34 Industrialization and Tribe

Rajnikant Pandey

epgp books

 

 

 

    CONTENTS OF THIS UNIT:

  • INDUSTRIALIZATION
  • INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDIA
  • INDUSTRIALIZATION AND TRIBE
  • ANTHROPOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND TRIBE IN INDIA
  • IMPACT OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON TRIBE
  • INDUSTRIALIZATION AND AFTER
  • SUMMARY

    1. LEARNING OUTCOME

 

The focus of present module is to understand the Industrialization in relation to tribal people of India. The module in the beginning takes note of nature of Industrialization in country in different historical phases. After reading this module we will be able to assess both the positive and negative socio-economic impacts of industrialization upon tribal people. The module will also be able to high light the problems and challenges of tribes who are being marginalized because of industry. The module at the end will reflect upon recent conflict over natural resources which are going to affect the future of industrialization in tribal areas.

 

2. INDUSTRIALIZATION

 

Industrialization is a process of increased emphasis on mechanized production of goods and services through industry. In an Industrial society majority of the population work in factories and offices rather than domestic subsistence activities.

 

The term industry refers to the organized activity and specialized division of labour among the participant in production process. In this sense industry could be used to refer to the archeological stone tool industry or to the present day fishing or agricultural industry as well. However, what we are going to discuss in this module refers to the particular kind of industrial development which started in Europe in 18th century and was called industrial revolution. It was directed towards large scale production of goods for commercial purpose. The use of science and technology in advancing human skill was basic necessity for this kind of industrial revolution. This phenomenon was new and capable of transforming the life of people in a greater scale.

 

This attracted attention not only of economist but also social thinkers like Marx and Durkheim. They studied the impact of industrial economy on society and culture of industrializing Europe. These thinkers were skeptical of industrial transformation as they believed that it benefits the capitalists and alienate the working class. The industrialization by the mid-20th century becomes inevitable for achieving modern life style like west.

 

For Anthropological purpose, Industrialization implies to the socio-economic changes arising out of industrial mode of economic production. Anthropologists inquire the impact of industrial economy on traditional subsistence economy and how it transcends the other aspect of culture. The early anthropologists have paid scant attention to the process of Industrialization as an economic activity affecting life of simple non-industrialized people. The Industrial Anthropology has developed as a field of inquiry in recent time and has directed its focus upon various dimensions of social cultural realities within the industrial set up. This field has extended its research priorties on studies of work culture in industry, labour relation and trade unions, issues of human resources and class dynamics in industry. The second important aspect is to study the impact of industry on external realties of society and culture. What kind of changes it brings to the traditional societies and whether these impacts have been positive or negative for the people.

 

3. INDUSTRIALIZATION IN INDIA

 

India sub-continent has seen industrial growth from the ancient time. There are strong evidences of knowledge of weaving 1500 BCE. During the medieval period several large scale monuments were built which provide the early glimpses of industrial progress of construction industry. The use of wood, stone, branze, bross, silver, copper, iron, dying, printing, ivory carving and pottery etc. highlight the industrial nature of regional past.

 

The industrial revolution in Europe resulted in factories and mechanized production. The process of imperialism and colonization lead the foundation of commercial and later on industrial towns in various colonies like India. However a process of deindustrialization started in Indian subcontinent. The British industrial boom adversely affected the cotton and silk factories of India. From the 19th century onwards the British encouraged setting of factories in India. The most important among them was tea plantation in Assam. The establishments of cotton textile mills in Mumbai in 1854 and Jute Mills in Kolkata in 1855 were major industrial foundations. The mineral extraction based industries started to evolve during the beginning of 20the century. During the world war periods heavy chemical, ordinance and aircraft production started to meet the immediate requirements of war. Steel, sugar and cement industries were also established before independence.

 

The major advancement in industrialization of country was possible only after independence in 1947. The government of India took mixed economy as its policy for five year planning model to embark upon the road of economic progress. Both public and private sector were involved in setting up industries to increase production. However agriculture remained major employer in economy till date. It was argued that to remain viable as country the nation has to increase the contribution of industrial sector in gross domestic production.

 

In 1991, Government announced the new industrial policy to bring economic reform and liberalization in the country. The privatization of industries became a trend and foreign companies and investment started to come in the country.

 

4. INDUSTRIALIZATION AND TRIBE

 

The industrialization has impacted the Indian populace and several studies have been conducted across the discipline to highlight the significance of industry for economy of country. However the country has a section of society, who was categorized as Tribe, has traditionally been dependent upon pre-agricultural mode of production and very lately learnt the agricultural activities. These people who have traditionally leaved in hilly and forested areas chose to earn their livelihood by practicing subsistence activities like hunting- gathering, fishing, pastoralism, shifting cultivation and sedentary horticulture. They survived on natural product available and relied on very few tools and instruments for economic production.

 

The land and areas where these tribes used to live were started to be identified as rich in mineral and fuel resources. These resources were primary requirement for the newly industrializing nation. The major industries chose to develop near mineral rich areas so that they can have access to these primary resources. This area also witnessed simultaneous growth of township and urban centers around the industry necessary for the living of workforce near the manufacturing site. The places were actively connected by roads and railways to facilitate easy transportation of goods to the market.

 

This kind of industrial cum urban development has been central to the understanding of impact of Industrialization on tribes of India. Most of the researches which were conducted by anthropologists look at the twin processes and its impact. However there is separate literature to discuss the emergence of non-industrial urban center and its impact on tribes of India. Particularly in North East part of India there is very few industrial-urban centers. The urbanization in that area has been largely because of other reasons and has subsequent impact on tribal life.

 

5. ANTHROPOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND TRIBE IN INDIA

 

Anthropologists have taken considerable interest in the study of industrialization as socio-cultural process and its impact upon the tribal population. The industrial anthropology as a specialization emphasizes the first hand fieldwork tradition to grasp the complexity of industrial life.

 

Martin Oraon wrote one of the earliest paperstitled “A tribal People in industrial setting in India” in the book Structure and Change in Indian Society (1958) edited by Milton Singer to highlight the impact of industrial setup in Jamshedpur and its impact upon Santal people. In this study he deals with economic issues like labour recruitment and cultural issues like religion and marriage affected by industry. He later on published a book length inquiry The Santal: A tribal in Search of Great Tradition (1965) to discuss his findings in detail. This anthropological study also covers a historical depth of 60 years since establishment of TISCO in 1907 and gives detailed account of assimilation process impacting the tribal life. A M Kurup (1961, 63) in his studies of Parasia Coal Mines of Madhya Pradesh reflected on the changing economy of tribal because of Industrializationin the area. In two papers (1961, 63) he discussed the socio-cultural condition of Gond people of Madhya Pradesh working in coal mines. The papers also reflect upon the loss of moral values and tradition culture in industrial labourers. T R Sharma (1960, 1962) in his papers dealt with the labour issues like absentessim in factory of tribal workers. This study is interesting because it has studied the workers motivation and alienation. The study has identified that establishment of TISCO has uprooted 18 villages of Bhumij, Hos Santals and Hindus. However these people have been accommodated in newly established Bastees of mix population. These Bastees have attracted migrant workers tribal and non-tribal from neighbouring district and states as well. The study highlights the disintegration of cultural life, forest ecology and agricultural economy.

 

A K Das and H N Banerjee made a study Impact of Industrialisation on the life of the Tribals of West Bengal (1962) in the areas of Bengal where heavy industries like Chittaranjan Locomotive, Hindustan Cable Factory and Durgapur steel plant have displaced Santal and other communities. A K Das and H N Banerjee in a further studies Impact of Tea Industry on the life of the Tribals of West Bengal (1964) Tribal they have discussed their findings under economic social and psychological impacts of the tea industry on the tribal labourers in four medium sized tea estates of North Bengal Region. These early studies set the trend for future work in industrial anthropology. Prof. L P Vidhyarthi pioneered the study of Industrial complexes in middile India at anthropology department of Ranchi University and many of his students took initiative to study and restudy the industrial Growth in Tribal dominated Chota Nagpur Region. This region was one of the areas which showed industrial potential as early as 1856 when the British started coal mining in Jharia, Bokaro, Karnpura and Dhanbad region. Several PhD were produced in Ranchi University Anthropology department which dealt with the impact of industrialization on tribal and village people of those days Bihar. The study of Heavy Electric Corporation in Ranchi (Vidhyarthi, 1970; P K Roy, 1974; G N Chaudhury, 1978) Patrartu Industrial Complex( R Singh, 1966), Bokaro steel city (Jayant Sarkar 1970; AC Mishra, 1981), Jamsedpur Steel City, Jharia Coalfield ( G R sharma,1971)were prominent among them. Vidhyarthi in his study of HEC industrial complex described the situation in terms of “changing style of life” from rural to urban, homogenous to hetrogenous. He identifies that initially when industrial project took up the tribal have to face several difficulty of displacement but after establishment of firm they have discovered economic opportunity and hope for urban industrial life. Reufel a German Research Scholar studied the impact of Rourkela on tribals for his doctoral thesis at University of Bonn was associated with the department during this period.

 

P K Das Gupta (1964) studied the nature of displacement by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works. He identified that 330 santhal families were displaced from 6 villages and resettled with very small patch of land for making huts. Agricultural Lands were not provided. Many of displaced tribal settled themselves back into the industrial area and started living in labour jhuggees to find work with contractors. They were not employed by the CLW directly. Choudhury N C & P K Das Gupta (1970) conducted a preliminary survey of iron ore mines like noamundi, Barajmda, and Gua of Singhbhum Region of Jharkhand. It was found that the major labour forces in mines were Ho tribals of the region. Both men and women work in mines and they formed a small work unit of husband wife or brother sister to carry out difficult and unsafe work in mines. The tribals adopted dual economy of industrial work in mines and of agricultural work in field to support their families. P K Das Gupta published a book “Impact of Industrialization on Tribal life of South Bihar 1978) from AnSI. The book discussed the role of Chaibasa Cement Work, Jhinkpanion the Ho Tribal ofSinghbhum area of present day Jharkhand. The majority of labour force composed of Ho people. He has called his village of inquiry “Industrial Village” from where the labourer has migrated to “Industrial town”. The migration from egalitarian tribe village to multi caste town put them in the lower stratum of society. He has observed that villagers have taken up the opportunity to go beyond subsistence production and engage in vegetable gardening for town market. Many of the daily commuters divide their time between field and factory. He also highlighted the lack of educated Ho members who can take top jobs in the factory and are confined to the unskilled and semiskilled work. Naskar and Das Gupta studied the Bison Horn Maria of Bailadila mine in Bastar region of Chattishgarh and found similar impacts on tribal labourers in mines. Das Gupta and Ali took a very interesting study of migrant laboureres from Chotta Nagpur and Madhya Pradesh in the tea plantation industry of North Bengal. The work force constituted mixed ethnic identity and the traditional identity was maintained through rules of commensality and adherence to own dialects.

 

Anthropological Survey of India also gave its attention to Industrialization and few studies were published in relation to industrialization of tribals in Bengal. Sukumar Banerjee in his study Impact of Industrialization on the tribal population of Jharia-Raniganj Coal field Areas has given detailed account of Santal community affected and incorporated by collieries. The data discuss the division of labour inside factory and contribution made by Santhals in different kind of work. He classified the tribal workers as daily commuters, original inhabitants and migrants depending upon their mobility. B K Roy Burman conducted a study on Rourkela Steel plant of Orissa. He conducted a survey of tribal economy and assessed the deployment of tribals in industrial sector. He described the challenges of resettlement of tribal that were displaced because of steel plant. ARN Srivastava in his book Tribal Encounter with Industry: A case Study from Central India (1990), has studied Bailadila Mining Complex in Chhattisgarh for understanding the impact of mining in areas. The study was conducted under a project of ministry of home affairs to assess the impact of mines on tribal economy. The report detailed the census and household economy data and the impact it bears because of industrial growth in the region. Gerard Heuze a French scholar who did his fieldwork in 1986-87 in the Dhanbad colleries published Workers of another World: Miners the Countryside and Coalfields in Dhanbad (1989/96). This book is dedicated ethnographic work which attempts to highlight the life of mine workers in and out of mine in Marxist wane. It problematizes the labour as important aspect of mining ethnography and revolves around workers struggle within the mine establishments.

 

Regional perspective

 

If we look from the regional perspective there is uneven spread of Industrialization in different parts of India. The Central India is dominated by extraction based industries because of early exploration of minerals in this area. The major industrial development took place in this tribal dominated region. The demographic features of the region changed because of migration of caste communities from neighboring areas and different parts of country. In North East India plantation industry started as early as 1835 in Assam region by east India company. This resulted into migration of tribe from central India into the region for plantation labour. The industry was labour intensive and generates demployment for more than 11 lakh people. After independence steadily many industry like plywood aluminum, tea, rubber, fertilizer, etc. have also come up. The Garo hills of Meghalaya have seen growth of mineral industry, hydel power projects, and handicraft and handloom industry in recent years. Very few studies of industrialization have been conducted in the context of tribals of South India. The states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have seen industrialization in its various pockets. However their impacts on tribal communities have not been assessed properly. In western India the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan have seen recent industrial growth. Special economic Zones have been created in these states to facilitate industrialization. The tribal groups have suffered problems but anthropologists have paid scant attention to enquire the impact on tribal population in these areas.

 

6. IMPACT OF INDUSTRIALIZATION ON TRIBE

 

The studies in industrialization have largely discussed the hope for positive changes in tribal life. These studies mostly focused upon the industrial benefits of mining projects on tribal communities, who needed to be developed to be fully integrated in main stream India. The studies highlighted the problems of displaced but the intent was to look at the changing dynamics of tribal economy which will ultimately bring the prosperity in the tribal areas. However the anthropological studies also highlighted the disorganization of tribal life and negative impacts of industrialization. We can highlight the following impacts of industrialization from these studies:

 

Economic changes: The tribal economy has largely been affected by industrial growth in the form of them being pulled to unskilled labour work to industries. Some scholars have emphasized the compulsion on part of tribals to take these jobs for getting money. The monetized economy has change the consumption pattern and materialistic possessions of tribal communities. The dependence on agriculture has decreased to considerable extent. There is tendency towards the cultivation of vegetables and collection of forest produce for selling at the markets nearby industrial towns

 

Socio-cultural impacts: The family value has changed. The religious rituals have also been compromised. Some of the industrial workers living in town have become attracted to Christianity. Tribal women have also suffered lots of problems because of industrial growth.

 

Migration from Rural to Urban-Industrial Centre: The migration of tribal from rural area to urban-industrial centre was important change. The advent of industry brought township with it. Many tribals kept living in the industrial land in jhuggees even after being evacuated. The life in jhuggees was pitiable though tribal were forced to live nearby settlements to work in industry. Some tribals also migrated from one industrial site to other along with their contractors and a situation of bounded industrial labourer existed.

 

Exploitation as labour class in industry: The tribal mostly got job as labourere and have been paid less wages by contractors. The sense of alienation prevailed in industrial set up and tribals felt demotivated to work for industry. The exploitation of labourers by contractors has been reported in several studies.

 

Displacement from land: The industrialization has been one of the primary reasons for the displacement of the tribals from their land. The loss of land means loss of livelihood. Tribal economy has largely been dependent upon land based activities. There is no accurate data that how many tribal has been displaced because of industrial growth but studies mentioned above have highlighted the dispossession of land and poor rehabilitation and resettlement policies towards tribal. Most of the studies have given primary attention to the problem of displacements but voices against industrialization have never been documented. The studies have mostly outlined the lacunae in resettlement policies and remedies have been suggested for smooth displacement strategy.

 

7. INDUSTRIALIZATION AND AFTER

 

The industrialization as process has changed itself in its form. The industrialization is entering into the era of globalization. The industries which were largely public sector undertakings are now mostly privatized. The liberalization of economy has opened the gate for foreign based corporations to operate in country. The government has affirmative policy of reservation in jobs, but private sector undertakings are not incorporating 7.5%reservation policy in recruitment of tribals. The nature of industrial work is very much transformed and service based industries are on the rise in different part of country. The IT and BPO sector are on the growth and many of manufacturing industries in India are struggling to sustain its economic viability. The sociologist Denial Bell has called the new service based industrial society as Post –Industrial society. The post –industrial situation is posing other kind of dilemma for tribal people of India. The educated tribal are getting jobs in these industries at the cost of migration from homeland to urban spaces like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. Present movement of tribals to urban industrial centre is different from industries reaching to tribal areas.

 

Then there are scholars who have highlighted the negative impact of industrial growth on local environments. The agenda of industrial waste and industrial pollution is echoing from every industrial center. The world is facing unprecedented challenges of industry-induced environmental change. The industrial production processes are spilling hazardous gas, sewage, and several non-decomposable wastes polluting air, water and food. The industrial waste management practices and promises are unsustainable and unreliable. The anthropologist Kim Fortune who studied Bhopal Gas Disaster calls this phase as late industrialism. She advocates for different ethnographic approach to deal with emergent complexities of late industrialism. Tribal people who were always at the receiving end of industrial challenges with very little benefit accruing to them are now disillusioned by promises of industrial growth. The tribals empowered by global network of civil society and indigenous consciousness are challenging any new industrial projects in their area. This has become possible because of increased awareness of industrial damage caused to local economy and ecology. The civil society has played prominent role in providing forums to the tribals to raise their concern against industries. The Government has made it mandatory to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment and Social Impact Assessment before acquiring land for industrial project. The corporates have also taken several initiatives to amend policies and practices for sustainable industrial growth. The GoI has reformed laws to protect the interest of tribals in land and forest. However to increase the job opportunity and economic progress the GoI has also identified SEZ for creating industrial hub. This would be interesting to find out how many SEZ directly impacts the tribal population. The most important thing to understand is that most of the industrialization in India has been designed under the aspiration of larger political economy to benefit the whole country as a nation which will also integrate the tribals in its fold. However this policy has largely resulted into marginalization of tribals further. The tribal directed industrial planning has never been part of GoI strategy. The issues of tribal rights to the natural resources have become prominent in the tribal belts and people have started to oppose the forced industrialization in the regions. The tribal communities are challenging the industries for better compensation and job opportunities and sometimes even for no industrialization at all. Felix Padel and Samarendra Das wrote Out of this Earth (2011) on issues of Bauxite mining project in Odisha is best example of tribal challenge to further industrialization in the area.

 

Thus the nature of tribe industry encounter has changed drastically over the years. The expectation of industry led growth has not been fulfilled and there is strong protest of any new industrial project in tribal areas. Very few tribal elites have benefitted from industrialization and majority of tribal communities are at the receiving end of industrial blow to the local ecology and economy.

 

SUMMARY

 

Industrialization is a process of increased emphasis on mechanized production of goods and services through industry. For Anthropological purpose, Industrialization implies to the socio-economic changes arising out of industrial mode of economic production. Anthropologists inquire the impact of industrial economy on traditional subsistence economy and how it transcends the other aspect of culture. The major advancement in industrialization of country was possible only after independence in 1947. The government of India took mixed economy as its policy for five year planning model to embark upon the road of economic progress. Both public and private sector were involved in setting up industries to increase production. Anthropologists have taken considerable interest in the study of industrialization as socio-cultural process and its impact upon the tribal population. The industrial anthropology as a specialization emphasizes the first hand fieldwork tradition to grasp the complexity of industrial life.

 

If we look from the regional perspective there is uneven spread of Industrialization in different parts of India. The Central India is dominated by extraction based industries because of early exploration of minerals in this area. The studies in industrialization have largely discussed the hope for positive changes in tribal life. These studies mostly focused upon the industrial benefits of mining projects on tribal communities, who needed to be developed to be fully integrated in main stream India. The studies highlighted the problems of displaced but the intent was to look at the changing dynamics of tribal economy which will ultimately bring the prosperity in the tribal areas. However the anthropological studies also highlighted the disorganization of tribal life and negative impacts of industrialization. The industrialization is entering into the era of globalization. The industries which were largely public sector undertakings are now mostly privatized. Then there are scholars who have highlighted the negative impact of industrial growth on local environments. The agenda of industrial waste and industrial pollution is echoing from every industrial center. Very few tribal elites have benefitted from industrialization and majority of tribal communities are at the receiving end of industrial blow to the local ecology and economy.

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REFERENCES

  • D.N. Thakur D. Thakur 2009 Industrialisation in Tribal Areas Deep and Deep Publications
  • Felix Padel, Ajay Dandekar, JeemolUnni 2013 Ecology, Economy: Quest for a Socially Informed Connection Orient Blackswan
  • Jonathan Parry 2003. Nehru’s dream and the village waiting room: long distance labour migrants to a central Indian steel town. Contributions to Indian Sociology 37(1/2).
  • Meher, Rajkishor. “The Social and Ecological Effects of Industrialisation in a Tribal Region: The Case of the Rourkela Steel Plant.” Contributions to Indian sociology 37, no. 3 (2003): 429-457.
  • R. S. Joshi 1984 Impact of Industrialization on Tribal in K S Singh ed. Economies of the Tribe and Their Transformation, Concept Publishing House Delhi
  • P. K. Dasgupta 1991 Industrialization and Tribal Transformation in BaidyanathSaraswati Tribal Thought and Culture: Essays in Honour of Surajit Chandra Sinha Concept Publishing Company Delhi
  • K. Haldar 1993 Industrialization and Tribes of Chotanagpur: Problems and Remedial Measures in Buddhadeb Chaudhuri Tribal transformation in India. Vol.2. Socio-economic and ecological development Inter-India Publication Delhi

    WEB RESOURCES

  • http://tribal.nic.in/Content/Ebooks.aspx
  • http://www.makeinindia.com/
  • http://www.ficci.com/