A Seminar on “Tribal Identity and Rights” On World Tribal Day

Jagdalpur – On the occasion of World Tribal Day, a one-day seminar on the topic “Tribal Identity and Rights” was organised at Koya Bhavan, Jagdalpur, under the aegis of Sarv Adivasi Samaj, Bastar.

The main objective of the seminar was to raise awareness among tribal youth about their history, constitutional rights, forest rights, traditional culture, and future prospects of the community. Experts and eminent personalities from across the country highlighted the rich history of tribal society, the importance of cultural traditions, and the rights enshrined in the Constitution, while encouraging youth to stay united and aware.

Anubhav Shori shared global indigenous issues, underlining the idea and historical background behind celebrating this day.

Padma Shri awardee Ajay Mandavi spoke about ground realities of tribal society. He emphasised that recognising the capabilities of tribals and designing plans based on their lifestyle and needs is the real path to development. Stressing the importance of income generation, he noted with concern that in some areas tribal communities are still engaged in old barter systems. He called women’s economic and social empowerment the key to societal progress and urged youth to move towards trade and self-employment.

Vijay Bhai from Bharat Jan Andolan said that Bastar has always been a land of struggle and that the vision of “Mawa Nate, Mawa Raj” (Our Village, Our Rule) originated here. He pointed out that even today, laws in the state are not being fully implemented in the spirit of the Constitution. Despite the Supreme Court recognising women’s rights over land, traditions often hold more sway. Expressing concern over the declining autonomy in Scheduled Areas and increasing dependence on government systems, he stressed the need for a self-reliant and constitutionally compliant society.

Dr. Sukrita Tirkey, Professor, School of Anthropology & Tribal Studies, Shaheed Mahendra Karma University, emphasised the preservation of tribal languages and the maintenance of cultural identity. She said the community faces serious challenges such as language endangerment, the pressures of globalisation, erosion of traditions, and loss of traditional knowledge.

Senior astrophysicist Dr. Prajval Shastri discussed the relationship between society and science, presenting a scientific perspective on astronomical events and dispelling popular misconceptions related to planets and constellations with examples.

Dr. Sharachchandra Lele, Professor at ATREE, spoke on the need for democratic and justice-based management of water, forests, and land. He said that justice should be the ultimate goal in natural resource management, and systems should be designed to empower communities.

The programme was conducted by Tulsi Thakur and Ram Kashyap.