EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION OF TRIBAL WOMEN IN INDIA

The tribal population in India, that constitutes 8.6% of India's total population (per the 2011 census), is amongst one of the most disadvantaged due to a host of factors, such as poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, health problems, geographic isolation and lack of access to services. Tribal women, comprising 47% of India's tribal population, are deeply connected to their communities and possess a profound understanding of their ecosystem. Time and again, they have established their ability to effect behavioural change on the ground and proven to be powerful community influencers. Studies have shown that tribal women, as culture keepers and archivists of ancient tribal practices and traditional knowledge, also possess valuable insights on larger issues such as the climate crisis, forests, and sustainability. The tribal communities all over India have been subjected to various forms of deprivation such as alienation from land and other resources. The fact remains that a large number of tribal women have missed education at different stages and in order to empower them there is a great need of providing opportunities so as to enable them to assume leadership qualities for economic self-reliance and even social transformation. Education is an important human activity. It enriches the tribal women in the self development and as well as the society as a whole. Especially the tribal women, though they are away from the main stream of national life, but they are not kept away from the impact of socio economic changes effecting the society in general. In this process of change, the tribal woman is forced to adhere to certain norms which may even take away her freedom, her control over the traditional productive system, her house, family and children and even her own life. This paper discusses the empowerment strategies among tribal women. Key words: Empowerment, Education, Tribal Women.