Sustainable Development perspectives of Tribal Women in Maharashtra more

Sustainable Development perspectives for Tribal women in Maharashtra Mr. Dilvarsing Vasave Dept. of Economics, M.J. College, Jalgaon Introduction The concept of sustainable development is recent origin. The term “sustainable development” was first used by world conservation strategy presented by international union for conservation of nature and natural resources in 1980.It was poularised world commission on the environment and developments study our common future (1987), which also known as Brundtland report. Define of sustainable development: “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Define sustainability Sustainability concerns the design and implementation of development strategies whose objectives is to ensure the maximum long –term improvement of quality of life of the population consistent with the resources available to the country. This involves the equitable distribution of the social and economic benefits of development and participation of beneficiaries and identification of development priorities and in the implementation and management of policies and programmes affecting their lives. The term Sustainable development has been defined by the World commission on environment and development (WCED) in 1980.Also known as Brundtland report, our common future included the “classic” definition of sustainable development: “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In order to ensure long-term sustainability it is essential to ensure that the national, social and economic policy framework is consistent with, and supportive of the development objectives and implementation methods social sector projects and programmes. Objectives • • • Sustainable development aims at the creation of sustainable improvements in the quality of life for all peoples as the principal goal of development. “Bettering people’s health and education opportunities, giving everyone to chance to participate in public life, helping to ensure a clean environment and promoting intergenerational equity”. Sustainable development at maximizing the net benefit of economic development subject to maintaining the stock of all environment and natural resources (physical, human and natural) over time. Sustainable Development for Tribal In India more than 500 tribal groups are residing and and having separate ethic situations and cultural traits. The separate ethnic situation of the tribal groups is their identity. In Maharashtra, Forty seven tribal groups have been scheduled by government of India, having their special traits and rich cultural heritage. The problems of tribal development can not be seen in isolation from mainstream development, yet, the preservation and sensitivity towards their socio- cultural identity also can not be overlooked. The challenge, at present, is to be able to recognize and understand the priorities and anxieties of the tribal communities The arise from the shrinking economic base due to massive felling of trees caused by commercial exploitation of forest wealth. More and more tribals are becoming alien in their own area. Our economic modernization through construction of big power projects, opening of mines and construction of large dams is leading to displacement and impoverishment of tribal. There is need for having critical look at all ongoing tribal development programmes. The areas of concern will have to go beyond the conception and implementation of development programmes and projects to focus on getting sustained long term benefits from investment. It is being seriously felt that while there has emphasis on tribal development by both government and voluntary sectors, yet it has rested only on project formulation and timely cost effective implementation of the development projects. The sustainability aspect of the projects has not received sufficient attention. Sustainable Development and Tribal Women Maharashtra Experience: Tribals are one of the poorest communities of rural Maharashtra. Inspite of their respective size of land holdings, they subsist largely on agriculture. Agriculture output not being sufficient they depend on bonded or cheap wage labour and the forest timber to see them through the year until the next harvest. In such a situation of deprivation it is imperative for the women to share the burden of eking ount of living. If one assesses the amount of labor that women put into agriculture and allied tasks in their own their homes we find that it amounts to 60-80percent. When men migrate as they do very often in north Maharashtra to seek work outside the areas in neighboring state the women are under strain single- handedly cope with the household and agricultural work. The Programmes for women’s development, in the state concentrate on broad areas – Education and training, Health, Nutrition and family welfare and employment and Economic development. Yet there is not much data or analysis available on the present status of tribal women. Further these programmes are treated separately. Sustainability of above projects would mean that the project is able to generate and sustain the intended direct and indirect benefits through its intended lifetime. For example, the issues with regard to a health delivery system purely from maintenance point of view would relate to the maintenance of hospital building, maintenance of hospital equipment, provision of medical staff and so on. Sustainability on other hand, would include morbidity and morality due to curable simple illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea etc. the demographic pattern of the tribal population, sterilization programme, contribution of health centre to the broad sectoral and national goals and so on along with maintenance concerns already mentioned. Even in the educational programmes and other training programmes, starting the project is not enough. The sustainability aspect would set out to cover a clear understanding of what the training is set to achieve on a long term basis, whether the knowledge or information or skills will be learnt to at least a minimum level and put to use. It is very clear that low priority to sustainable development has resulted in: - No significant improvements in the socio- economic condition of tribal people. The increased the cost of maintenance of whatever infrastructure that exists in the tribal areas vis-à-vis the beneficiaries are very high. Poor quality of services. Reduce accessibility of certain groups as the poorer among them, the women and children to benefits. Suggestive Strategy The above analysis for tribal women calls for a specific strategy to the adopted to improve their socioeconomic status. The role of tribal women is important but their socio-economic development is poor. More needs to be done. The problems of tribal women and tribals common Strategy to strengthen and empower tribal women are: Increase the literacy in tribal women. Low literacy especially tribal girls and high dropout rates at elementary and higher levels are area concern. Focus on girl’s education, inclusive of context- specific traditional and innovative interventions. Launch special and sustained education initiatives in low female literacy tribal pockets. To prevent teacher absenteeism in tribal areas, give preference to local and tribal teachers from local Panchayats, and place the teaching non-teaching staff primary schools under the control. To provides technical skills of Tiny and small scale industry. Empowerment trough this medium can possible. Provide proper health services to tribal women. Increase awareness of education among tribal women. Increase the representatives in political and decision making. Increase the share of property distribution. Need to proper implementation policy of various Govt.scheme of tribal women. - Conclusion Tribal is one of poorest community in Maharashtra. In tribal community the place of the women is very lower compare with another community. Since independence Govt.took many Welfare and development programmes for improving the condition of tribal women, but impact of that progamme is very low In present economic development the condition of tribal women become very pathetic, so there is need to empowering socially, educationaly and politically for the sustainable development of tribal women in Maharashtra. References 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Growth and development - A.P.Thrival Economic growth and Planning – M.L.Zhingan Environmental Geography – Savindra Singh Sustainable development in tribal and backward areas –Anju kohli, farida Shah & A.P.Chowdhary Tribal Report of TRTI, Pune (India)