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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 209
Tribal Entrepreneurship in India
Keshari Nandan Mishra
Associate Professor, Department of History, H. N. B. Government P.G. College,
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Abstract
India has the largest concentration of tribal population in world. As per Census 2011tribal
people constitute 8.14% of the total population in India. Tribal handicrafts are the specialized
skills which are passed on from one generation to another and these handicrafts are means of
livelihood for the tribal artisans. Now a day’s tribal entrepreneurship is an important means to
promote tribal livelihood opportunities. On the contrary it is also a fact, that the majority of
tribal entrepreneurs are facing many problems due to non-availability of primary amenities in
tribal predominated areas. Due to lack of education on entrepreneurship, financial problem,
non-availability of modern technologies and lack of marketing skills; it is too difficult for the
tribal people to establish market center in the tribal and rural area. This paper aims to find out
the problems and challenges in establishing entrepreneurship of the potential tribal .It also
focuses on the promotion strategies towards tribal entrepreneurship in India with special
reference to Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. This study is exploratory in nature using secondary
sources.
Key Words: Entrepreneurship, Challenges, Problems, Constraints, Technology, Tribal,
Amenities.
Introduction
Tribal constitute 8.61% of the total
population of the country, numbering 104.28
million (2011 census) and cover about 15 %
of the country area. The fact that tribal
people need special attention can be
observed from their low social, economic
and participatory indicators. Whether it is
maternal and child mortality, size of
agriculture holdings or access to drinking
water and electricity, tribal communities lag
far behind the general population. India is
among few nations in the world with a
sizable population in different parts of the
country. There are 573 different tribal
communities spared all over India. As per
official data only 258 tribal communities
speaking about 106 different languages are
notified as “Schedule Tribes”. About 80%
are tribal population are to be found along
Page 2 of 5
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 210
the central India, and the rest 20% are in the
north-eastern states, southern states and
island group. The numerically strong
schedule tribe groups include Santali,
Gonad, Bhil, and Oraon.
Tribal Entrepreneurship Development in
India
India is the largest concentration of tribal
population in the world .there are 697 tribes
notified by central government under article
342 of the Indian constitution with certain
tribes being notified in more than one state.
More than half the schedule tribe’s
population is concentrated in the state of
MadhayaPradesh,Chhattisgarh ,Odisha
,Jharkhand and Hariyana. The tribal
handicraft/product are specialized skill
which are passed on from one generation to
another and these handicraft are means of
livelihood of artisans .However in the
absence of any organized activity in this
sector and the products not being adequately
remunerative there is a possible livelihood
of the artisans taking up alternative
livelihood option(which may involve
migration as well).At this stage it is very
imperative to understand the problem faced
by this sector and suggest the strategies ,for
development of tribal handicraft /product
based on which certain policy level
intervention need to be taken by government
to sustain the traditional tribal handicraft and
product.
Government Initiative
Recognize the special needs and problem of
tribal’s several development measure were
initiated under five year plan. The five year
plan of the government of India laid stress
on the various development measures to be
undertaken by the central and state
government to improve the living standard
of the tribal and make an effort to bring
them on par with the other develop societies
in the country.
Tribal Co-operative Marketing
Development Federation
For the socio and economic welfare of tribal
population government of India established
and independent co-operation called
(TRIFED) in till recently TRIFED activities
were confined to purchase of forest product
and sell them at their retail country. Since
1999(TRIFED) expand their activities by
encouraging tribal artisans in the production
of art and craft which they have inherited for
their forefathers.
Non-Government Organization
Various NGOs organize capacity building
cum training programmes at their respective
cluster in their states. During the field visit,
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Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 211
it has been observed that non government
organizations are getting support from
development commissioner (handicraft),
North Eastern Development Finance
Corporation Limited and various other
government departments for promotion of
tribal handicraft.
Review of Literature
Ranjan (1980), made a study of the
performance of Sarkarpathi Hill tribes Co- operative labour contract society in
Coimbatore. The society started functioning
in 1960 with 460 tribal members. It
undertook both business and welfare
activities for the benefits of the tribals.
Swarnkar and Dube(1987), conducted a
study to know the impact of co-operative
credit on tribal development. The study
covered 500 farmers selected from
Kondagaon block of Baster district in
Madhya Pradesh. On the basis of primary
data on the socio economic condition
collected from the 500 farmers, the study
concluded that co-operative credit not
produce significant impact on the life of
tribal’s in the Baster district. The study
suggested that there was good potential for
developing poultry farming and animal
husbandry by organizing co-operative
ventures or linking them to the existing
primary’s co-operative societies.
Mahalingam (1994), studied the poverty
reducing potential of tribal co-operative in
north east India. He focused his analysis on
the total performance of two tribal co- operative Tawang LAMPS in Arunachal
Pradesh and Mullunmgthu co-operative
collective farming society in Mizoram. His
analysis revealed that co-operative collective
farming society in Mizoram. His analysis
revealed that co-operative societies were
powerful instrument for eradication of
poverty and development of tribal economy.
Mohanti, Mohanty and Dash (1997), jointly
examined the role of tribal development Co- operative Corporation of Orissa, in the socio
economic development of tribal
communities.
Present Scenario - Efforts should be made
to fill infrastructural gaps through
development of adequate irrigation system,
cold storage facilities and value added
marketing services. Methods to overcome
language barriers and increased involvement
of local people are also suggested. Increased
productivity by eradicating the bane of
mono cropping, greater awareness about
provisions such as crop insurance and
encouragement of alternate means of
