Prelims

Half Title Page

Sustainable Pathways

Title Page

Sustainable Pathways: The Role of Indigenous Tribes and Native Practices in India's Economic Model

By

Nishi Malhotra

Indian Institute of Management, India

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL

First edition 2024

Copyright © 2024 Nishi Malhotra.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83549-491-2 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83549-490-5 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83549-492-9 (Epub)

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the rural India and the courageous rural women who have time and again showed us the way to empowerment and sustainable growth. This book is dedicated to the artisans, handicraft makers and the tribes of India for their contribution to the heritage and our culture. Above all, I dedicate this book to my parents.

List of Abbreviations

AYUSH

Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy

BARC

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

CAQDAS

Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software

CIF

Community Investment Fund

CLF

Cluster Level Federation

CMIE

Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy

COVID 19

COronaVIrus Disease of 2019

DAY NRLM

Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojan National Rural Livelihood Mission

DMMU

District Mission Management Units

DRDA

District Rural Development Agency

HDI

Human Development Index

IIT

Indian Institute of Technology

IRB

Institutional Research Board

LOHAS

Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability

MAC

Mutually Aided Cooperatives

MCP

Minimum Credit Plan

MFI

Microfinance Institution

MIS

Management Information System

MYRADA

Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency

NABARD

National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development

NABARD

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

NARI

Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute

NGO

Non-Government Organization

NPA

Non-Performing Loans

NRHM

National Rural Livelihood Mission

PLR

Prime Lending Rate

PMAAGY

Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana

PMJANMAN

Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan

PRADAN

Professional Assistance for Development Action

RBV

Resource Based View

ROSCA

Rotating Savings and Credit Association

RPL

Recognition for Learner

SBLP

Self-Help Group Bank Linkage

SC/ST

Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe

SDGs

Sustainable Development Goals

SEWA

Self-Employed Women Association

SHG

Self-Help Group

SHPI

Self-Help Promoting Institution

SRYEA

Society for Rural & Youth Educational Advancement

SWP

Solar Water Purifiers

UN SDGs

United Nation Sustainable Development Goals

UV

Ultraviolet

VKY

Van Bandhan Kalyan Yojana

WHO

World Health Organization

About the Author

Dr Nishi Malhotra is an Assistant Professor, Finance Accounting and Control at Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Sambalpur, India. She has completed her PhD in Finance, Accounting and Control from IIM Kozhikode, India and MBA from MDI Gurgaon. She also holds an MCom degree from IGNOU, India and has done her BCom Hons from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University, India. She has approximately 4 years' experience in teaching and 11 years in industry.

Preface

The United Nations has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to build equitable societies and achieve equity for all. Reducing inequalities and building sustainable communities is one of the major objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Indian Government has transitioned the sustainable development goals into agenda for action. India is home to around 705 ethnic communities, and each has its own rich heritage and culture. Hon'ble Prime Minister Shree Narendra Modiji has started various schemes and initiatives for the inclusion and development of the indigenous communities and tribes. With increasing environmental challenges and dynamic environment myriad with climatic changes, ecological imbalances inclusion of the tribes and leveraging their indigenous knowledge for the preservation of the nature and ecosystem becomes extremely important. Despite the rich culture and knowledge, the tribal people do not have access to resources and are not included in the mainstream to be part of the economic growth and development. Many of the tribes are nomadic and migrate frequently making social and financial inclusion a distant dream. Since 2014, many developmental initiatives have been started by the government to facilitate the progressive development of the tribes and the indigenous people. Exclusion mainly pertains to keeping a particular community away from the resource sharing and positions of authority and roles of leadership. However, the Indian Government has carved out the special niches and roles for the communities in the development of the nation through initiatives such as the self-help group linkage programme. To give a boost to the unique skill of hand and the art possessed by these communities, the Government of India has started various schemes such as MUDRA financing and Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas and many more mission initiatives under the aegis of Ministry of Handicraft and Ministry of Textiles. To provide the livelihood to millions of artisans and craftsmen, the government has started the DAY NRLM (Deen Dayal Upadhyay National Rural Livelihood Mission) to provide employment to the marginalised craftsmen. The Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji has declared this period as Amrit Kaal of the Indian economic growth story and has identified four Amrit Stambh namely the nari shakti, farmers, cattle rearing and fishermen and youth and the middle class and poor marginalised sections of India. 15th November, Bhagwan Birsa Munda birth anniversary has been declared as the Jaan Jati Gaurav Diwas. During this Amrit Kaal, the Government of India aims to include all the marginalised sections of society in the development of the nation through sustainable initiatives. The preservation of the heritage indigenous art and culture provides us a unique opportunity to enrich our civilisation and pass on the knowledge to the future generations through artistic expression, literature, culture, traditions and practices. This book is aimed at highlighting the various sustainable practices and traditions of the tribes in our country and celebrating the spirit of naturalism. The tribes are indeed the pride and add colours to mosaic of rich Indian culture and traditions. Financial inclusion is the key to the economic upliftment of the marginalised, but in deficit of the skills and craftsmanship, this objective of financial inclusion seems like a distant dream. But the tribes in our nation are in possession of most valuable skill, the craftsmanship that is passed on to them from generations to generations. This book aims to celebrate the social capital, the rich cultural identity, the craftsmanship of the tribes, without which the history of evolution of mankind and its progress is incomplete. I take this opportunity to present this book for the academicians and researchers who are keen to research the financial inclusion of the tribes and the native people in India.

Acknowledgement

This book is dedicated to my parents, teachers, sister, Delhi University, MDI Gurgaon, IIM Kozhikode, and all my professors and teachers without whom I would not have been able to accomplish this dream. Above all, I would like to thank the Government of India and our military armed forces for their relentless, selfless service to the nation, and a special thanks to the State Government of Kerala and the people of the state. I wish to thank Emerald Publishing, especially Daniel Ridge and his team for their relentless motivation and support.

And above all, I would like to thank the tribes and indigenous people of India. I would like to thank Sh Rati Kanta Nayak, Director, Jana Jagran Kendra, Sh Narayan Das, Orissa, Rural and Urban and Producers Association, Sh Krishna Moorthy, Rural Education and Action for Change, Dr Sudha Malaiya – Multiple Crafts, Ojaswini Samdarshi, Sh. Dhananjay Bhatt, Uttarakhand SLBC Member, and all other people who helped me in completing this prestigious assignment. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) chapter for their guidance and for giving a sense of direction to the cause of responsible growth. And I thank DAY NRLM (Deen Dayal Antodaya Yojana, National Rural Livelihood Mission) chapter run by the Government of India and Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modiji for this great initiative that is a beacon of hope and livelihood for many people below the poverty line.