to
strong is interested in maintaining good house secure a sustainable livelihood opportunities and a
automatically purchases these items. However tribal gracious life. As a result a number of NGOs are involved
people who are financially weak are not able to afford in order to ensure women’s empowerment, women
such kind of amenities due to their low economic productivity, and effective participation in agro-based
condition. activities. VanitaMahilaSatsang a non-government
organization which is also taking an initiative to provide
16.CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION an alternative education to tribal women for cultivation
The scheduled tribes of Dahod have a long history of of medical plants which helps to secure livelihood
struggle. In this region, the main sources of their opportunities and secure biodiversity. Thus, agro-
livelihood are agriculture and forest. Not a single forestry plays an effective role in the proper utilization
activity ensures to provide sufficient income for their of the natural resources in a most effective and efficient
livelihood completely. In fact, the small size of land manner for sustainable crop production and socio-
holdings by tribal people and low productivity are the economic upliftment with livelihood opportunities &
root causes of diversified occupations. Agriculture in this health security and employment & income generation
region is mainly based on rain fed and mono-cropped within the tribal economy. It has helped to reduce the
poverty and migration rate of the district.
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Most of tribal people are still not conscious about higher better social and economic opportunities with access to
education, and medical facilities. Their income level is so financial services and awareness of right and duties. As
low that they are unable to avail these facilities. It was a result, a few tribal’s have started the practice of saving
also noticed, that some tribal people of remote villages money in banks and other financial institution as a small
are getting basic health facilities by government investment. Human Development Index is very low in
schemes. Female literacy rate is very poor as compared term of education attainment and per capita income. It
of male literacy rate. It can be noted, 70 percent of can be noted that the educational attachment index is
female are found to be illiterate in this region. The 0.266 and income index is 0.116 in Dahod district. There
literacy rate is quite less than state average; it was 45 is wide variation in educational attainment and per
percent against of 62 percent of total. The dropout rate capita income index from other regions of the country.
is not that much and the enrollment of children in
It is found that, the effect of education and health care
primary school is praiseworthy. Various government
interventions of Government and NGOs have not been
programmes like; mid-day meal programme,
able to improve of tribal people’s education and health
kanyaKelvaniRath, Katurba Gandhi ValikaVidyalaya
status. Due to various schemes / programmes adopted
scheme all have been implemented at grass root level.
by government, some NGOs are conducting research
The children have been instrumented to go to school in
and training and innovative and effective programmes
the region with the help of various schemes. The social
in the field of education, health, micro finance and
awareness is very poor, even Government and Non-
income and employment generation activities. These
governmental organizations are not giving emphasis on
factors have played an important role to eradicate
it. Hence, tribes are not aware of education, technology,
various socio-economic problems of this region.
and agricultural practices and so on. Some NGOs are
However, the NGOs are making efforts for improvement
providing training for modern agricultural practices in
in promoting and culturally appropriate approaches to
Dahod district. But it is not effective due to poor social
improve education and health seeking behavior of STs
awareness. It was observed, only 20 percent households
People. Gradually, these efforts have created a positive
have T.V out of 46 percent electrified tribal families.
impact on the tribal’s education and health status in the
The Dahod district has got less industrial area. This is many parts of the Dahod district.
lack of small scale or cottage industries like weaving,
17.SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
spinning and sugar industries etc. The idea and use of
economic phenomena viz-investment, marketing, and To eradicate poverty, the livelihood security is to be
storage are not clear to tribal people. The wage rate is needed. In that case, alternative sustainable source of
comparatively very low in agricultural sector among the livelihood should be adopted through proper
scheduled tribes as compared to the wage rate of implementation of policies. Forest of the villages must
generally industrial or any other workers of the state. At be maintained properly with active participation of tribal
present, the transport and communication facilities are women. Different training should be provided for agro
praiseworthy. As a result, social awareness of the tribals based livelihood sources, like mushroom cultivation,
is gradually increasing. Housing conditions of majority vegetable crops, which will support tribal women to be
of Tribal people are poor and their houses do not have self-reliant and their empowered. The literacy rate of
special rooms or separate arrangement for kitchen, tribal women is very poor as compared to men. So, only
bathroom, toilet etc. It was observed that 92 percent of formulation of development policies for tribal is not
tribal families have got kachha houses. Drinking water enough. The main attention should be paid to create
facilities are not adequate and because of inadequate enough social awareness, which will bring self-reliance
facilities mainly common diseases are found among the among tribal people. Tribal women should also get the
scheduled tribes. opportunities for the leadership training. So, that they
become self-confident and empowered.
The attitude towards saving among the scheduled tribes
is not very satisfactory, because most of them are For tribal development Government programmes
engaged in agricultural field. In that case, Prayas, a non- should be implemented properly. And for that we need
government organization is working which promotes
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