Voluntary Initiatives for Tribal Development in Gujarat

The issue of development in the tribal areas has become complex as the conventional understanding of economic growth and development is not readily accepted as relevant by many scholars. Some plead that the tribals should be left alone, while most contend this view. In Gujarat, an Indian state with about 15 per cent tribal population, major initiatives for tribal development have come from the voluntary sector. This article attempts to review four voluntary initiatives in Gujarat by drawing upon existing studies and the author's first-hand knowledge of the field. The review suggests that although every initiative has had some significant impact on the lives of tribal people, the ones based on the mobilisation and organisa tion of local populations promise results that are most sustainable in the long run.