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CHAPTER 7

SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS

As representation, this chapter attempts to summarize the

descriptive subject matter of introduction, tribal development in India,

socio-economic assessment of tribes in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,

agricultural panorama of the study area and analytical study of socio-

economic conditions of tribal farmers with a comparison of tribal farmers

of Bijnor and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Lastly, this chapter makes

findings and a lot of policy suggestions in etiological sense.

Age old exploitation and repression of the tribals, have cut them off

from the main stream of socio-economic development of the country as a

whole. The tribal population is identified as the aboriginal inhabitants of

our country. They are most vulnerable section of our society living in

natural and unpolluted surrounding far away from civilization with their

traditional values, customs and beliefs.

Tribal groups with pre-agricultural stage of development,

diminishing stagnant population, very low literacy rates and subsistence

level of economy are defined as primitive tribal groups. There are as

many as 75 PTGs who are distributed in 17 States and one Union

Territory with a population of 32, 62960. Out of two primitive tribal

groups of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Buksa primitive tribe is selected

as tribal farmer for the purpose of present study.

In the present study the tribals are socio-economically backward as

compared to the non-tribals. Agriculture is the primary source of

livelihood for the overwhelming majority of the tribal population in the

study area. Different agricultural strategies have been launched after 1966

in the country to bring about economic development in agriculture sector.

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In the study area, where agriculture is the main occupation of tribals, they

are still backward. So as to eradicate the problems of tribal people, it

becomes necessary on the part of the policy makers to identify and

quantify the socio-economic factors which are inhibiting their growth and

development.

Keeping these views in mind a study on analytical study of socio-

economic conditions of tribal farmers in Bijnor district of U.P. state was

conducted. Kotwali, Najibabad and Afzalgarh blocks from Bijnor district

and Gadarpur block from Udham Singh Nagar district, accommodating

the largest population of Buksa tribes were selected purposely for

comparative study.

Seventy two tribal farmers from Bijnor district, (comprising 21

landless, 19 marginal, 27 small and 5 medium farmers) and 286 from

district Udham Singh Nagar, (consist of 58 landless, 76 marginal, 123

small and 29 medium farmers) were selected for the study. Primary data

were collected from the sample tribal farmers on different socio-

economic aspects with the help of structured collective questionnaires

and secondary data were collected from different official sources. The

data were computed with simple statistical tools like frequencies,

percentages and averages.

The tribals are mainly depends on agriculture, forests and

livestock. The dwindling natural resources including forest and shrinking

water and fodder supply have jeopardized their agriculture and livestock

productivity. The small and marginal farmers rearing cattle and raising

more crops and low productivity of livestock do not provide adequate

income for their livelihood on sustained basis.

The tribals have historically been poor, backward sections of our

country and at a low level of subsistence with low levels of nutrition.

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These could be due to their poor resource bases or low level of education

and lack of adequate employment and income opportunities. The tribal

people are freedom lovers and have preserved much of original culture of

India. They are characterized by their inherited dialectics and socio-

economic practices. Many of their social customs and traditions might

appear peculiar to us but they love and follow them with vigour and zeal.

The tribals owing to their life style and community habits and

habitats have not been able to keep pace with the modern society. Tribals

are not as advanced as the people of rest of India. They are also not well

placed economically, politically, educationally and industrially but they

are trying to come up with the rest of India. The tribals are differing

considerably from other people in race, language, culture and beliefs in

their myths and customs.

India has the second largest concentration of tribal people

anywhere in the world except perhaps in Africa. The prominent tribal

population covers around 15 percent of the total geographical area of the

country. They have their presence in all states and union territories except

Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi and Pondicherry. As per the census

report of 2001, the total tribal population of India has been estimated as 8

4326240 that constitutes about 8.2 per cent of the total population of the

country. There are over 700 scheduled tribes notified under Article 342 of

the constitution of India. These groups are speaking about 105 languages

and 225 subsidiary languages.

The tribal population in India is unevenly distributed in different

States/Union Territories. State-wise Madhya Pradesh accounts for the

highest percentage of tribal population to total tribal population of the

country (14.51%) followed by Maharashtra (10.7%), Orissa (9.66%),

Gujarat (8.87%), Rajasthan (8.42%), Jharkhand (8.40%) and Chhattisgarh

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(7.85%). In fact, 68 percent of the country’s tribals population lives in

these seven states.

The proportion of the tribals to the total population of the

States/Union Territory is highest in Mizoram (94.5 %) and Lakshadweep

(94.5 %) followed by Nagaland (89.1%), Meghalaya (85.9 %), within the

major states Chhattisgarh (31.8%) has the highest percentage of STs

population followed by Jharkhand (26.3%) and Orissa (22.1%). These

populations are lowest in Uttar Pradesh (0.1%), Bihar (0.9%), Tamil

Nadu (1.0%) and Kerala (1.1%). Out of their total population in the

country, 91.7 percent are living in rural areas, whereas, only 8.3 percent

in urban areas.

Ethnographically, tribes of India are distributed in seven tribal

zones. North-Eastern Zone: Location of north-eastern tribal zone is

pervaded throughout the Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,

Meghalaya and Mizoram. This zone is noticed as the inhabitation of

plentiful tribal groups like the Adi, Khowa, Singpho, Chakma, Garo,

Khasi, Kuki, Aimol, Chiru, Moyan, Sema, Hajong, Nega, Mikir, Bhil,

Bhutia, Lepcha, Oraon, Santal, Riang and other tribes. Eastern Zone:

Eastern tribal zone consists of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Sikkim and

West-Bengal. The originations of 132 tribes and their sub groups are

identified all over the states of this zone. The Asur, Baiga, Birhor, Gond,

Oraon, Munda, Santal, Bhutia, Chenchu, Ho, Lodha, Rajur, Soara,

Lepcha, Garo, Kora, Nagessia, Rabha, Toto and others are considerable

as highly noticeable tribes whose physical appearance are committed to

report as the descendants of the mangoloid racial livestock.

Northern Zone: Northern tribal zone embodied Himachal Pradesh,

Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Concentrations of the Bhot, Gaddi, Gujjar,

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Kanaura, Swangala, Bhutia, Buksa, Raji, Jaunsari, Tharu and other

important tribes of are come to notice throughout this zone. Central Zone:

Central tribal zone is extended in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

where largest tribal people are settled down. Due to occupy the central

place and produce highest tribal population, this zone is acquainted as

tribal heart of India. However, this zone is adorned by birth of the Baiga,

Bharia, Bhil, Birhor, Gond, Halba, Kamar, Karku, Khaira, Kol, Hill

Korwa, Munda, Parja, Saharia and other tribes whose physical structures

indicate that they belong to Proto-Australoid racial livestock, specially

during summer season, these tribal group face problem of inadequacy of

water. Western Zone: Western tribal zone consists of Dadra & Nagar

Haveli, Gujarat, Goa, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. There is

followed the sporadical dispersions of the Dhosia, Konka, Verli, Barda,

Bhil, Dubla, Gond, Koli, Pomla, Siddi, Andh, Baiga, Mina, Birhul,

Halba, Kamar, Oraon, Parja and other tribal groups.

Southern Zone: The extension of southern tribal zone is followed

throughout Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Almost

all regions of this zone are habituated by 153 tribal groups and their sub-

groups. The Andh, Bhil, Chenchu, Gond, Jatapu, Khond, Koya, Kulia,

Yanadis, Barda, Irular, Kota, Toda, Yerava, Araden, Uraly, Malasar,

Koraga, Solasa and others are come to notice as important tribal groups.

Island Zone: Island tribal zone is constituted by Andamanese, Jarewas,

Nicobarese, Onges, Sentiunelses, Shom Pens and other tribes who

inhabiting Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep.

Tribal development is a constitutional obligation of India. The

constitution of India has not only made specific provisions to protect

tribals who make 8.2 percent of the total population but also has imposed

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the constitutional obligation of regular review of performance and

development effect directly to the president of India.

With the dawn of independence and adoption of the Constitution of

free India, the British policy of isolation and non-interference was

replaced by a policy of integration through development. The tribal

population in India can be classified into four discernible divisions:

(1) Tribals who confine themselves to original forest habitats and are still

distinctive in their pattern of life. They may be termed as tribal

communities, (2) Tribals who have more or less settled down in rural

areas, taking to agriculture and other allied occupation. This category of

people may be termed as semi- tribal communities, (3) Tribal who have

migrated to urban or semi-urban and rural areas are engaged in ‘civilized’

occupation in industries and other vocations and who have, with

discrimination, adopted traits and culture of other population of the

country. These may be classed as ‘semi-assimilated’ tribal communities,

and (4) Totally assimilated tribals.

Immediately after the independence, it was recognized that certain

communitises needed special attention for their protection and

development. The development programmes through Five Year Plans

have been the mainstay of our way to integrate the tribal into the

mainstream. With the onset of Five-Year Planning after independence, a

new era ushered in, particularly in the socio-economic development of

the weaker sections. The Planning Commission laid down the objectives

and strategies for tribal development from time to time.

First five year plan did not play any specific and special attention

towards the development of tribal areas, because only certain piecemeal

attempts such as educational schemes, welfare schemes etc. were

introduced.

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In second five year plan for the first time, an area specific special

programme for tribals were implemented with the creation of 43 Special

Multi-Purpose Tribal Blocks (SMPT blocks) in the second five year plan

in 1956. Each Block covered around 25,000 people of which two-thirds

were tribals. The areas of emphasis were education, health, agriculture,

communication and housing. A sum of Rs. 27 lakh was sanctioned to

each block for five- years.

In the third five year plan, the SMPT blocks were renamed as

Tribal Development Blocks (TDBs) and number of such blocks went up

to 489. The priority areas in the third plan almost remained the same as

before economic upliftment, education, health, housing and

communication. The allocation was Rs. 50.53 crore for tribal

development constituting a meager 0.60 percent of the total plan outlay.

On the eve of the commencement of fourth five year plan, 504

Tribal Development Blocks had come into existence for the betterment of

the tribals and intensive development areas with large concentration

covering 43 percent of tribal populations.

A boom for tribal development came in the fifth plan, which

provided a sub-plan for the tribes. Popularly known as Tribal Sub-Plan

(TSP), it had many components like ITDP (Integrated Tribal

Development Project), Modified Area Development Approach (MADA)

Pockets, Clusters, Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) and Dispersed Tribal

Groups (DTGs). The funds for implementing these projects were to come

from sources: TSP of Central Government, TSP of State Government,

Special Central Assistance, and Institutional Finance from credit

institutions, banks, etc.

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The tribal people live in contiguous areas unlike other

communities. It is, therefore, much simpler to have an area approach for

development activities as well as regulatory provisions to protect their

interests. In order to protect their interests with regard to land and other

social issues, various provisions have been enshrined in the Fifth

Schedule of the Constitution.

The Fifth Schedule under Article 244 (1) of the Constitution

defines “Scheduled Areas’ as such areas as the President may by order

declare to be Scheduled Areas after consultation with the Governor of

that State. The concept of Scheduled Area emerged during Fifth Five

Year plan which is defined under Article 244 (1) and Article 244 (2). The

Scheduled Area has been framed to protect the interest of Scheduled

Tribes with regard to their land and other social issues.

The Sixth Schedule under Article 244 (2) of the Constitution

relates to those areas in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and

Mizoram which are declared as "tribal areas" and provides for District or

Regional Autonomous Councils for such areas. These councils have wide

ranging legislative, judicial and executive powers.

The concept of the Tribal Sub Plan evolved against this

background and was adopted for the first time at the beginning of the 5th

Five Year Plan in 1974- 75. The TSP as originally conceived had a two

pronged strategy: promotion of developmental activities to raise the

living standards of Scheduled Tribes and protection of their interest

through legal and administrative support. The TSP mechanism has,

however, become routine and humdrum in most of the States with little

awareness of its original objectives.

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The long term objectives of the sub-plan are: to narrow the gap

between the levels of development of tribal and other areas, and to

improve the quality of life of the tribal communities. The Sub-Plan is not

a scheme, it represents a new approach. The strategy clearly spelt out the

problem of tribal development into two parts - (1) that of areas of having

more than 50 percent tribal concentration, and the scheduled areas, and (2)

that of areas with dispersed tribal population. Besides these two

categories, primitive tribal communities at the pre agriculture level of

technology were identified as a special group.

The sixth plan continued the Sub-Plan approach of the fifth plan.

This was to be supplemented by target beneficiary approach with the

objective of narrowing the gap between the level of development of the

tribals and other developed communities and bringing about a qualitative

change in the life of a tribal community.

In the seventh plan the emphasis was again economic and

educational development. At the national level, two institutions were

established: (i) Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation (TRIFED) and

(ii) National SC and ST Finance and Development Cooperation (NSFDC)

in 1989. TRIFED was the apex body for marketing tribal produce, mainly

minor forest produces (MFP).

In the eighth plan educational development was further

emphasized. The number of Ashram (residential) schools and

scholarships were increased. Regional languages were used as the

medium of instructions at primary level. Informal and adult education

programmes were given priority. On the economic front, more LAMPS

(Large Area Multipurpose Cooperative Societies) were opened up to meet

the needs of forest resources, credit, and marketing of MFP and supply of

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essential commodities. About six lakh families were rehabilitated from

shifting cultivation.

In the ninth plan emphasis is laid on a total integrated effort for all-

round tribal development and massive efforts have been made for the

socio-economic development of tribal people by the Government through

organized economic planning. The plan aimed to empower STs by

creating an enabling environment conducive for them. This process

essentially encompassed three vital components viz. social

empowerment, economic empowerment and social justice. It also focused

on tribal empowerment through effective implementation of PESA

(Panchayat Raj Extension in Scheduled Areas) in the Scheduled Areas

and proper utilization of grants release under Article275 (i) of the

Constitution for the development of scheduled tribes, in general and

raising the level of administration of the scheduled areas.

In the tenth five year plan, the programmes for child and women

development, irrigation, measures to improve income of tribals from

forest produce and development of forest village were to receive financial

assistance and attention. The Tenth Plan identified the priority group

requiring the basic needs and living in different geographical regions with

varied socio-economic conditions. Primary health care services in tribal

areas are extended by involving local NGOs. Indigenous medicine and

the traditional knowledge and method of healing are encouraged in

attending to the health needs of the tribes.

The eleventh plan will attempt a paradigm shift with respect to the

overall empowerment of the tribal people, keeping the issues related to

governance at the Centre. The operational imperatives of the Fifth

Schedule, TSP 1976, PESA 1996, RFRA 2006; the desirability of a tribal-

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centric, tribal-participative and tribal-managed development process and

the need for a conscious departure from dependence on a largely under-

effective official delivery system will be kept in view during this shift.

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of the country but has a

small tribal population. They constitute the weakest section of the society

and form distinct ethnic groups which have preserved their own separate

culture identities in their original environment despite the ravages of

time. In June 1967, five communities of the state were constitutionally

declared as “scheduled tribes”. These are: Tharu, Buksa, Bhotia, Jaunsari

and Raji. Apart from these there are some other tribal groups found in

Uttar Pradesh these are: Gond, Dhuria, Nayak, Ojha, Pathari, Raj Gond,

Kharwar, Khairwar, Saharya, Parahiya, Baiga, Pankha, Panika, Agariya,

Patari, Chero, Bhuiya and Bhuinya.

The Scheduled Tribe population of Uttar Pradesh is 107,963 at

2001 census, constituting a meager 0.1 per cent of the total population

(166,197,921) of the state. The decennial growth of tribal population has

been 42 per cent, which is 16.2 per cent higher than the growth of total

population (25.8 %) during 1991-2001. The state has a total of five major

Scheduled Tribes and about 18 other tribal groups. The tribal population

of the State is predominantly rural with 88.8 per cent of them residing in

villages.

The Uttarakhand state contributes only 0.83 percent to total and 0.3

percent to the tribal population of India. The state has registered 20.9 per

cent decadal growth of scheduled tribe population in 1991-2001. There

are total of five notified scheduled tribes in the state, and all of them have

been enumerated in 2001 Census. These are: Tharu, Jaunsari, Buksa,

Bhotia and Raji.

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In the study area summers are very hot while winters are fairly

cool. In summer, the temperature goes up to 44o C in the month of May

and June with desiccating dust-sweeping winds locally known as “Loo”.

The monsoon commence in the last of June or in the first week of July,

major part of rainfall is received during the month of July, August and

September. Few showers of rain also occur during winter months. Winter

rains are however uncertain and may benefit or adversely affect some of

the Rabi crops.

The total reporting area in Bijnor district was estimated at 464578

hectares during the year 2010. The total reported area of district Udham

Singh Nagar is 243162 hectares out of which net sown area are 118376

hectares constituting 48.68 percent of the total reported area.

The total number of operational land holdings in district Udham

Singh Nagar was 85641, covering an area of 155040 hectares. Land

holding up to 4 hectare comprises 89.15 percent of the total holdings and

command 54.23 percent of total cultivated land. Land holdings 4 to 10

hectares covers 31.09 percent of total cultivated area. Land holdings

greater than 10 hectare constitute only 0.81 percent of total holdings and

cover 14.65 percent of the total cultivated area.

In the Bijnor district, the size and distribution of land holdings is

that total number of operational land holdings are 317311 spreading over

the area of 343922 hectares. Majority of the land holdings falls under the

head of below 0.5 hectare which makes 42.97 percent of the total

operational land holdings. Land holdings from 0.50 to 1 hectare comprise

22.52 percent of the total holdings amounting 14.82 percent of total area.

Land holdings 1 to 2 and 2 to 4 hectare covers an area of 25.62 and 28.30

percent of total area respectively. Land holdings 4 to 10 and above 10

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hectares add up to 3.66 and only 0.16 percent of total holdings which

forms 18.17 and 3.01 percent of the total area.

Cropping pattern of the district Bijnor includes both Rabi and

Kharif crops in which more than 50 percent of the total area is covered by

the sugarcane followed by the cereal crops (wheat, rice, barley and

maize), fodder, vegetables (potato, onion and other vegetables), pulses

(black gram, green gram, lentil, gram, pea and pigeon pea) and oilseeds

(mustard, sesame, ground nut, sunflower, soybean and linseed) occupying

an area of 169180, 29237, 3563, 3359 and 3350 hectares amounting to

39.96, 6.90, 0.84, 0.79 and 0.79 percent of the total area under the crops

respectively.

In the district Udham Singh Nagar, wheat and rice are the most

important crops among the cereal crops. Rice is the largest growing crop

occupying an area of 108017 hectares accounting for 42.76 percent of the

total cropped area followed by wheat with an area of 83029 hectares

constituting 32.87 percent of the total cropped area. Thus, the rice and

wheat together cover three fourth of the total area under crops.

Sugarcane is another significant crop occupying 15.10 percent of the total

cropped area. Pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fodder crops together cover

a small part (8.82 %) of the total cropped area.

The sources of irrigation available in the both districts are canals,

tube wells, wells, ponds etc. Livestock population in both districts

includes cows, buffaloes, sheep, goat, horse, pig and poultry birds which

are accounted more in Udham Singh Nagar district. Numbers of banks are

more in Bijnor district than Udham Singh Nagar counterpart.

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Tribals are distributed in only three blocks of Bijnor district while

in Udham singh Nagar it is spreading in all blocks of the district which

makes a total population of 2427 and 110220 respectively. Buksa a

primitive tribal group is common in the both districts and most of them

are farmers. In district Bijnor only Buksa tribe and in Udham Singh

Nagar, Buksa and Tharu tribe constitutes the tribal fabrics.

Buksa major primitive tribe of Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh and

Uttarakhand as tribal farmers is characterized as they are inhabited in far

flung regions, mostly in or near the forests. They have to face scanty

means of subsistence which make their life difficult in several aspects.

Naturally their means of livelihood are confined to the areas inhabited by

them.

Buksas are Mongoloid. They follow the patrilineal and patriarchal

society. In general, they are medium or below-medium statured. Buksas

of Bijnor are of about stature not differing much from the general

peasantry of the area. The women are, however much more shapely and

beautiful than their men. The complexion of both men and women is

wheatish or dark wheatish. They speak Hindi and write Devnagri script.

The principal dialect used being Hindustani mixed with Braj and

Kumauni. The Buksas followed Hindu religion, but after all they purely a

tribal community by anthropological point of view. Despite a clear and

distinct impact of Hinduism on their beliefs, the Buksas continue to have

a deep faith in the essential ingredients of tribal religion-animism and

spiritualism. Besides this, there were Buksas who had a faith on Islam. It

is said the Buksas have been in contact with Muslims for more than four

hundred years. The Buksas are famous for their magical activities.

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The Buksas like to do many magical activities for blessing their

agriculture and livestock. Black and white both type of magic they like to

use generally. The Buksa usually eat what they grow. Their staple diet

consists of rice, wheat, vegetables, pulses, mutton, chicken, milk

products, fish, wild birds e.g. partridge, Bater, peacock, pigeon and water

fowl and wild animals e.g. wild boar, rabbit, Sahi and deer. In a study of

Buksa tribe of Bijnor district that Buksas houses are made of mud walls

with a two sided sloppy thatch. This type of structure is used to prevent

the accumulation of water in the rainy season and to increase the

longevity of the structure. The houses usually have two Kuccha rooms,

each with two doors that open against each other. Houses are used for

living, dining, storing and cooking and are very attractive and clean,

unlike the Buksas themselves who are dirty. There is a separate building

with a thatched roof for the animals. The Tarai was generally harsh

territory that was difficult to live in. Life in most of the villages is one of

continual struggle for existence against wild animals such as elephants,

tigers, wolves, neelgai and jackals, against the dense forest vegetation,

the enervating climate, malaria, dirty drinking water, poor transportation,

poor communication and a lack of basic amenities.

The Buksa is an agriculturist community. Almost all the Buksa

population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. Pressure of

increasing tribal population, their pressing needs and fragmentation of

land due to growing generations have caused the problem of land

alienation among some Buksa families. The economy of the Buksas is

thus based on agriculture and animal husbandry. The secondary

occupations include service, wage labourers, basketry etc. They also rear

cows, buffaloes, goats, horses and poultry birds. They also keep kitchen

gardens, collect tendu patta, make ropes and do carpentry.

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Majority of the families are nuclear on the tribal farms of both

districts. Members of the family are more in the age group of 36-60 years

in tribal farms of Bijnor and members of age group of 15-35 years are

more on the tribal farms of Udham Singh Nagar. More than 53 percent

and 49 percent tribal farmers are illiterate on the farms Bijnor and Udham

Singh Nagar respectively. Maximum houses are thatched house on the

tribal farms of Bijnor and Kachcha house in Udham Singh Nagar.

More than 68 percent and 86 percent households are electrified in

the both districts. Prime source of drinking water is Government hand

pumps in both districts. Bicycle is major mode of transportation on tribal

farms of Udham Singh Nagar but tribal farmers of Bijnor like to prefer go

through on foot. On an average majority of the members of tribal families

are engaged in labour as a subsidiary and casual occupation in the both

districts. The average size of land holding on tribal farms of Bijnor and

Udham Singh Nagar was found 0.99 and 1.05 hectares respectively.

Major source of irrigation is hired tube well on the farms of Bijnor

and owned irrigation equipments on the farms of Udham Singh Nagar.

Tribal farmers of both districts were more or less mechanized. The tribal

farmers of the study area were found to be maintaining on an average

2.97 and 2.03 cattle in Bijnor and Udham Singh Nagar respectively.

Major difficulty in improvement of agriculture is irrigation facility on the

tribal farms of both districts. Tribal farmers of both districts ranked to

prioritize future investment in irrigation facilities.

Fellow cultivators are key source of agricultural information of the

farms of Bijnor and extension staff on the farms of Udham Singh Nagar.

Commercial banks are the foremost source of credit supply on the tribal

farms of both districts. More than 44 percent and 41 percent areas is

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covered under the Kharif crops and 39 percent and 46 percent in Rabi

crops on the tribal farms of Bijnor and Udham Singh Nagar respectively

while sugarcane occupies 15.35 percent and 12.89 percent area from

total cropped areas.

Use of plant protection measures to save the crops from pests and

diseases is lower on the farms of Bijnor than Udham Singh Nagar

counterpart. Production of various crops grown on tribal farms of both

districts is more or less similar. The tribal farmers of the study area

generally sell their farm produce to the village traders, hawkers, mandi,

haat and sugar crushers, sugar mills, oil expellers and government

purchase centers as per kind of the produce.

Marketed surplus of paddy and maize is high on the tribal farms of

Bijnor and black gram, wheat, barley, mustard and lentil crops are high

on the tribal farms of Udham Singh Nagar. The total production of

sugarcane is sold as a marketed surplus. Total returns in terms of annual

income from agricultural produce sold are more on the tribal farms of

Udham Singh Nagar than Bijnor counterpart.

Findings:

The following findings emerged from the ongoing comparative study:

Majority of the families are nuclear on tribal farms of Bijnor

district than Udham Singh Nagar counterpart. Youth members of the

tribal families are more or less similar on both tribal farms. Most of the

tribal people are illiterate on tribal farms of Bijnor. Housing condition is

poor on the tribal farms of Bijnor as compared to Udham Singh Nagar.

Nearly all tribal households are electrified in Udham Singh Nagar.

Drinking water sources are good in Udham Singh Nagar. A good number

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of transportation means available on the tribal farms of Udham Singh

Nagar while transportation means are poor in Bijnor. A good proportion

of family members are engaged in subsidiary and casual occupations on

both type of tribal farms. Size of land holdings is less on the tribal farms

of Bijnor district. Sources of irrigation are poor on the tribal farms of

Bijnor. Mostly they are availing hiring services for irrigation from non-

tribal people. Tribal farmers of Udham Singh Nagar are more

agriculturally mechanized than their Bijnor tribal farmers’ counterpart.

Numbers of live stocks are more on tribal farms of Bijnor because of

there is forested area nearby their villages. Major constraint in

improvement of agriculture is irrigation on the tribal farms of Bijnor.

Priority for future investment in agriculture is irrigation on both tribal

farms. In case of tribal farmers of Bijnor fellow cultivator are major

source of agricultural knowledge. Extension staff is main source of

agricultural knowledge on the tribal farms of Udham Singh Nagar. The

main financing agencies of the area are the commercial banks,

cooperative societies and local moneylenders. The credit taken from these

agencies is mostly utilized by tribal farmers of Bijnor for unproductive

purpose, as compared to tribal farmers of Udham Singh Nagar. Crops

grown on the both type of tribal farms are more or less same. Area under

Kharif crops is greater on the tribal farms of Bijnor while area under Rabi

crops is greater on the tribal farms of Udham Singh Nagar. Sugarcane

occupies large areas on the tribal farms of Bijnor. Use of plant protection

measures are less on the tribal farms of Bijnor because of their poverty

and unawareness regarding the application of the pesticides. Yield of

various crops raised on both type of tribal farms are more or less similar.

Both types of tribal farmers sells their agricultural produce to the village

traders, hawkers, mandi, haat and sugar crushers, sugar mills, oil

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expellers and government purchase centers as per kind of the produce. On

an average marketed surplus of various crops is more on the tribal farms

of Udham Singh Nagar. Gross crop income, on the tribal farms of Bijnor

is slightly lower than Udham Singh Nagar farms. Non-agricultural

income from subsidiary and casual occupations constitutes a minor part

of total income on both types of tribal farms. From the above description

it is finally said that the socio-economic condition of tribal farmers of

district Udham Singh Nagar is better than the tribal farmers of Bijnor.

Hence it is imperative to suggest some viable measures to improve their

socio-economic conditions.

Suggestions:

Policy suggestions based on the findings from field study of tribal

farmers are presented for consideration:

· Educational facilities should be provided for the tribal people. More

educational institutions should be established and parents, primary

school teachers, village development officers and the head of the

local panchayat should be vested with the responsibility of enrolling

all children under 14 years of age in school.

· Positive steps should be taken to check the exploitation of tribals and

stern action should be taken against those who exploit them.

· Good, reliable transport and communication facilities should be

provided in tribal villages.

· Tribal villages should be connected to a regular supply of electricity.

· Irrigation facilities should be provided by government tube wells.

· Hybrid seeds of crops should be made available to farmers in

sufficient quantities well before the sowing season.

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· Rainwater should be stored in reservoirs and tanks and used

judiciously in a micro-irrigation system. Multiple cropping and

intercropping should be actively encouraged to improve farmers’ net

income.

· There must be adequate facilities for clean drinking water.

· The government must make major moves to create permanent assets

with tribal farmers and provide infrastructural support for meeting

input, credit and marketing needs.

· Extension agencies must visit the villages and interact with farmers

on a regular basis to educate them about improved crop production

technology.

· The future course of action for alleviating the misery of tribal farmers

and boosting production from dry lands should direct the

development of afforrestation through agro-forestry systems in dry

land.

· Training should be provided to the tribals in different income

generating activities through setting up more training centers at micro

project level, keeping in view the availability of local raw materials

as well as the marketability of the expected produce.

· Due to poor marketing knowledge and bargaining power of Buksa,

they are unable to get a remunerative price of the tendu leaves. On the

other hand, contractors are frequently cheated in selling of tendu

leaves when they come down to the tribal area of Bijnor district. The

micro project should address this issue of creating proper marketing

arrangement, market information systems, storage space and

minimum processing facilities at the local level. Simple processing

activities such as broom making, leaf plate making, honey processing,

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mat and rope making should be encouraged in the household/cottage

sector.

· To save the tribals from the clutches of the money lenders and

traders, the establishment of grain banks and arrangement for micro

finance should be explored.

· The special officer either from the technical line such as from

agriculture, horticulture, soil conservation and forest departments or a

sociologist who can mix with the target group and understand their

felt needs and difficulties be appointed so that the development

programmes may achieve the target.

· Land grabbing is major problem among the tribals of Bijnor, this

need to be solved through the medium of district administration and it

should be strictly enforced so as to bring about economic upliftment

of the tribal farmers.

· Suitable steps should be taken by the Government so as to educate the

tribal farmers about the importance of crop loan and crop insurance

facility. In this context, the procedural formalities should be

simplified, keeping in view of the literacy status of tribal farmers.

· The concept of Self-Help Group should be popularized in the tribal

villages.

If all the suggestions mentioned above are implemented in the

tribal villages the scene of development can be seen in these backward

villages. By introducing facilities of modern technology their socio-

economic standard can be increased. Thus this weaker part of the society

can be turned into the huge mass of human resource.