socio economic conditions of tribal workers in neyveli
TRANSCRIPT
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SOCIO ECONOMIC AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF UNORGANISED SCHEDULED TRIBE WORKERS IN NEYVELI
Dr.K.Dhamodharan. M.A., B.L., M.B.A(Hons) M.M.M., M.Sc(Psy) M.Phil., Ph.D Honorary Coordinator,SHIATS-Deemed University,Allahabad, Neyveli [email protected]
Abstract
The tribal workers are one of the most vulnerable sections of the unorganized labour
force in India. The tribal workers are engaged in various kinds of works in the unorganized
sector. The work being unskilled and casual in nature the employers prefers the poor tribal
workers who are mostly illiterates and not aware of their rights. The Socio Economic and
Working conditions of tribal workers are below the minimum standard. Many studies were
made on tribal community but the nature, scope and objectives of the studies were aimed to
the extent of community development of tribal. But applied research on Tribal labour in India
is at slow phase. The present study was conducted with an objective to examine the social
economic and working conditions of tribal workers in Neyveli. The study covered the tribal
workers settled in Non tribal plain area at Neyveli. These tribal workers at Neyveli are
migrated labourers. The Human Rights of the tribal men and women who form substantial
part of the unorganized labour force are largely affected. The present study is explorative
cum descriptive aimed at exploring the socio economic conditions including the working
conditions of the tribal workers in unorganized sector of Neyveli which is an industrial town
situated 200 kilometers of Chennai at Cuddalore district. The study covered a sample size of
50 selected under random sampling method. Appropriate statistical tools like Chi-square
analysis and percentage analysis were made to analyse the data. The primary data were
collected through the Interview schedule. The secondary data were collected from published
and unpublished works including the internet resources .The study results shows that the
socio economic and working conditions of Tribal workers are dismal. The basic human rights
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are violated in many forms. The study concludes with certain recommendations for the
improving the conditions of the tribal workers.
Key words: Human Rights, exploited, Vulnerable, exploited, infringement, unorganized
workers,
Introduction
The term "human rights" is a relatively modern invention. It covers under its umbrella three
different types of rights which include the fundamental freedoms or classical civil liberties, ethnic and
religious rights, and socio-economic rights (Greenfield, 1981 ). Human rights mean the rights relating
to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in
the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India. Our constitution guarantees certain
fundamental rights. The Fundamental Rights are defined as basic human freedoms which every Indian
citizen has the right to enjoy for a proper and harmonious development of personality. These rights
universally apply to all citizens, irrespective of race, place of birth, religion, caste, creed, colour or
sex. They are enforceable by the courts, subject to certain restrictions. Article 366(25) of the
constitution refers to scheduled tribes as those communities who are scheduled in accordance with
Article 342 of the Constitution. According to Article 342 of the Constitution, the Scheduled Tribes are
the tribes or tribal communities or part of or groups within these tribes and tribal communities which
have been declared as such by the President through a public notification.
The schedule tribes of India possess distinct and unique characteristic feature (Ghuryw, G.S.
1980). The Scheduled Tribe are most vulnerable groups( Mamoria.C.B,1958) As per the 1991 Census,
the Scheduled Tribes account for 67.76 million representing 8.08 percent of the country’s population.
Scheduled Tribes are spread across the country mainly in forest and hilly regions (Dube,1997). The
scheduled Tribal communities for economics purpose migrate from place to place and their mobility
is based on many factors influencing their pattern of employment and traditional occupations (Singh,
K.S. 1982) The Scheduled Tribes in Neyveli are mostly self employed persons.
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According to the definition of Unorganised Sector Workers’ Social Security Act, 2007 "self-
employed worker" means any person who is not employed by an employer, but engages himself or
herself in any occupation in the unorganised sector subject to a monthly earning of an amount as may
be notified by the Central Government or the State Government from time to time or holds cultivable
land subject to such ceiling as may be notified by the State Government. The scheduled tribe men and
women come under this category of self employed workers category.
The scheduled tribe women have also started earning and their income forms significant part
of the family income(Sen, Gita 2003) The Scheduled Tribe men and women in Neyveli are also
engaged in other works which are covered by the definition Unorganized sector. The term
“Unorganized sector” means an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers and
engaged in the production or sale of goods or providing service of any kind whatsoever, and where
the enterprise employs workers, the number of such workers is less than ten.
The Unorganised labour constitutes a widely exploited section of the society ( A.M.Sharma
2008). “Unorganised sector worker” means a home based worker, self-employed worker or a wage
worker in the unorganised sector. The term ‘Unorganised labour’ has been defined in other way by the
Government of India. In its annual report the term Unorganised labour has been defined as “those
workers who have not been able to organise themselves in pursuit of their common interests due to
certain constraints like casual nature of employment, ignorance and illiteracy, small and scattered size
of establishments”. Nevertheless Social security measures are rare in the unorganized sector (S R
Sharma, 1997). The scheduled tribes in the Neyveli area were said to be occupying the area belonging
to the Government unauthorisedly. Almost all of them had migrated from various parts of Tamilnadu
and settled in and around Neyveli in groups some thirty years back. The peculiar characteristic feature
of the migration and settlement is that the groups migrate with their families and friends and construct
small huts for dwelling.
The institution of migration had affected almost all societies both historically and structurally.
The data on population mobility of ST are essentially pre requisite for any developmental planning.
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The Irulas help in catching snakes and collect the snake venom. The tribals way of living is slowly
changing from their original forest dweller existence to one near the mainstream like Neyveli. In order
to protect the Human Rights of the Scheduled Tribes the Government of India had brought an
amendment in article 338 of the constitution in 2003 wherein a new Article was inserted as 338 A (1)
which paved the way for the creation of the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes. The
prime duty of the commission is to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards
provided for the Scheduled Tribes under this Constitution or under any order of the Government and
to evaluate the working of such safeguards the National Commission for the Scheduled Tribes, to
inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the
Scheduled tribes, to participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of
the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any
State; to present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit,
reports upon the working of those safeguards, and to make in such reports recommendations as to the
measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those
safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the
Scheduled tribes (Basu, Salil. 1999)
The Constitution of India in its endeavor seeks to secure for all its citizens, among other
things, social and economic justice, equality of status and opportunity and assures the dignity of the
individual. The Constitution further provides social, economic and political guarantees to the
disadvantaged sections of people. Some provisions are specific to both Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes and some are specific to only Scheduled Tribes. Article 15 (4) of the constitution
provides for special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes
of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The Parliament has also passed the
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to prevent the
commission of offences of atrocities against the tribes. The International Instruments on Human
Rights too provides for the protection of human rights of the scheduled tribes in various ways. ILO
Conventions Nos. 107 and 169 on indigenous and tribal peoples are the only two international legal
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instruments adopted specifically on the subject by the international community. They reflect the ILO's
concern, since 1921, for promoting the rights of these peoples and enhancing their position within
national societies. Many of the Articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 protect
the rights and interests of the Scheduled Tribes. However poverty which one of the factor contributing
to the violation of Human Rights violation forms the essential part of the Scheduled Tribe Labour
(Sen,A 1984). With this backdrop the socio economic conditions of unorganized scheduled tribe
workers were examined.
Statement of the problem
Multitude of problems surrounding the unorganised scheduled tribal workers draws the
attention of Human Rights Activist, Labour Activist, and Philanthropist in the recent times. As a
result research studies on tribal labour began slowly. In addition to the above said legal provisons
specifically applicable to the tribal labour a number of other national and international laws are also
applicable to tribal labour. Now the research problem is whether all these protective measures really
improved the standard of living of the tribal labour ? The question again arises whether the tribal
workers enjoy the fruits of Human Rights. With this objective a study was conducted Neyveli which
is 200 kilometers from Chennai.
Need for the study
There is an imperative need to take up more studies at this level to understand the problems of tribal
workers more vividly. Such an understanding is absolutely necessary to evolve appropriate strategy to
deal with their problems and to bring about overall development of tribal workers including the
enjoyment of their Human Rights.
Scope of the study
The study covered scheduled tribal workers in in Neyveli. The tribal labour in Neyveli belongs to
three categories namely (a) Kattu Naickan (b) Malaikuravan and (c) Irulars. These people are not the
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natives but migrated from the other district some thirty to forty years back. These tribal people mainly
settled in groups in various parts of Neyveli. The study focuses the Socio economic, living and
working conditions of the tribal labourers. There is also an extensive scope for many more studies in
this contour to enable the administrators to devise an appropriate strategy to improve the overall
conditions of tribal workers.
Objectives of the study
The overall objective of the study is to understand and analyse Socio - economic, the working
and living conditions of Women Construction workers and thus it has its focus on the following
specific objectives.
1. To study the socio economic profile of tribal workers.
2. To understand the nature, pattern of employment, migratory character and living conditions of
tribal workers in Neyveli.
3. To examine the Human Rights of the tribal labourers
4. To study the social security measures extended to tribal workers.
5. To suggest suitable measures.
Research design
The present study is an exploratory cum-Descriptive design. While the exploratory design is
employed in order to gain familiarity with the situation of tribal workers, the descriptive design is
used for portraying accurately the characteristics of tribal workers and for determining its association
with the socio economic factors. The present state of affairs of the tribal workers in Neyveli is studied
and analyzed with statistical tools. Survey method is used for eliciting data from the target population.
The researcher collected some of the information by observation of the groups.
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Sampling Method
As the tribal workers are settled at groups in specified areas, it was very easy for the
researcher to identify the sources from one group. Accordingly a target population of 150 families is
found to be residing in 3 different locations of Neyveli. One third of the family target population is
taken as sample size under random sampling method. 50 numbers of units is taken as sample for the
study. Structured close-ended interview schedule in regional language Tamil is pre tested to find out
the validity among 10 sample population in random. Necessary changes were incorporated in the
questionnaire after it was pre tested among the above said 10 respondents. The data collected through
the schedule is tabulated and statistical tools were applied to analyze the data in scientific way. The
present study is based on both primary and secondary data. The secondary data were collected from
the published books on tribal labour and E resources. Statistical tools like percentage analysis, Chi
square Test were employed to enrich the study in a logical manner.
Findings of the study
Majority of the respondents are found to be illiterates not attended school. 42 of the
respondents are self employed. 79 % of the respondent spouses are also self employed in rag picking
and some people engage themselves as pig and cow herd workers. The tribal men and women do not
possess any specific skill except catching the poisonous snakes. Around 6 % of the respondents still
depend on snake charming which fetches an income range from Rs 75-100. Tribal labourers do not
possess awareness on many issues including Government welfare schemes. The mean age of the
respondents are found to be 36.4. All the respondents are migrated from elsewhere to Neyveli and
have encroached the area belonging to the Government and are residing in the huts unauthorisedly. As
their huts are constructed in the Government lands they are reported to be repeatedly evicted by the
Government officials under the provisions of the Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorized
Occupants Act, 1971. It is observed from the study that the tribal people are often evicted without any
statutory notice.
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The huts are not electrified. Water supply was not found and the respondents have to go
depend up on the Rehabilitated Srilankan refugee settlement camps for water. Social exclusion by the
natives of nearby villages and even srilankan refugees brings their human rights under bottleneck.
Basic amenities like latrines and bathrooms are totally absent. The Right to shelter and the Right to
Life which includes Right to life with dignity guaranteed by the constitution have not altered the
innocent tribals. Even for water they depend on other areas dominated by the upper caste and other
ethnic groups. The sad state of affairs is that they remain as unprotected and uncared section despite
being an Indian by birth. The Tribal workers and their families reside in the dangerous dwellings
without power supply. Many instances of deaths of due to bite of poisonous insects and reptile were
also reported among the workers and their wards. The tribal men workers work as casual workers in
construction sector, rag picking, and 13 % workers work with their spouse and children below the age
group of 13 in construction sector. The unorganized employments in Neyveli provide employment
opportunity to schedules tribe workers. Absenteeism on the part of the S.T workers on account of
alcoholism, illness arising out of their nature of works otherwise occupational diseases disables them
to attend regular work under a same employer. They frequently change their employers on their own.
They content with the day’s income and never thought of their next day. They borrow money from
employers and are required to pay higher rates of interest. 69 % of the Scheduled Tribe workers are
yet to repay and clear their loans and borrowings. 72 % of the S.T workers are using Cycles and 3 %
of them are blessed with mopeds .43 % of the S.T workers are required to travel more than 10
kilometers for their works. 74 % of the S.T Women workers engage themselves in self employed
work category and their area is restricted to 10 kilometers from their place of residence. 77 % of
women workers walk with their baggage’s and temporarily store the sacks of gatherings in one area
and later collect them.
Of late the tribal workers started sending their wards to schools. However they are not
showing much interest in the education of their children. Many of the girl children are also helping
their mothers in picking the rags for additional money. The average pay of the respondent per day
remain Rs 150/-while their spouses earn at least Rs 100/- a day. Around 60 % of the respondents had
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been receiving the commodities like rice from the Government owned Ration shops with their cards.
The remaining 40 % of the respondents are yet to get their ration cards despite repeated application at
regular intervals. The presents ration cards were issued ten years back by the Government authorities.
Only 24 % of the respondents are engaged themselves in their traditional works. Among them
majority are engaged mainly in catching the snakes on call from the consumers. The respondents
earnestly admit that they get even Rs 500/- per snake if the call is emergency from the public in times
of need.
Due stiff implementations of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 their traditional work of
snake catching for money is affected and as result many of them turned away to other jobs like Cow
and Pig herd .Many of them are also seen in the butcher shop engaged for killing and cleaning the
animals for food. As the respondents are under intermittent employment they are not aware of the day
of the rest and rest intervals. Minimum wages payable to the tribal labour are totally denied by the
employers.
Social security measures are distant dream for the respondents. There are no provisions for
the traditional tribals for the enrolment as beneficiary under the provisions of The Tamilnadu Manual
Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Work) Act, 1982. The tribal people are
deprived of their legitimate right of receiving the S T community certificate from the revenue
authorities. Many hunger strikes and rally were conducted to register their protest ended in vain. The
stand of the Government is also seems to be genuine to avoid the claim of bogus certificate. Many
such cases of claims of bogsus certificate were reported to have been eliminated in the application
stage itself by the revenue authorities. In order to provide the fruits of the reservation to the genuine
tribes the Government is very strict in issuing the ST community certificates in cuddalore district.
However the respondents have migrated from elsewhere from other district may not be known to their
native district as they do not have immovable property like lands or houses. In this situation even the
native district view respondents like alien and refuses to consider their legitimate claims. The wards
education is greatly affected. None of the wards of the respondents crossed the school stage.
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Their legitimate Right to Development enshrined in the International Instruments on Human
Rights is greatly affected. While at one end elite group and their families are climbing the ladder to
the highest positions through the provisions of the reservations of ST are enjoying the constitutional
provisions. Lack of awareness imposed up on the part of the respondents by poverty lead a life
without any ambition. Their life style is unique. The hard earned money is spent lavishly. In the
evening the respondents drink the liquor with their spouse and engage in singing songs. Family
planning and importance of the maternal health of women is not paid much attention.
Traditional methods of abortion are also resorted to by the elderly women. The child death
rate during pregnancy though seems to be less but the dreaded diseases like TB is found high among
the respondents. As the respondents are frequently changing their employers as their work itself is
casual in nature, there is no permanent employer and employee relationship. As a result their rights to
certain benefits under various labour legislations are not favorably considered by their employers. The
respondents have not registered their name as beneficiary under the provisions of unorganized labour.
The respondents are seen only as “Tribal people” but not as tribal labour. It is need of the hour to
change the perception of the Trbal people as Trbal Labour to improve their socio economic
conditions. During the data collection many of the respondents with desperate heart and tears on their
eyes reported that they are disadvantaged of the Colour television sets while same has been issued to
others in the same locality except them. Domestic Violence like wife beating is very common.
Divorce and separation are decided by the head of the group and not by any laws of land. The
divorced or separated women continue to live in the same groups as separate family or with the
parent’s family. Adultery is also very common. However no case of HIV / Aids is reported from the
Tribal workers. With an average monthly income of Rs 8000/-many of the respondents lead a life in
the small huts with big question of eviction. The Tribal woman who engages themselves in rag
picking is often interrogated by police personnel and are subjected to harassment .Sexual harassment
Their gloomy faces during the data collection really revealed the distresses conditions more vividly.
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Recommendations
1. The trade unions, Non government organizations and the Government have to initiate
appropriate steps to spread the awareness on various provisons of the welfare applicable
to the tribal workers who are engaged in the unorganized employments. The Government
of Tamilnadu shall consider the Tribal labour for allotment of 2 acres land on priority.
Basic amenities like water, electricity, toilet facilities are to be extended to the
respondents. The respondents are to be provided community certificate by the revenue
official after proper enquiry. The Tribal Labourers are often evicted without prior notice
by the enforcement authorities who cause loss of the property and affects the mental their
health. Hence appropriate instruction is issued to the authorities to adhere to the
provisions under due process of Law. The respondents are legally entitled to receive the
free colour televisions set of the Government of Tamilnadu were denied the same for
some reasons while the same has been issued to the native people of Sorathur village.
Hence the Government has to supply the said colour television set due to the Tribal
labourers family. The tribal labourers family has been residing in the same locality for
more than 2 decades but still 77 % of the respondents are not issued the ration cards. The
Revenue officials are to consider the request of the respondents on merit and issue the
same immediately as majority of the respondents are below the Poverty line. The
Government of Tamilnadu has been administering many welfare schemes aimed at
improving the socio economic conditions of the depressed people. Many
samathuvapurams stands as shining examples. But these Tribal groups still remain
without water and power for many years in the independent India. It is the time for the
government to consider the poor tribals workers for providing allotment of houses on
priority. The changing nature of the employments due to stiff enforcement of Laws lead
the respondents to seek alternate employment but due to lack of awareness are exploited
and their legitimate legal rights of minimum wages, working hours, equal wages, are
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violated in many forms. Hence a creation separate cooperative employment society under
the supervision of the Government officials exclusively to be appointed for the tribal
welfare could bring better results. There are many NGO working for the up-liftment of
the distressed people. But none of the NGO’s are concerned with the inner realities of the
tribal women engage in rag picking. Many self employed tribal women engaged in rag
picking are repeatedly harassed by the police and public. The NGO’s can help in
overcoming the problems faced by the women.
Conclusion
The conditions of Tribal workers in Neyveli are found to be pathetic. Majority of the respondents are
illiterates and their traditional work of snack catching, snake charming and collecting herbal leaves in
the forest area are now disturbed by strict enforcement of laws. The Government had enacted much
legislation to protect the Human Rights of the Tribal Workers. As majority of the workers are
illiterates they are not aware of their legal rights and as a result their employers in many ways have
exploited them. The Tribal Laborers are un-organized workers. It become easy for the employers to
get rid of various legal obligations required to be performed statutorily under various Acts. The legal
rights of Tribal workers are violated in many forms. The conditions of ST workers in unorganized
sector thus need the immediate attention of the government, employers, trade unions, N.G.O‘s, and
mass media. Insecurity of tenure and fear of eviction from the Government lands where they have
lived and thrived for generations are perhaps the biggest reasons why tribal communities feel
emotionally disturbed and mentally weak in approaching their problem with courage through
organized effort. Special steps have to be taken by the Government to promote welfare and
development of Tribal Labourers and their families in Neyveli.
Reference
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