Tribal Population and Development Policies in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir: A Critical Analysis

India is home to tribal population of about 85 million, with more than 700 groups each with their distinct cultures, social practices, religions, dialects and occupations and are scattered in all States and Union Territories in India. The Tribes, like the Scheduled Castes, is the most socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged, marginalized and excluded groups in our country. The wide-spread discrimination against scheduled groups has long histories in India. However the status of this community in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is somewhat different from their counterpart in other part of the country. In Jammu and Kashmir, the tribal people are very affluent, highly educated, politically awared and have good number in white-collar jobs. In this context and with this backdrop, this is a modest attempt to study the demographic particulars of tribal and the development policies in India in general and Jammu and Kashmir in particular.