Central Zone : The Central Zone (46%) is reeling under State oppression due to

the MAO
movement, conflict due to the influence of MNCs and forced displacement due to
developments,
religious fundamentalism resulting in loss of livelihoods, property, identity and
language. A mass Exodus of the Indigenous due to the genocide policy against
Maoists in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and migration for employment, forced labour,
human trafficking, development exploitation are the realities faced by Adivasis in
this region.
Western Zone : In the Western Zone (27.6%), the Indigenous people suffered of
mass displacement, denial of lands and livelihoods due to construction of dam,
Special Economic Zones, Industries etc. under liberalisation of economy. Land
alienation, isolation, violence and forced migration are also very high in this zone.
The States schemes and projects are not reaching the Adivasi Villages. Lack of
adequate skills, poor implementation of programmes and ecological changes have
resulted in the high increase of unemployment.
North Eastern Zone : As both the North Eastern zone (12.4%) and the North
Western zone (2%) are situated along the international borders of China, Myanmar
and Bangladesh in the North-East and Pakistan and China on the north west, these
zones experience internal and external terrorism and act as hub of State atrocities
due to Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and political unrest, ethnic conflicts,
human trafficking and extreme poverty.
Southern zone : The tribes of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Pondicherry in
the southern Zone (11.5%) are heavily affected by the dominant culture hegemony,
displaced due to conservation laws and forced to become environment migrants,
illiteracy, bonded labourers, child labourers, loss of traditional identity, extreme
poverty, unemployment, lack of acceptance to their indigenous knowledge, culture
and facing human rights violations.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands : Ever since the Tsunami calamity in the year
2004, the Islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep (0.1%) and even the
mainland eastern coastal areas are continuously facing threat in various forms.
Indigenous identity, language and birth rights are threatened by many rules and
regulations that deny them their right to enjoy their customary rights, livelihood
resources and traditional & customary practices.

Skills of Tribal Youth

Many tribal youth have sets of skills which are largely ignored, marginalized and
eventually
suppressed by the normal educational system. These include detailed customary
knowledge of forest and other ecosystems; cultural traditions around natural
resource management and collective decision making;
understanding of techniques of traditional sustainable cultivation, wildlife
management etc. Alienating

these youth from their cultural and social background is a serious blow to them, to
their communities
and to the society as a whole. Therefore, though skill development programmes are
a requirement for
tribal youth, they must also be designed in such a manner as to be accountable to
and controlled by the
communities themselves and dedicated to addressing the actual requirements of
the youth rather than
imposed in a top down manner.
Despite welfare efforts and schemes, tribal youth in the country find themselves
increasingly
restricted in terms of the kind of employment and opportunities that they are able
to access. The Employment
and Unemployment Survey of 2012 by the Bureau of Labour indicated that, while
overall unemployment
among STs is lower than among the general castes category, for almost all
categories of those educated
above the primary school level, unemployment among STs is higher. This is partly
the result of outright
discrimination as well as socio-economic factors, but it also reflects the failure of the
mainstream education
system to develop the skills that ST youth already have and to assist them in
acquiring new ones.

Status of Tribal Youth

Youth in India can be classified as Youth in Urban Areas, Youth in Rural Areas and
Youth in Tribal Areas. The present issues of Tribal youth are :
External
Exploitation

Unemployment /
Poverty
Constraints in
traditional
livelihood

Forced
bondage

Unskilled
labourhood

Dismantling of
public sector

Generation
gap

Employment
limitation

Early marriage
Health issues /
depression

Modernization

Urbanization

Need for Skill Training of Tribals

Skill training of Tribals is vital because, Adivasis today suffer from extreme poverty,
illiteracy and ignorance, displacement, unemployment, unskilled labour, bonded
labour and lack of support for development. By providing skill training, the following
could be prevented/ eradicated:
Youth Violence and Atrocities.
Suicide and Mental disorder.
Caste, Class, Gender Violence.
Gang involvement against peace.
Man-Made Disasters.
Illiteracy, Ignorance and Unemployment.
The following could be achieved:
Skill the unskilled labour and rescue bonded labour.
Provide support for development.
Build Enabling Environment.
Promote Equal and Better opportunities.
Sustainable Development.
Social Equality, Justice and Dignity for all.