Reflect on the recommendations made by the Bhuria Committee of 1994 and the Bhuria Commission of 2002

The Bhuria Committee (1994) and the Bhuria Commission (2002) played significant roles in shaping the legal and political landscape for tribal communities in India, particularly in terms of tribal autonomy, self-governance, and tribal rights.

Get the full solved assignment PDF of MANE-007 of 2024-25 session now by clicking on above button.

Both committees aimed to address the challenges faced by tribal communities in India, with a focus on ensuring their welfare, recognizing their rights over land and resources, and promoting their social, economic, and cultural development.

Bhuria Committee (1994)

The Bhuria Committee was established in 1994 under the chairmanship of Lalji Tandon and its recommendations focused mainly on strengthening the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in tribal areas. The committee’s key recommendations were:

1. Strengthening Panchayati Raj in Tribal Areas:
   • The Committee recommended the strengthening of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in tribal areas, emphasizing the need for decentralized governance and local self-government. This was in line with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which sought to bring greater political power to local bodies.
   • It advocated for the reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats and recommended that the Panchayat system should be adapted to tribal contexts, ensuring that tribal communities have the power to make decisions regarding local governance.
2. Empowerment of Tribals:
   • The Committee suggested that tribal communities should be empowered to manage their own resources and development programs, ensuring that they have a say in decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods.
3. Protection of Tribal Rights:
   • The Committee emphasized the need for special measures to protect the land rights of tribals, ensuring that tribal people were not dispossessed of their land due to development projects or encroachments by non-tribals.
4. Promotion of Cultural Identity:
   • The Committee recognized the importance of preserving the cultural identity of tribal communities. It stressed the need for education programs that promote tribal languages, traditions, and customs.
5. Strengthening the Forest Rights Act:
   • It recommended better implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities over the forests and resources they depend on.

Bhuria Commission (2002)

The Bhuria Commission was established in 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, with the aim of examining the issues faced by Scheduled Tribes (STs), particularly in the context of autonomy, self-governance, and land rights. The Commission built upon the recommendations of the Bhuria Committee and provided further insights into the problems faced by tribal communities. Some of the key recommendations of the Bhuria Commission include:

1. Constitutional Safeguards and Rights for Tribals:
   • The Commission recommended the strengthening of tribal autonomy by giving more power to tribal panchayats and autonomous councils. It called for more effective implementation of laws that protect the tribal population from exploitation, including the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
2. Implementation of the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA):
   • The Commission emphasized the need to ensure the full implementation of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), which was designed to extend the provisions of Panchayati Raj to tribal areas, giving local tribes control over resources, governance, and decision-making. The Commission argued that the provisions of PESA were not being fully implemented and that tribals were still being marginalized in decision-making processes.
3. Control over Land and Natural Resources:
   • The Commission proposed that tribals should have more control over their land and the natural resources on which they depend. This was particularly important given the increasing pressures from commercial exploitation of forest resources and the encroachment of non-tribals into tribal lands.
4. Protection of Tribal Culture and Education:
   • The Commission recommended measures to protect tribal culture and promote education that was culturally relevant. It called for the inclusion of tribal languages in schools, as well as the development of educational content that reflects tribal traditions, customs, and history.
5. Economic Empowerment:
   • The Commission recommended economic empowerment measures for tribes, particularly through skill development, employment generation programs, and support for traditional tribal industries and livelihoods. It emphasized the importance of preserving the unique livelihoods of tribals, such as hunting, gathering, and shifting cultivation, while integrating them into mainstream economic development.
6. Combatting Exploitation and Land Alienation:
   • The Commission addressed the issue of land alienation and the exploitation of tribal communities by non-tribals, especially in the context of urbanization and industrialization. It recommended stricter implementation of land reforms and anti-exploitation measures.

Impact and Criticisms:

While both the Bhuria Committee and the Bhuria Commission made significant recommendations to safeguard tribal rights, their impact has been mixed. Some of the key achievements and challenges include:

• Empowerment of Local Governance: The introduction and reinforcement of PESA and Panchayati Raj systems have contributed to local self-governance, although their implementation remains uneven across different states.
• Land Rights: While there have been efforts to strengthen tribal land rights, such as through the Forest Rights Act, land alienation and encroachment by non-tribals continue to be pressing issues in many areas.
• Cultural Preservation: The recommendations to preserve tribal culture and languages have been partly implemented, but challenges remain in terms of integrating tribals into the broader educational and cultural framework of the country without eroding their unique identities.
• Economic Development and Marginalization: Economic development has been slower in tribal areas due to a lack of proper infrastructure and limited access to resources. Moreover, tribals often remain marginalized in economic growth initiatives.

Conclusion:

Both the Bhuria Committee (1994) and the Bhuria Commission (2002) have made significant contributions to improving the conditions of tribal communities in India by emphasizing tribal autonomy, land rights, and cultural preservation. However, the implementation of their recommendations has been a challenge, primarily due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, political resistance, and lack of awareness. There is still much to be done to ensure the full empowerment and protection of tribal communities in India.