India's Scheduled Areas: Untangling Governance, Law and Politics

This volume explores the complexities of governance, law, and politics in India's Scheduled Areas, which are inhabited predominantly by tribal communities. It examines the role of the state in the neoliberal era, the governance of land and forest resources, and the ineffectiveness of existing administrative structures and processes. It also looks into the interpretations of law by the judiciary and how development concerns are addressed in the name of 'good governance.'

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate complexities of governance, law, and politics in India's Scheduled Areas (SAs), regions designated by the Fifth and Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and predominantly inhabited by tribal communities or Scheduled Tribes. SAs are characterized by their geographical isolation, primitive economies, and egalitarian societies. Despite constitutional provisions for governance and devolution of power, these areas continue to face significant backwardness.

The book aims to explore the underlying reasons behind the disregard for legal and institutional mechanisms designed for SAs. It examines the role of the state in the neoliberal era, particularly in fund allocation and utilization, land and forest resource governance, and the ineffectiveness of existing administrative structures and processes. It also scrutinizes the judiciary's interpretations of law concerning community rights versus the state's prerogative to bring development to these regions. Furthermore, it explores how development concerns are addressed in the name of 'good governance' by various stakeholders.

The volume is designed to be of value to scholars and researchers in political studies, development studies, developmental economics, sociology, and social anthropology. It provides a comprehensive and topical analysis of the issues and challenges faced by SAs, offering valuable insights for policy makers and practitioners working in these areas.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367785116