India (Bharat) is home to one of the world's most diverse tribal demographies, comprising nearly 10.42 crore people. These include tribal communities ranging from the Gujjars, Bhotias, and Tharus of the Himalayan region to the Todas, Irulas, and Kadars of the south, as well as the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, and Sentinelese classified as Negrito tribes in the Andaman Islands, and the Shompen and Nicobarese belonging to the Mongoloid groups of the Nicobar Islands. Tribes across the country are often regarded as custodians of nature, preserving their traditions and cultural practices despite long-standing exclusion from mainstream society. This marginalisation became particularly pronounced during the British colonial period, when certain groups, such as the Sabars of Odisha and West Bengal and the Gujjars of northern India, were stigmatised under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. Such measures not only reinforced social prejudice but also led to widespread ostracism and economic hardship. In response, successive governments, along with social organisations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have undertaken sustained efforts through the philosophy of Samajik Samrasta, which aims to integrate tribal communities into the national mainstream while safeguarding their cultural heritage.
On Vijayadashami, 2 October 2025, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is celebrating the milestone of its 100th year, marking it as the Shatabdi Varsh. Throughout this century-long journey, the organisation has worked steadfastly on the ideas of visionary leaders such as M.S. Golwalkar and Deendayal Upadhyaya, who emphasised samajik samrasta (social harmony) and national unity. Guided by these ideals, the RSS has launched several initiatives, including Parivar Prabodhan (Family Exhortation), which focuses on strengthening family values; Paryavaran Samrakshan (Environmental Protection), which encourages community participation in preserving nature; and Swadeshi Acharan (Nativist Conduct), which promotes self-reliance and indigenous practices. Collectively, these efforts have contributed to fostering national integration while respecting India's cultural diversity and have played a vital role in preventing the social alienation of tribal communities, especially in regions vulnerable to challenges such as Naxalism and religious conversion movements.
Milestone Initiatives of the RSS in Tribal Empowerment
Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA): Back in 1952, Vanayogi Balasaheb Deshpande laid the foundation of the VKA in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, starting with just six tribal boys and a vision to uplift and support tribal communities. What began as a modest initiative has now grown into a nationwide movement, reaching 447 districts and more than 52,000 villages across India. Guided by the dream of creating a truly Samarth Bharat (self-reliant India), the organisation today runs over 20,000 service projects. Its work spans a wide range of fields in education, healthcare, rural development, women's empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods, making it one of the largest social service organisations in the country.
Education: Resident Schools and Hostels - Bal Sanskar Kendras
Across the several tribal regions of Bharat, there are a number of cultural education centres run by RSS-inspired organisations that provide tribal children with not only basic formal education but also lessons in local traditions, folklore, tribal legends, and Indian cultural heritage, which help to shape their young lives. The aim is to help them develop a sense of pride in their roots while gaining the knowledge and skills to integrate with mainstream society, thereby fostering both cultural continuity and social inclusion.
As of 2023, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram runs over 20,000 Ekal Vidyalayas (single-teacher schools), educating nearly 30 lakh tribal children across remote areas. In addition, more than 1,500 hostels and residential schools have been established for tribal students in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand, ensuring access to both formal education and cultural grounding. Through this extensive educational network, the RSS model seeks to promote and preserve Bharatiya cultural values while simultaneously fostering intellectual growth among tribal children, empowering them with greater opportunities and the confidence to realise their full potential.
Socio-Economic Development
Alongside education, sustained efforts have also been made for training and skill development programmes and workshops on organic farming and agriculture, conducted by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha, which are dominated by various tribal communities. These initiatives not only equip farmers with practical skills but also encourage environmentally conscious methods of cultivation that can enhance long-term income security.
Parallel to these educational initiatives, tribal culture has gained new visibility through Tribal Art and Craft Exhibitions and fairs organised in major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. These events not only celebrate and market tribal art, textiles, and handicrafts but also create vital economic opportunities for artisans by connecting them directly with urban consumers. As part of these efforts, over 1.2 lakh tribal youth have been trained in organic farming, animal husbandry, and handicrafts, fostering both skill development and sustainable livelihoods. In addition, more than 50,000 artisans have benefitted from these exhibitions, witnessing a 20-30% annual increase in household income through improved market access and recognition of their traditional craftsmanship.
By connecting local creativity with urban markets, such exhibitions foster cultural pride and ensure that tribal knowledge systems continue to thrive in a rapidly modernising Bharat.
Healthcare and Welfare Programmes
Tribal communities in India continue to face a 'triple burden of disease', characterised by disproportionately high rates of malnutrition, communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, and an increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes, along with elevated maternal and child mortality rates. These poor health outcomes are rooted in a combination of structural and socio-cultural barriers, including inadequate access to quality healthcare infrastructure, poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water, geographic isolation, poverty, low literacy, and cultural practices that often hinder the effective utilisation of available health services. A key factor behind this disparity is the lack of accessible and culturally sensitive healthcare systems in tribal areas, which are not only limited in number, quality, and resources but also often inappropriately designed and lacking in community participation, rendering them ineffective in addressing the specific health needs of tribal populations.
In response to these enduring health challenges, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its inspired organisations-particularly the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA), Arogya Bharati, and Seva Bharati-have implemented a variety of community-based healthcare initiatives designed to meet the specific needs of tribal populations. These efforts include operating mobile health units and organising regular health camps in remote regions where government health services are often absent, offering basic medical check-ups, vaccinations, nutritional supplements, and essential medicines. They also train local tribal youth and women as health volunteers (Swasthya Sevikas) to provide primary healthcare, monitor maternal and child health, and promote awareness about hygiene, sanitation, and disease prevention within their communities.
Mobile clinics and dispensaries are also run by Seva Bharati. This localised approach enhances both accessibility and cultural acceptance, helping to build trust among tribal communities that have historically been wary of formal healthcare institutions. Furthermore, many of these programmes integrate traditional healing knowledge and herbal remedies with modern medical practices, thereby safeguarding indigenous health traditions while encouraging evidence-based care. By prioritising community participation, culturally sensitive service delivery, and preventive healthcare, these initiatives have significantly narrowed the gap between modern health systems and tribal society, contributing to a gradual but measurable improvement in the health outcomes of tribal communities.
Seva Bharati and Arogya Bharati operate over 300 mobile health units and conduct more than 15,000 health camps annually, reaching nearly 25 lakh tribal beneficiaries every year. Additionally, over 40,000 Swasthya Sevikas (local women health volunteers) have been trained to provide primary healthcare. In states like Jharkhand and Odisha, maternal mortality has declined by 15-18% in areas consistently served by these health initiatives. These efforts combine traditional healing knowledge with modern medical practices, ensuring culturally sensitive and accessible healthcare.
Fostering Unity in Diversity: Pathways to National Cohesion
Naxalite groups have often exploited the vulnerabilities and isolation of tribal communities, turning many tribal-inhabited regions into conflict zones marked by violence and social disruption. By manipulating local grievances and the innocence of these communities, they have spread anti-social elements and ideologies, hindering development and creating instability. In response, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates, through organisations such as the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, have implemented initiatives that serve as a constructive alternative to Naxalite influence. These efforts focus on education, healthcare, skill development, cultural preservation, and community engagement, providing tribal populations with opportunities for social and economic empowerment.
By promoting Samajik Samrasta (social harmony), Ekatmata (unity), and pride in their cultural identity, RSS interventions aim to counter extremist narratives, foster trust, and integrate tribal communities into the mainstream, peaceful development trajectory of the nation.
Some programmes designed to protect tribal communities include:
• Sanskriti Suraksha Yatras (Cultural Protection Marches) across tribal-dominated states, directly engaging over 10 lakh youth. These are organised rallies and cultural processions in tribal regions designed to revive, preserve, and promote local heritage, traditional rituals, and customs. By engaging tribal youth directly in these events, the Yatras instil pride in their cultural identity, foster community solidarity, and diminish the influence of extremist ideologies such as Naxalism. Beyond preservation, these marches celebrate tribal traditions within the larger national framework, reinforcing the principles of unity and national integration while respecting cultural uniqueness.
• Leadership Camps for Tribal Youth: These camps have trained more than 70,000 tribal youth in value-based education and community leadership, many of whom now serve as teachers, organisers, and social workers in their regions. The camps provide training in nationalism, values, and skills, encouraging participants to become cultural ambassadors, promoting their heritage, and contributing to social cohesion and national integration.
In Ekal Vidyalayas, special days such as "Bharat Mata Pujan Diwas" and "Tribal Heroes Day" highlight the contributions of tribal freedom fighters like Birsa Munda, building a sense of shared national pride.
Sustaining Indigenous Identity and Cultural Practices
With the aim of preserving identity and cultural practices through the philosophy of samajik samrasta (social harmony) and national unity, Parivar Prabodhan (Family Exhortation) and Paryavaran Samrakshan (Environmental Protection) emphasise the principle of Sanskriti aur Swabhimaan (culture and dignity) in tribal life, striving to showcase the rich heritage, traditions, and contributions of tribal communities to Indian civilisation.
This commitment is reflected in support for tribal languages, folk arts, and traditional festivals such as Sarhul, Karma, and Bhagoria, ensuring these cultural practices are both preserved and actively celebrated. RSS-inspired organisations further promote awareness through publications, research, and documentation of tribal history, highlighting their historical and ongoing contributions to the nation.
Beyond safeguarding culture, these initiatives seek to transform public perceptions of tribal communities, portraying them not as marginalised or backward, but as guardians of forests, the environment, and India's cultural heritage - thereby reinforcing their self-respect, dignity, and social recognition.
There are around 200 tribal festivals, such as Sarhul, Karma, and Bhagoria, in tribal regions, often inviting non-tribal communities to participate, fostering cultural exchange and awareness. These are organised by the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Some tribal youth also participate in leadership camps and are trained to organise cultural programmes, conduct festivals, and educate peers about the importance of preserving forests and traditional practices.
Exhibitions of tribal crafts, paintings, and handloom products in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have helped communities gain recognition and income while preserving the cultural skills of more than 15,000 artisans annually. Additionally, over 500 publications and research papers on tribal heritage have been produced by RSS-inspired organisations.
As India approaches 2047, the inclusive development of tribal communities stands as a vital pillar of national progress, embodying the vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas." The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), through initiatives like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Ekal Vidyalaya, and various seva projects, has contributed significantly to education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and cultural preservation among tribal populations.
While ideological debates persist, its grassroots efforts highlight how civil society movements can complement state initiatives in fostering sustainable development. Rooted in the principle of samajik samrasta (social harmony), the RSS approach underscores that true national advancement must be both economically inclusive and socially cohesive, ensuring that every community becomes an active participant in Bharat's collective journey towards prosperity.
(Akram Raza is a young research scholar and an Assistant Professor at the University of Delhi)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.
