The highly heterogeneous Adivasi represent Indias de
facto (but not de jure) indigenous peoples. As ethnic
minorities Adivasis are not recognised as equal in
their socio-cultural distinctiveness and, as a
result, suffer widespread human rights violations and
are the target of misguided development schemes. The
most pressing issue is the loss of control over land
as, under the banner of national development, Adivasi
land is being opened up for resource extraction.
Adivasis are literally "thrown out" of the forest,
which is integral to their indigenous identity, while
for centuries they were...