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Santals
in Present Context - An Analysis
The present situation of the Santals might be described in
the following five context areas: Political, Economic, Legal,
Historical and socio-cultural.
1.
POLITICAL CONTEXT
The
Santals have a century old, traditional system of local
self-governance known as Manjhi-Pargana System (MPS) at
the village and intermediate level responsible for the overall
development of the Santal communities
Historically
the MPS started losing its authority with the advent of
the British Colonial power. This process continued after
the independence. Various legislations made the system ineffective
and dysfunctional. However, 1996 Peoples Movements resulted
in the enactment of Provisions of Panchayat (extended to
the Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 (PESA-96) by the Parliament
of India. The fundamental and the basic tenet of the Act
empowered the traditional village councils under MPS to
govern themselves on their own in accordance with their
traditions and customs in all matters pertaining to their
own socio-political, economic and cultural development.
The Govt. of Jharkhand has ratified this Act in 2001. This
Act (PESA-96) provides for Adivasis self-governance. Adivasis
have now the legal and Constitutional power to organise
themselves, plan, implement, review and monitor their own
programmes of development.
Yet, the challenge lies with the implementation of the Act.
As it is expected that the Government itself will do very
little or nothing to implement it, it will depend of the
Adivasi communities themselves to work for its realization.
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2.
ECONOMIC CONTEXT
The
Santals have been dependent upon land, forest and water
sesources for their livelihood. They are agricultural based
with a strong cultural-spiritual as well as economic relation
to the forest they live in. Over the years more than 60%
of the land have either legally or illegally changed hands
and are now in non-Santal ownership (land alienation). Money
economy entered the villages. The Santal culture, as subsistence
economy bases society, did not develop the habit of savings
or taking up business entrepreneurship. Moneylenders from
outside could play upon the community's lack of experience
and information. They provided credit for high interest
rates leading to further land alienation. (lack of credit
management) Furthermore, Governmental restrictions to major
portions of the forest deprived the Santals of their traditional
means of survival.
As
a result of loosing their means of livelihood many Santals
decided to migrate to other districts, where most of them
end up physically exploited and mentally alienated (Migration)
Others found work as day laborer in the upcoming small and
medium size industries, particularly stone quarries and stone
crusher machines enterprises, in the area. Here they are substantially
under-paid and exposed to various health hazards.
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3.
SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
The
Santals, especially the so-called literate Santals and those
living in small towns and cities, steadily alienated themselves
from their traditional culture and moral values. The dominating
mainstream culture, their inability to co-operate with market
economy and unfavorable legal and governance systems, made
them feel inferior and ashamed of their ageold customs and
cultures. As a result the cohesive power of the culture, which
is of paramount importance in holding a society together is
getting weakened. (Cultural alienation). Cultural alienation
also has an adverse role in socio-economic development and
education.
An
important part in their cultural alienation as well as in
their overall socio-economic development education also plays
an important role. The Santals have their own traditional
methods and wisdom of imparting knowledge to their children
and in educating them in different spheres of life. The children
learn from their parents the tenets of cultural expressions
(dances, songs, music), hunting and agricultural techniques
and other knowledge relevant to their daily life. Formal schools
have always been alien to them. Besides, the present high
rate of illiteracy among Santals is a result of different
factors:
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A]
The parents and the village community do not see the need
of sending the children to the schools,
B)
Formal education is beyond the financial capabilities
of the poor parents. Many villages do not have any formal
schools; thus parents are reluctaned to send their children
to far off schools. If there are formal schools the teachers
attend them irregularly and most of them are ignorant
of the traditional Santal culture and its value system.
The medium of instruction in the schools is in non-tribal
languages; as a result the tribal children do not find
them appealing or enjoyable.
C)
The cultural alienation, together with the loss of their
traditional livelihood and political deprivation is responsible
for the predominantly bad health situation among the Santal
population:
D)
Massive deforestation and intrusion of 'quacks' - the half-trained
doctors, have resulted in the loss of knowledge of herbal
medicines by the Santals.
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AISWACS
Santal
Hul - 150
