Page 1 of 12
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1496
Problems and Challenges of Tribal Development: With Special
Refrence to Saharia Tribe
Nadeem Nisar*
Dr Ayub Khan**
ABSTRACT:
One of the major issues facing our country ever since its independence in 1947 is how to
develop the socio–economic backward classes especially the Tribals and bring them at par
with the other classes. The efforts made by different governments from time to time towards
this issue has proved unsatisfactory, as no major development in the condition of the Tribals
has taken place. This paper aims to analyse the major issues and challenges that became
hindrances in the development of Sahariya tribe, which occupies a prominent place in the tribal
population of Madhya Pradesh. Residing mainly in the Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh,
the people of Sahariya tribe are economically underdeveloped and socially backward. Several
steps, such as development of infrastructural facilities, establishment of educational
institutions, providing medical facilities, establishing small-scale industries and providing
them permanent habitats needed to be for the development of this tribe.
Keywords: Development, Tribes, Saharia, Issues.
*Research Scholar, Jiwaji University; Gwalior (M.P.)
**Prof. Dept. of Sociology, M.L.B. Govt. College of Excellence; Gwalior (M.P.)
Page 2 of 12
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1497
INTRODUCTION:
The development of the tribal population in India has been one of the major concerns
of the Government of India since the attainment of independence in 1947. The tribals constitute
the weakest section of the Indian population from all aspects. Although the tribes are the sons
of same soil, yet they are deprived from all civic facilities and amenities for centuries. The
government of India have conceived and implemented schemes after schemes but in most
cases, they have failed to yield the expected results. Consequently, the tribal life has worsened.
The question that can be asked at this point of time is that ‘What went wrong? Where did it go
wrong? Is our definition of development being erroneous or the perception of the problem is at
fault?
The problems and issues of tribals in developing nations are very similar in many aspects. The
problem of rapid structural transformation and noticeable loss of their traditional values, norms
and customs are some examples. Their identity is nearly going to be extinct. The tribals of India
especially Saharias, Baigas, Bharias, Hill Khorwas and Abujh Marias of Madhya Pradesh state
are facing eco- cultural and economic problems and thus a realistic approach is needed to uplift
and develop these tribes. Among these tribes Saharia needs an urgent attention because they
are relatively less explored and more deprived tribe in Madhya Pradesh. For their development
and transformation, an urgent study of their socio- economic condition is needed. Saharia is
considered one of the primitive tribal groups of Madhya Pradesh
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:
The research methodology is an arrangement of methods of enquiry to acquire the
information needed to structure or solve the problem. Research methodology explains the
scope, research design, data collection, sampling techniques and methods that are followed in
carrying out the research.
The design of proposed research is exploratory and descriptive which is used for
primarily gaining insight and ideas about the research problems. For this the researcher has
Page 3 of 12
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 05
May 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 1498
mainly collected the data from the secondary sources like Journals, books, newspaper and
websites.
The most important objective of this explorative study is the identification of
researchable problems and to develop new courses of action for overcoming such problems.
Further, it can be used as a preliminary part of a large study.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
The tribal population of India in current situation is a grave concern because after
Africa, India has the largest concentration of the tribal communities. Tribal population of India
is considered as socially and economically backward and deprived. However, in India
numerous NGOs are working for their upliftment and to bring them on the track of
development.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
To analyse the factors that stops the development of Saharia tribes.
To analyse the way forward.
WHO ARE SAHARIAS?
Saharia is an ethnic group found in the Bundelkhand region of North India. Saharias
mainly reside in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. In Madhya
Pradesh, Sahariya tribe mainly resides in Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna,
Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore. In central India, Saharia primitive tribal groups are considered as the
member of very widespread ‘Kolarian’ tribe (Thakur, 1994). Their population is dispersed from
north Madhya Bharat in the central to Andhra Pradesh and Orissa in the eastern coast of India.
They are acquainted with various names like Sahabara, Sora, Sawara, Sahariya, Saharia etc.
However, the early history regarding the origin of Saharia tribal groups is still not precisely
clear. From etymological point of view, Saharia means companion of tiger and their word is
divided into two independent words like ‘Sa’ and ‘Haria’ and it has separate meaning which
have been described in the riddle versus of Saint Surdas (Tiwari 1984). During 1901 to 1921,
Saharia were acquaints as ‘Animist’ and they were called as tribe. Later in the census report of
