Meaning of the term the Scheduled Tribes:

(i) Scheduled Tribes are those communities who are outside the caste system of our society. They live in hills, forest and coastal and desert areas, and even on islands. They have their own culture and social organization. They also had their own political system. In course of time, some of them have adopted Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Tribal art, dance and craft still have an intrinsic value polygamy and both monogamy are prevalent polyandry, for example, Toda and Khasa of Jaunsar Bawar.

(ii) A large number of tribal societies are patrilineal, but matriliny is also prevalent among a few tribes like Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. The traditional economy of tribals is characterized by gathering, hunting, fishing, shifting cultivation and agriculture. They have their weekly markets called haat. Previously, they practiced barter, but now money has become a medium of exchange. The traditional economy of tribals is for subsistence, not for profit.

(iii) There are around 461 Scheduled Tribes in our country. Among them, 75 most backward communities have been identified as Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Identification of PTGs has been made on the basis of low population, low literacy and pre-agricultural technology. STs represent approximately 8 percent of the population in our country.

(iv) Most of the Scheduled Tribes today are followers of tribal religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. The adoption of other religious faiths has forced them to give up tribal customs, traditions, festivals, art, dance, etc. A number of tribal cultural traits have become extinct or are in disuse, for example, the institution of Akhra and youth dormitory. The marriage of tribal girls with non-tribal boys is also taking place.

(v) Entry of outsiders into tribal areas and division of tribals into different religious groups has resulted in the identity problems. Culture contact, industrialization and urbanisation have also resulted in loss of tribal ways of life. They are also demanding autonomy of the region in which they live and employment of local people in employment and jobs. 

II. List of Problems of the Scheduled Tribes:

(i) Problems Related to Forest: It has brought the question of existence before a number of tribes living in forest based economy.

(ii) Problem of Agriculture. 

(iii) Land Alienation.

(iv) Indebtedness and Bonded labour.

(v)  Problem of Health and Nutrition. 

(vi) Lack of communication in remote areas of the Scheduled Tribes.

(vii) Migration, undertaken by some people of the Scheduled Tribes and adverse effects of it on the lives of the Scheduled Tribes.

(viii) Lack of education among the Scheduled Tribes. 

(ix) Displacement of tribals. and

(x) Problems of protection or maintaining identity of the Scheduled Tribes.