Tribal Welfare in Kerala: A Critical Analysis of Deprivation, Policy Interventions and Development Outcomes

Abstract

In India, tribal communities are officially recognised as distinct socio-cultural groups with unique historical, linguistic and territorial identities. To promote their comprehensive development and safeguard their rights, all states implement Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) frameworks, which earmark proportionate budgetary allocations and mandate targeted interventions for Scheduled Tribes. A critical examination of the challenges and policy measures associated with tribal welfare in Kerala indicates that the state—despite its national reputation for high social development—has not yet achieved substantive or sustainable tribal advancement. Persistent gaps remain in addressing structural issues such as land alienation, access to quality education, healthcare disparities, and socio-economic marginalisation. Furthermore, the administration of financial resources under TSP continues to present significant complexities. Kerala faces recurrent difficulties in planning, allocating, and utilising tribal development funds in a timely and need-based manner. Fragmented institutional mechanisms, delays in fund flow, lack of community participation, and insufficient monitoring systems collectively hinder the effective operationalisation of welfare programmes. Consequently, these administrative and systemic challenges generate inconsistencies and confusion in policy implementation, limiting the transformative potential of tribal development initiatives in the state. A comprehensive, transparent, and participatory financial governance framework remains essential for realising meaningful tribal welfare outcomes in Kerala.