Adivasis, Preferential Policy and the State in Odisha

Bibliographic Data

ID10939367
AuthorsJagannath Ambagudia (0000-0002-4003-2854, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume49
Issue2
Pages199-215
Publication date2019-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Change (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0049-0857 • E-ISSN: 0976-3538
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0049085719844115
OpenAlexW2953789783
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited9

The Indian state has ratified preferential policies enshrined in the Indian Constitution by ensuring a reserved quota for geographically isolated and underprivileged communities such as adivasis, thereby attempting to integrate them within mainstream society. Computing the data available on the impact of a preferential policy on the adivasis of Odisha, this article argues that although the policy has been relatively useful in securing employment, adivasis of the state remain underrepresented in aggregate numbers and in different groups of services. The article also indicates the existence of a regional disparity even among the adivasis of Odisha with regard to their representation in elite government employment. The real problem is not the preferential policy per se but its poor implementation, abject poverty, bureaucratic apathy and the lack of political will to implement preferential policies effectively. In fact, the practice of preferential policies has sporadically led to violent community conflicts in Odisha and impacted the changing relationship between policy and politics

Bureaucracy · Constitution · Constitution of India · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Elite · Government (linguistics · Mainstream · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Poverty · Sociology · State (computer science · Law · Public Administration · Social and Economic Development in India · South Asian Studies and Conflicts · South Asian Studies and Diaspora

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