Seasonal Migration of Tribal People of Dang f...

Seasonal Migration of Tribal People of Dang for Livelyhood

Author Name : Bhavisha Rohit, Dr. Manish Patel

INTRODUCTION

Amidst the high-profile summits on Vibrant Gujarat, tall claims of the Chief Minister during the national conferences at Mahatma Mandir and the wider craze over the state’s glittering growth story, Gujarat today is seen as a “development model” by many including certain sections in the academia. This paper based on a recent study in the Dang district argues that the so-called “development” in Gujarat has been so uneven that lives and livelihoods of the most marginalized sections of the society – the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are in a state of disarray. While there is vast spatial variation of growth in the state wherein the districts of Saurashtra and north Gujarat have a huge share even at undermining the environmental concerns, the people in the south Gujarat on the other hand are bearing the brunt of underdevelopment. Despite the double-digit growth of the state, socio-economic conditions of the Scheduled Tribe communities in Gujarat are no different from any other parts of the country. The Dang, a district with abundant natural resources continues to remain as one of the most backward districts of the country. The tribal communities here have no alternatives rather to resort on seasonal labour migration that constitutes a major portion of their livelihood portfolios. The tribal families in the Dang migrate to nearby better off areas for 7-8 months in a year in search of better livelihoods. However, mostly being engaged as daily wage laborers, they only end up in saving a very little amid harsh exploitations. Though, the process of seasonal labour migration is believed to be common among the tribal communities in India, what is most surprising is that tribal families in the Dang have been migrating for last few decades and yet there has been no change in their migration pattern. They have considered seasonal labor migration as an inevitable part of their daily struggle for survival. Development interventions done by the state and other agencies in the district have very little impact though only provide temporary relief to these households. Absolute indifference of the political and bureaucratic masters in implementation of the MGNREGS and siphoning of its funds in the district also further add to the woes of the people.