IIT Roorkee organises National Conference on Tribal Development in India

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee is hosting the 'National Conference on Tribal Development in India: Prospect and Retrospect'. The conference is scheduled to be held on February 3 and February 4, 2023. The seminar is sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

This conference is part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav of the Government of India. The seminar reflects on the issue and questions concerning tribal development in India.

Also Read | IIT Roorkee MBA admissions 2023 open; details here

The two-day seminar is to address the pressing issues themed around constitutional rights and protection, governance and administration and the role of the state, education, health and livelihood, identity and tribes, tribal women and development, regional development and tribes, tribes and environment.

The event was graced by the presence of Professor K K Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee and addressed by Profesor Virginius Xaxa, Visiting Professor at Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi.

Also Read | IIT Roorkee researchers develop sustainable technologies to tackle plastic, e-waste

The two-day seminar saw eminent personnel speaking about the state of affairs of the tribal community in India. Among them were Dr Bipasha Rosy Lakra, Professor V Bijukumar, Dr Shreya Jessica Dhan, Dr Jadhav Prathap Singh, Shivangi Baruah, Ramengmawia Bawitlung, Mrinalini Raj, Dr Thanggoulen Kipgen, Dr Pratap C Mohanty, Dr Kumari Vibhuti Nayak, Manasmita Khilar, Manta Wangsu, C Zonunmawia, Dr Deepali Aparajita, Thangsiandong Guite and Dr Debdulal Saha, Kh Pavei, Neelam Kerketta, Jasodhara Borthakur, P Lalpekhlui, Dr Aashish Xaxa.

Professor Virginius Xaxa, Visiting Professor, Institute of Human Development, highlighted, "Given the diversity and geographical spread of the tribal communities in terms of states and regions, there are significant variations in terms of the levels of tribal development. For instance, the progress made in education is far from even. Most Northeastern states, such as Mizoram and Nagaland, have achieved impressive records in the field of literacy, 91.51 per cent, and 80.04 per cent, respectively (2011 Census)."

Also Read | IIT Delhi Admissions 2023: Registration for MBA programme underway; apply by January 31

Profesor K K Pant, Director IIT Roorkee, said, " Tribes in India constitute about 8.6 per cent of the country’s total population. Several special constitutional provisions are being framed for the tribes to protect their socio-cultural interests and political rights, particularly on issues concerning affirmative actions, issues of governance, political representation, and access to resources, among others."

Also Read | IIT Roorkee Placements 2022: 6 international job offers with highest salary of Rs 1.06 crore made

The question of tribal development is a pressing concern in post-independent India. Several policies and programmes were introduced to uplift and improve their condition. Since post-independent, several programmes and policies have been introduced that target the development and improvement of the living conditions of the tribes focusing on health, education, employment, food security, livelihood, and income generation.