Scheduled Tribes (STs) continue to lag behind other underprivileged groups across key development indicators like education, health, and income (Xaxa 2014). Despite constitutional provisions aimed at autonomy in self-governance and socio-economic integration, ST communities are caught in a cycle of underdevelopment. Post-independence development initiatives have severely impacted STs, with disproportionately high displacement, illegal land alienation, and unregulated influx of non-tribals into Scheduled Areas (SAs) contributing to their sustained marginalisation.

While the state’s role in this ​‘adverse inclusion’ is critical, the poor performance of governing institutions responsible for ST upliftment is equally significant. Many institutions mandated for the good administration of Scheduled Areas fail to meet their constitutional duties. There is a pressing need to strengthen these institutions, as even limited implementation of constitutional provisions often fails to yield desired results.

This course focuses on identifying institutional gaps rather than merely failures of governance, aiming to foster an understanding of good governance. Examples, such as the ongoing debates around PESA rules in Jharkhand, illustrate contradictions between State-level governance models and the core principle of self-governance. For instance, the Jharkhand Panchayat Raj Act (JPRA 2001) mandates that Gram Sabhas operate subject to state rules, yet the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PPESA 1996) instructs the State to prevent higher-level Panchayats from usurping the authority of lower-level bodies like the Gram Sabha.

A further contradiction is seen in the draft PESA rules, which state that a Gram Sabha​’s decision on certain development projects is final, but then stipulate that the District Collector will resolve conflicts by calling a joint meeting. This raises critical questions: Do institutional contradictions discourage officials from implementing constitutional provisions? What lessons can be learnt from efficient organisations to achieve development goals?

This course is designed for early-career development practitioners working in Schedule V areas. It seeks to provide a conceptual and institutional framework for participants to systematically analyse the development realities of STs, offering critical perspectives on various development interventions through case studies from Scheduled V areas of India.

Who should join the course?

The course aims to enlist early career development professionals working in Schedule V areas aiming for a batch of 25 – 30 participants. Participants should have a graduate degree, currently employed in CSOs working on governance issues among STs at district level or below and have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 years’ experience. 

The idea behind choosing this cohort of participants is that they have some prior experiences of working in the Scheduled areas and will be able to not only relate the lectures to their own experiences but will also enrich the sessions by sharing some useful insights. These participants can be approached with the help of partner organisations working with STs in different Schedule V areas of the country. 

What will you learn?

The participants of this course shall be able to:

• Explain the constitutional and institutional provisions applicable in Schedule V areas.
• Analyse the contemporary realities by using the constitutional framework and offer their relevant assessment.
• Apply the tools and knowledge to overcome the institutional restrictions in the implementation of development initiatives.