From the margins to the Centre: A study on the health inequities among the tribal communities in selected districts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha

Abstract

There are intense debates regarding the definition of the term ‘tribe’ itself; not only is it a colonial construct, but it carries with it a host of stereotypes that outsiders had towards the communities that they did not fully understand – from romantic and mystical to backward, uncivilised or even criminal – or even felt hostile towards. Many tribal communities hence prefer to call themselves ‘Adivasi’, which literally means ‘original inhabitant’; and the terms ‘tribal’ or ‘Adivasi’ broadly connote a community or a cluster of communities that share a common territory, language and cultural heritage. The Constitution of India does not use this term. It instead uses ‘Scheduled Tribes’ (STs) or ‘Anusuchit Jana Jati’ to refer to tribal communities.