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Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribals launch 1st ever self-Census in Bastar, say we will count ourselves
Raipur: Tribal organization, is spearheading this grassroots effort across over 1,000 villages, including areas in Dhamtari and Balod districts. This initiative, which began in March 2025, is a response to perceived inaccuracies in government data that have historically impacted tribal representation, resource allocation, and benefits. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Prakash Thakur, the Bastar division president for Sarva Adivasi Samaj, emphasized the importance of this self-census in documenting births, deaths, marriages, land ownership, migration patterns, and cultural elements like 'totams' and deities. The data collected will not only help protect tribal rights and identity but also serve as a check against government census figures, which have been distrusted in the past, he asserted. The self-census is inclusive, covering all social groups, including SC, OBC, and general category populations, and will also document religious conversions. This comprehensive approach aims to assert that tribal identity transcends religious affiliations. Speaking to TOI, Chhattisgarh minister for tribal affairs Ramvichar Netam said, "The community representatives and committees maintain a proper record about the people and it's updated from time to time. If Sarva Adivasi Samaj is carrying out its personal survey, it's not a problem. But as far as they questioned the authenticity of the Census, then I would like to ensure that it's a process done with a lot of responsibility and is cross-checked on many levels. " Chhattisgarh Congress president Deepak Baij has come out in support of the initiative: "The tribal youth have rightly taken this step because the govt can't be trusted with our numbers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This awareness among Bastar's Adivasis is commendable – it will help prevent any manipulative agenda in caste-based census data." Responding to the move, senior tribal leader and former union minister Arvind Netam from Bastar told TOI, "I have learnt about this initiative and it's being done keeping many factors in mind. I support it, specially, as it displays the awareness among tribal people. The survey should be done with all seriousness." The survey, led by trained tribal youth, covers 18 key parameters, including educational qualifications, clan lineage, and access to government schemes. Volunteers are collecting data both digitally and manually, with around 50% of the work completed. The initiative has garnered support from Congress state chief Deepak Baij, who praised the tribal youth for their proactive stance. Ultimately, the Bastar self-census represents a significant moment of grassroots mobilization, where tribal communities are taking control of their narrative and data. The goal is to create a reliable, community-authenticated database that can be used in legal disputes and government reviews, ensuring the survival and dignity of tribal communities. As Thakur poignantly stated, "This is not just about numbers. It's about survival, dignity, and ensuring that no one erases us from our own land."
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'We Count Ourselves': Chhattisgarh tribal community in Bastar launches first-ever self-census
RAIPUR: Expressing distrust in official census data with deepening concerns about the marginalization of tribal communities, members of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division, have taken a bold step: conducting their own grassroots social census. This community-led initiative, driven by tribal youth and elders alike, is now underway across over 1,000 villages in Bastar division and adjoining areas of Dhamtari and Balod districts. Speaking to TOI, Prakash Thakur, Bastar division president for Sarva Adivasi Samaj said, 'For decades, we never had a clear record of our population or our social conditions. So we decided to conduct our own survey, and it will be ongoing. We are using a mobile app to document everything: births and deaths, marriages, land ownership, migration patterns, and even cultural elements like 'totams' and 'deities.' This data will help protect our rights and preserve our identity, besides, tallying the authenticity of govt census, which was largely distrusted during the previous survey, he said. Referring to delimitation process and the Population Census 2027 the Sarva Adivasi Samaj member said that the initiative is partly a response to the govt's perceived failure to accurately count tribal populations, which has sometimes resulted in villages being wrongly declared uninhabited – a decision that impacts benefits, representation, and resource allocation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo 'Although led by tribal communities, the survey is inclusive of all social groups including SC, OBC, and general category populations residing in these villages. It will also record religious conversions or the tribals who adopted Christianity. We believe tribal identity is not tied to any one religion, and this record will help us assert that legally,' Thakur said. Speaking to TOI, Chhattisgarh Minister for Tribal Affairs Ramvichar Netam said, 'The community representatives and committees maintain a proper record about the people and it's updated from time to time. If Sarva Adivasi Samaj is carrying out its personal survey, it's not a problem. But as far as they questioned the authenticity of the Census, then I would like to ensure that it's a process done with a lot of responsibility and is cross-checked on many levels.' Responding to the move, senior tribal leader and former union minister Arvind Netam from Bastar told TOI, 'I have learnt about this initiative and it's being done keeping many factors in mind. I support it, specially, as it displays the awareness among tribal people. The survey should be done with all seriousness.' Momentum on the ground is unmistakable. The Bastar self-census represents a rare moment of grassroots mobilization, where tribal communities are asserting control over their narrative, identity, and data—not just to demand rights, but to safeguard them proactively. From the Ground Up: Youth-Led Data Collection The survey which began in March 2025, aims to maintain accurate and community-owned records that cover 18 key parameters – including names, educational qualifications, gotra (clan lineage), land and property status, government scheme access, traditional beliefs, and more. 'Even which tree a tribe reveres in the forest or what spirit they worship will be documented,' Thakur added. Trained tribal youth from the same villages are carrying out the surveys. Two volunteers per village, supervised at the block and district levels, are collecting data digitally and manually. Around 50% of the work is complete, with the rest expected to finish in the coming months, delayed slightly due to the ongoing farming season. Notably, 17 types of registers are being compiled to house this expansive data. The aim is also to tally cultural identifiers such as 'gotras', which may help in preserving and transferring tribal identity across generations. Congress state chief Deepak Baij has come out in support of the initiative: 'The tribal youth have rightly taken this step because the govt can't be trusted with our numbers. This awareness among Bastar's Adivasis is commendable – it will help prevent any manipulative agenda in caste-based census data.' The larger goal, according to tribal leaders, is to have a reliable, community-authenticated database that can be presented during legal disputes or when governments conduct their own population reviews, especially during delisting exercises or seat reservation reviews. 'This is not just about numbers,' says Thakur, 'It's about survival, dignity, and ensuring that no one erases us from our own land.' Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
