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Social Structure and Social Change

Notes

Many tribal groups moved out of their semi-isolated habitats and entering plains accepted
many norms of the Hindu caste system. The large number of social reform and religious
movements among the tribals are evidence of their desire to get absorbed in the Hindu
caste system.

The question is: do measures taken by the government aim at total assimilation of the tribals in the
main stream of the national life or at social integration by conveying the concern for protecting
their interests, customs and institutions, safeguarding their ways of life, and ensuring their
development? It appears that various plans and programmes aim at protecting them against social
injustice and exploitation and the raising of their general way of life. The creation of tribal areas,
reservation of seats in educational institutions and public services, introduction of TMS scheme—
all aim at uplift of the tribals and their social and cultural integration in Hindu society. But
‘integration’ should not be confused with ‘homogeneity’ through the process of assimilation. We
should be clear about three processes of change, viz., acculturation, integration (social and cultural)
and assimilation.
Tribes are faced with the problem of preserving their cultural identity and their social existence.
Each tribe has three alternatives: (i) to exist side by side with the majority, (ii) to absorb itself in the
dominant group, and (iii) to secede and seek political independence on the basis of equality.
Different tribes have adopted different processes from amongst the above-mentioned three
processes. For example, the Bhils and the Meenas have adopted the first process of co-existence,
the Oraon and the Rhond tribes have adopted the second process of absorbing themselves in the
Hindu society, while the Nagas and the Mizos have adopted the third process of secession. Our
government has not adopted a uniform policy of cultural integration of all tribes because different
tribes are at different stages of development and have different goals and aspirations. Naturally
we find different levels of integration of different tribes. We can only hold that tribes are gradually
being drawn into the wider economic frame-work of the country and they are getting themselves
involved in the market economy. Agriculture has come to occupy a central place in the economic
activity of many tribes. According to the 1991 census figures, about three-fourth of the tribals in
the country work as cultivators and about one-fifth as agricultural labourers and the rest as
labourers in mines, forests or are engaged in other services. The fact that the tribal cultivators are
responding positively to modern methods of cultivation points out a positive change in tribals’
economic system. The economic integration of the tribes, however, does not necessarily mean that
all tribes have achieved a high level of income. Many are still living below the poverty line.

2.2 Village Communities in India

About 74 per cent of India’s population lives in villages. The incidence of poverty is much higher
in villages—roughly 39 per cent of the rural population are poor. Agriculture is a source of
livelihood for 70 per cent of the population but agriculture accounts for less than 40 per cent of the
national income. One of the reasons for this is the unequal distribution of land. Ten to 20 percent
of landholders hold 70 percent of the total land and 50 percent of landholders are marginal
farmers with less than one hectare (2.471 acres) of land. Thus, any agenda for fighting poverty
must address itself to the rural sector. No doubt our policy-makers have always been emphasising
agricultural and rural development ever since the planning process was initiated in 1952. But how
far have we been able to alleviate poverty in villages?
Poverty can also be measured by the persons’ access to piped water, electricity, kutcha or pucca
houses, and the public distribution system. A staggering 55 per cent of the rural population of the
country still live in ‘kutcha houses. Further, in most backward states (like West Bengal, Bihar,
Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), 15 to 19 per cent rural homes have electricity, 9 to 11
per cent have piped water and 11 to 16 per cent have access to public distribution system.

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