Roots of India Tribal Policy:

The government of India led by Jawaharlal Nehru favoured the policy of integrating the tribal people in Indian society, of making them an integral part of the Indian nation, even while maintaining their distinct identity and culture.

Prime Minister Nehru was the main influence in shaping government's attitude towards the tribals. Nehru stood for economic and social development of the tribal people in multifarious ways, especially in the fields of communications, modern medical facilities, agriculture and education.

Nehru thought that Indian nationalism was capable of accommodating the uniqueness of tribal people. The nationalist policy towards tribals since the 1920s was underlined by Gandhiji’s efforts to set up ashrams in the tribal areas and promotion of constructive work.

There were certain broad guidelines laid down by Nehru, with the help of Verrier Elwin [British Anthropologist] which was called as "Tribal Panchsheel". They are:

1. Tribal people should be afforded the Oppurtunity to develop along the line of their own genius & imposing anything on them should be avoided. Attempt should be to encourage in every way their own traditional arts and culture.

2. Tribals rights to land and forest should be respected.

3. They should be trained and build up a team of their own people to do the work of administration and development. Some technical personnel from outside will no doubt, be needed, especially in the beginning. Introducing too many outsiders into tribal territory should be avoided.

4. These areas should not be over administered or overwhelmed with multiplicity of schemes. Attempt should be to work through & not in rivalry to, their own social & cultural institutions.

5. Results should be judged not by statistics or the amount of money spent, but by the quality of human character that is involved.

To give shape to government's policy, provision was made in the constitution itself.

♤ Under article 46 – the state should promote with special care the educational and economic intersects of the tribal people & should protect them from social injustice & all forms of exploitation.