(759.pdf) TRIBALS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM (RAJASTHANPERSPECTIVE)

摘要

Education is recognized as one of the critical elements of the national efforts and higher education, inparticular, is of vital importance for the nation, as it is a powerful tool to build knowledge based societyof the 21st century. Rajasthan is situated in the northern part of India. It is the largest state in India byarea constituting 10.4 % of the total geographical area and it accounts for 8.4% of tribal population ofthe country. This paper aims at discussing status of higher education in tribal communities ofRajasthan in India in the age of new millennium. Various new steps and innovations have been takenby the government after independence especially in the era of new economic reforms that started in1991. It provides new avenues in the field of education, especially in higher education and researchfacilities.First part of this paper focuses on the historical background of higher education in India which hasvery glorious past. Second part deals with the major steps taken to improve educational andsocioeconomic conditions of the tribal communities in India. Issues and challenges have beendiscussed in third part of the paper in order to invite attention of the government as well as the policyplanners to achieve millennium goals in the years to come as far as these downtrodden communitiesare concerned. It also lays emphasis to recognise the aspirations, needs and predicament of tribals,livelihoods and larger support structure, including healthcare, schools and spaces for civic action.Finally, a road map has been suggested to bring these communities into the mainstream of thedevelopment in the country in order to ensure their inclusive growth as well as their greater role to playin the globalised economic atmosphere.