This was the gist of the deliberations among 250 delegates representing tribal groups from nine states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The tribal leaders agreed on a plan to help their people fight for their livelihood, culture, languages, customs, traditions and values. " Existence of tribal communities is threatened after country’s developmental projects deprived them of their land, water, forest and other natural resources," said Dr Marianus Kujur, who heads the tribal unit in New Delhi-based Indian Social Institute.
Dr Kujur, one of the key resource persons, also exhorted them to help their communities rise above own groups and work for common good of all tribal groups. Dr Agapit Tirkey, who directs a tribal research center in Chhattisgarh, stressed the need for tribals to become politically active and take up their causes in various civil and social forums.
"Unless the tribals assert themselves in socio-political life their voice would be crushed," he said on Friday. He was also critical about the present day tribal politicians as they failed to influence the policies that went against the interest of the tribals.
They delegates also pledged to work for bringing unity among different groups and fight for their common goal of protecting their livelihood, culture, traditions, language and values. Even after enactment of Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 the tribals were not getting its benefits due to lack of awareness about it.