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National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training

and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

Addressing Tribal Issues: A study from GIS perspective

Sudeep.T.P1, Sarath Babu.M.G2, Prabhbir Singh3


1
MPhil Scholar, Center for Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,
2
Junior Research Fellow, Center for Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,
3
Assistant Town Planner, District Town Planning Department, Ludhiana, Punjab

Abstract

The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true for G.I.S applications. The purpose of this paper is to
highlight the applications of this incredible tool in displaying information pertaining to various dimensions of
development, especially tribal development. Tribals are a section of our population who have not been
appropriately integrated into our mainstream systems of interaction and development, basically due to their
location in geographically isolated areas. And this spatial context is not been given due attention while
formulating plans for them. To address this issue in a more appealing manner, GIS helps in mapping
community’s physical and socio-economic reality with the help of spatial data in a comprehensive manner.
This in turn helps planners to understand the relationship among various factors and thus the ground situation
in a more complete way. With GIS, it is possible to make effective policies by planning for the optimal
utilization of resources. The time has come to integrate human development with technological development
and not see them as separate. After all what is any development for if not for the betterment of all sections of
people? On this background this paper demonstrates application of GIS in tribal issues especially in health and
education in a hypothetical spatial unit.

Keywords: Geographical Information Science (GIS), Tribals, Health, Education, Policy

The development of scheduled tribes in Kerala, a state which is renowned for its high achievements in the
social sector, is a matter of grave concern. Panoor highlights the pathetic living condition of scheduled tribes of
Kerala1 and compared their status with that of sub-Saharan tribes of Africa. It displays tremendous contrast
between non-tribes and tribes in terms of education, health etc. For e.g., the Kattunayakan community had a
literacy rate of 24% only as compared to Kerala’s 90% in 1991. The difference persists in other development
indices as well. From government’s part so much is being done to improve the overall condition of these most
vulnerable section of society, yet none seems to have achieved its target to fuller end. Because these schemes
and plans were not community-specific as Ningapiah stated “In order to improve the overall status of tribal
communities various programmes were chalked out and enormous fund has been spent by the government. In
spite of special attention being paid to the socio-economic development of tribal communities, since
independence, most of the tribal communities is still generation behind to their non- tribal counter parts.
Studies in this aspect reveal that most of these development programmes became a failure as they were not
need based and community oriented”2. One of the most striking things observed in formulating plans and their
implementation are that they are without any spatial reference. “In recent years, information particularly
spatially referred information and the tool for the information management and analysis has became

1
Panoor, K 1963 “Keralas Africa” [Keralathile Africa (Malayalam)]. Kottayam National Book Stall

2
Ningapiah, N. (2001) “Tribal Development In Karnataka : Retrospect And Prospect Tribal Economy and Development. (ed)
V. Karuppaiyan and K Pari Murugan, pp 70-81, University Of Madras, Chennai.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

increasingly recognised as integral part of policymaking and decision making process”3. This paper tries to
throw light on the multi various applications of Geographical Information Science (GIS) with regard to tribal
studies.

Geographical Information System (GIS)

GIS is "an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to
efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced
information."4Geographic Information Systems have served an important role as an integrating technology.
Rather than being completely new, GIS have evolved by linking a number of discrete technologies into a whole
that is greater than the sum of its parts. GIS have emerged as very powerful technologies because they allow
planners to integrate their data and methods in ways that support traditional forms of geographical analysis,
such as map overlay analysis as well as new types of analysis and modelling that are beyond the capability of
manual methods. With GIS it is possible to map, model, query, and analyze large quantities of data all held
together within a single database. The development of GIS has relied on innovations made in many different
disciplines: Geography, Cartography, Photogrammetric, Remote Sensing, Surveying, Geodesy, Civil
Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Research, Artificial Intelligence, Demography, and many
other branches of the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering have all contributed.

Functions of GIS

The major advantage of GIS is that, it is an informative system for manipulating digital, social and thematic
data from multiple sources. Therefore digital database which has been developed at any stage can also be
used in future as well as updated, and any related information can be extracted conveniently and effectively.
In detail, therefore GIS facilitates following important functions:

(i) Overlay: Capability of combining different thematic layers into one layer, which facilities comparison (Figure
1).

Fig. 1, Overlay of different layers, Source: Good Child (2005)5

3
Les Warrall. (ed.) 1991 “Spatial analysis and Spatial policy using GIS” Belhaven Press, London

4
Understanding GIS: The ARC/INFO Method (Redlands, CA: Environmental
System Research Institute, 1990), page 1.2:
5
Goodchild M F, (2005) “Geographic Information Systems and Science”, John Wiley and Sons, England.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

(ii) Real world modeling: GIS attempts to produce the computer model of real world to assist the problem
solving and decision making.

(iii) Data integration: GIS helps to integrate data from various sources like physical and social aspects. So it is
interdisciplinary in nature.

(iv) Data updation: GIS facilitates updating of dynamic information, to illustrate changes over a time span.

(v) Micro level analysis: GIS makes it easy to change the scale for micro analysis.

(vi) Interpolation: It facilitates derivation of non available data through manipulation of known factors.

GIS as a guiding tool for policy making and their implementation.

The importance of GIS as tool for policy making and implementation is also evident in its pedigree. In 1854,
John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak (Fig. 2) in London using points to represent the locations of some
individual cases, possibly the earliest use of the geographic method. This study of the distribution of cholera
led to the source of the disease, a contaminated water pump (Broad Street pump) within the heart of the
cholera outbreak. “GIS, the definition of which evolved from geographic information systems to geographic
information science, involves a scientific solving approach, encompassing the development and application of
scientific methods to solve societal problems. It therefore has become an integral and essential part of welfare
research and practice”6

Fig.2 John Snow (1854) Cholera outbreak estimation

Tribal situation in India in general and in Kerala particularly has remained at a deprived stage and after
independence, numerous programmes and schemes intending to their enhancement were implemented, but
none has succeed to its fuller extent because tribals are generally confined to environmentally negative places
which are less conducive to live and are geographically isolated. Most of the policies are formulated without
addressing this spatial context, which is one of the main reasons for such failures. “An effective approach in
human services planning for catering to the needs of the client community calls for comprehensive mapping of

6
Maheswaran Ravi and Cragila Massimo (ed.) 2004, “GIS in Public Health Practice”, CRC press, London.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

the community’s social reality”7. “A multidimensional mapping of the communities that human service
agencies serve in terms of their physical and social environments offers immense support to community
development efforts”8. GIS can model real world situation which can help the planners to understand ground
situation comprehensively.

“Mapping communities issues is therefore an integral component of human services planning. While mapping
communities, it is important to include not only the physical/surface geography of communities but also their
social geography. Neighborhood maps as an example of social geography, is a very useful tool for human
service planners for visualizing the impact of social and economic factors existing in a community. Dynamic
mapping techniques are helpful for human service planners to understand the relationships between various
factors in a community such as physical characteristics, socio-economic characteristics and primary language
spoken etc., and strategically plan the optimal usage of resources to cater to the community’s needs. Thus
mapping can transform the way social programs and services are designed and carried out, thereby
contributing to effective social policy development”9

On this background this paper tries to see how GIS can be effectively applied for tribal development especially
in some of the crucial sectors like healthcare and education. For this study we have used hypothetical hilly
spatial unit, since tribal are mostly located in hilly regions.

Healthcare and GIS

GIS is an innovative framework for accessing, integrating, visualizing and utilizing information that can inform
decisions affecting child, maternal and public health care. GIS analyses incorporate statistical, demographic,
health facility, and spatial data from health information systems, surveillance, surveys and maps (fig. 3).
Customized queries and analyses can focus on geographic reference points of interest—such as health
facilities, towns, or administrative districts, or a specific cohort of interest—such as children under the age of
five.

GIS analytical approach can reveal relationships and trends that might not be evident when the data is viewed
in tabular format. Epidemiological data can be mapped, allowing users to detect and explore any potential
spatial patterns of disease outbreaks (fig.2). Gaps in health care access can be quickly identified by locating
populations that do not have access to health facilities located within a reasonable travel distance (fig.4&5).
Most of the tribal settlements are situated in geographically isolated location. This makes them vulnerable
with regards to accessing health facilities which are available. “Poor physical accessibility reduces the use of
services and may lead to poorer health outcomes”10.

7
O’Looney, J. (1997). Beyond Maps: G.I.S and Decision Making in Local Government, Washington, DC:
Publications Department, ICMA.

8
Mandayam Gokul, 2002“Geographic Information Systems: A planning tool for human service agencies”,
www.gisdevelopment.net
9
Ibid.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

Fig. 3 Integrated Health Information system in a GIS platform, Source: Improving Health Care in Yemen with
State-of-the-Art Geographic Information System (GIS) Applications11

Fig. 4 illustrates the locations of primary healthcare facilities and the settlements of the hypothetical hilly
spatial unit. This explains the availability and accessibility aspects of healthcare infrastructure in the region. It
eloquently reveals the location efficiency of healthcare facilities with regards to settlement. Fig. 5 provides the
information regarding the estimated travel time to reach the nearest primary healthcare centers in minutes.
This analysis allows the decision maker to assess the needs of the communities regarding the health care
infrastructure and assist planners to propose new establishments are required or not for the benefit of the
community.

Fig.4 Access to healthcare facilities in a region.

10
Carr-Hill et.al, 1997, “Access and utilization of healthcare services”, Ferguson (ed.) Concentration and Choice
in Healthcare, London.
11
Landry M, Rassas C, Fairbank A, Pielemeier N and Attieg A, 2004, APHA Conference,Washington, D.C.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

Fig.5 Estimated travel time to nearest health centre in a region.

GIS therefore spatially links health, population and environmental data into one system and creates a powerful
tool that gives public health specialists the ability to analyze tribal health data in a clear, convenient and easy
to comprehend form. Other than these, the various areas of health aspects of tribals where GIS can be
effectively used can be listed as follows:

• Targeting resources and interventions to meet health care services supply and demand. Assessing
status of health care facility accessibility (i.e., georeference location using GPS, services provided,
staffing levels, utilization, equipment inventory, population dynamics, or other specified parameters)

• Develop choropleth maps to show regions or areas which have the same health characteristics

• Registry mapping (i.e., birth, death, etc.)

• Vector control/disease/incidence tracking

• Evaluation of health service delivery equity and efficiency

• Spatial demographic studies based on specific health risks or localized health impacts and

• Cross-cutting spatial analyses incorporating health data with other sectors (e.g., agriculture,
education)

Education and GIS

Education is an important parameter which indicates social progress. “With reference to tribals; education is
probably the most effective instrument for ensuring equal opportunity, the tribal people are lagging far behind
their more fortunate fellow countrymen due to lack of education”12. GIS can be effectively applied in
understanding ground situation. For e.g. Demand and supply of school children and school facilities can be
mapped. Then indicators related to education like enrolment ratio, dropout ratio, teacher-student ratio and
12
Hasnain, Nadeem 2007. “Tribal India” Palaka Prakashan, New Delhi, pp.197
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

distance to near school etc can be mapped and emerging patterns can be observed which will facilitate
planning operation.

For example fig. 6 narrates the distribution of school facilities in the region, from that it is clear that the
available primary education centres are located in the eastern corners whereas the only secondary (middle)
school available in the central region.

Fig. 6 Distribution of Schools in a region.

From this one can understand that the whole south and south – west region does not possess a single school in
the vicinity. And also the major concentration of settlements is also observed along the transport lines in the
central part. Fig. 7 explains drop out ratio in schools. One can observe that children from the southern region
are most likely to dropout, mainly because of the distance that they have to cover to reach primary school and
other important thing is that after primary and middle classes if somebody want continue to study he/she have
to move out of the region. Fig.8 compiles the information and based on the distance to nearest school,
dropout ratio and transport network (i.e. footpath) three zones were demarcated. Children belonged to zone
having red in colour region have least access to nearest school and which marked green in colour have low
access and that of yellow marked have moderate access to the available school facilities.
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

Fig. 7 School Dropout percentage in a region.

Fig. 8 School Accessibility in a region.

Therefore GIS envisages its relevance for human service applications as developmental agencies can use it to
forecast need or demand for services by mapping the spatial distribution of various social problems related to
tribal population, identifying areas in the community with greater expected service needs and their possible
relation to demographic and other factors in the surrounding area.

Having said this application aspects is truly can bring significant influence in planning and allied activities but
GIS is not free from limitations. Mandayam states “The cost of GIS application including their maintenance and
upgrades can be substantial for human service agencies operating on tight budgets also the time required for
training human service agency staff can be a challenge.”13Despite these limitations GIS provides enormous
solutions for problems solving mechanism generally and can be used to enhance well being aspects of most

13
Mandayam Gokul, 2002“Geographic Information Systems: A planning tool for human service agencies”,
www.gisdevelopment.net
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

deprived sections in particular. The scope of GIS applications is beyond the level of our expectation, were the
interoperability and transparency with newer technology states its future in the decision making process. As
Jack Dangermond said “human imagination is the limit of GIS applications.”14

Conclusion

This paper “Addressing tribal issues: A study from GIS perspective” was an attempt to understand tribal issues
in spatial context with the help of GIS; a tool for spatial analysis. Study discussed two crucial sectors i.e. health
and education and analysed the capability of GIS as an effective tool in understanding the ground reality in
these sector in detail. The first session dealt with basic information regarding GIS and how it operates in
general and its main functions. Second session discussed about how GIS can be used as guiding tool in policy
formulation as well as their implementation. And third and final session discussed about using GIS in health
care and education.

The existing disparities that prevails between tribals and their non tribal counter parts is a known fact and
world around tribals are changing rapidly so we cannot afford to keep tribals in isolation which will lead to
increasing deprivation to a section of a society which is already in lowest strata in terms of development. As
Heredia stated “If the unequal exchange that marginalizes these tribals is to be reversed, then they must not
be left in isolation, not even in the mistaken notion of preserving their tribal identity. This only marginalise still
further. For ethnic identity is dynamic, not static... we believe that like every human identity tribal ethnic
identity too must be dynamic and it actualizes the human potential that is present in every human group. The
danger however in romanticizing them is to condemn them to primitivism... ” 15. Need of the hour is to
understand the need based requirements of communities and spatial science like Geography and foster child
of technology like GIS can help a lot in this direction. But its potential is not been utilized properly as O Looney
states “human services have not kept pace with emerging information technologies and have traditionally
been immune to changes in technological capabilities”16. Today the visual representation of data is a powerful
tool for influencing public policy and conveying information in a non technical way to a variety of policy stake
holders. We should not shy away from using these technological innovations for the wellbeing of people in
general and of the most deprived sections of society like tribals in particular.

14
Dangermond Jack, ESRI Conference 1999, Relands, US
15
Heredia, Rudolf c. 2002.”Interrogating Integration: The Counter Cultural Tribal other. ” Economic and
Political weekly, Vol.xxxvi, Dec.28, pp.5174 -78
16
O Loony J. 1997. “Beyond Maps: GIS and Decision Making In local Government” D.C Publication Washington
National Seminar on “Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas”, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training
and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

References

• Carr-Hill et.al, 1997, “Access and utilization of healthcare services”, Ferguson (ed.) Concentration and
Choice in Healthcare, London.

• Dangermond Jack, ESRI Conference 1999, Relands, US

• Goodchild M F, (2005) “Geographic Information Systems and Science”, John Wiley and Sons, England.

• Hasnain, Nadeem 2007. “Tribal India” Palaka Prakashan, New Delhi, pp.197

• Heredia, Rudolf c. 2002.”Interrogating Integration: The Counter Cultural Tribal other. ” Economic and
Political weekly, Vol.xxxvi, Dec.28, pp.5174 -78

• Landry M, Rassas C, Fairbank A, Pielemeier N and Attieg A, 2004, APHA Conference,Washington, D.C.

• Les Warrall. (ed.) 1991 “Spatial analysis and Spatial policy using GIS” Belhaven Press, London

• Maheswaran Ravi and Cragila Massimo (ed.) 2004, “GIS in Public Health Practice”, CRC press, London.

• Mandayam Gokul, 2002“Geographic Information Systems: A planning tool for human service
agencies”, www.gisdevelopment.net

• Ningapiah, N. (2001) “Tribal Development In Karnataka : Retrospect And Prospect Tribal Economy and
Development. (ed) V. Karuppaiyan and K Pari Murugan, pp 70-81, University Of Madras, Chennai.

• O’Looney, J. (1997). “Beyond Maps: G.I.S and Decision Making in local Government”, Washington, DC:
Publications Department, ICMA.

• Panoor, K 1963 “Keralas Africa” [Keralathile Africa (Malayalam)]. Kottayam National Book Stall

• T.Radhakrishnan, (2007) “Principles, Techniques and Applications of Geographical Information


Systems”, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram.

• Understanding GIS: The ARC/INFO Method (Redlands, CA: EnvironmentalSystem Research Institute,
1990), page 1.2:

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