Tribal minority communities live in small groups across Bangladesh. Not long ago, the indigenous people called Adibashis lived in peace and harmony with the nature of this once a very lush green landscape. With the ever increasing population and rising demand for lands, the tribal people such as Chakmas, Garos, Santals, Oraons, Rajbangshis, etc. have lost much of their pristine habitats or lands, trades, culture etc. to the pressure of the over-stretched majority community. They have become a vulnerable section.

A baseline study was conducted by RDRS Bangladesh, a leading NGO, on ‘Adibashis’ life and living condition’ within its working area in Rangpur-Dinajpur region in northwest part of Bangladesh. The survey results obtained through on-the-spot study indicate that the Santals, the Oraons, the Rajbanshis are the major indigenous communities living in the area.

Education and Training: Tribals lag behind others in education and vocational training. Recommendations, therefore, emphasized the need primarily to improve their living condition by creating sources of income for their sustainability, scope for education and vocational training. With this end in view, the ‘Education and Training Programme’ was launched by RDRS in 2001. ‘Group Approach’ was adopted to bring the people together, raise awareness and motivate them for their stronger fraternity and sense of unity. The tribal adults have realized and accepted the premise that without unity they cannot rise above the line of poverty and survive as respectable human beings. The idea of small group formation was therefore readily accepted.

Multifarious income generating activities: On 7 June 2002, we set off on a journey to visit the RDRS projects for Adibashis and get a first hand picture of the progress of the programme. An inter-active session with a female group of Adibashis namely ‘Chotta Chowlia Golapzal Mahila group’ in Bhognagar village of Birganj Upazila under Dinajpur District was organized. From discussion, it was gathered that the Group consisted of 18 female members and their group saving stood at Tk.3,603/=. 3 members had already taken loans for investment in farm production.

Martha Murmu, Lolita Soren and others narrated their history that their forefathers owned vast stretches of lands but now their land ownership is rapidly shrinking. They now live and work on lands of others. The womenfolk were seen harvesting maize in one crop field while another group of womenfolk was seen transplanting crop seedlings. Male members are either labourers or self-employed. Nearby one elderly man was weaving a fish net and another was making bamboo baskets. These were their ancestral trades. Handicrafts were one of their prime professions but now it is dwindling away very fast.

We visited another Group, namely ‘Krishnopur Adivashi Mohila Group’ in Thakurgaon, formed in early January 2002, have 16 female members, regular savings over 5 months accumulated to Tk.1,632 as per their books of accounts. 18 families belonging to Musohar tribal community live in a cluster in Krishnopur.

Some group members have joined the Adult literacy course. Many of them now can at least write their names. A team of 15 members was attending a sewing class at B.D. Hall, Thakurgaon. It was a 90-day tailoring course. At the end of the course, the trainees would become owners of sewing machines. As per proviso, the members who attended the classes regularly would be eligible to get sewing machines at free of cost. The trainees in another class expressed their keen interest to acquire the skills of making jute handicrafts. A strong enthusiasm was visible – basically to increase their skills for furthering their source of income.

We also visited a Mechanical Training class where a team of 11 Adibashi boys from different areas of Thakurgaon district was undergoing training in RDRS-run Training Centre. Mechanical training included Motorcycle and bicycle repairing. A 16-day training was held on dismantling and re-fitting different parts of two-stroke and four-stroke engines. The boys also suggested for power-tiller repairing training course, which they said, would open up another area of opportunities for them. A power-tiller machine, as they reported, can be adopted to serve as "autorickshaw" "speed-boat" & "wheat crushing machine", etc. depending on and matching with seasonal needs. This indicates their verve, spirit and urge to learn and open up scopes for further income generation and upgradation of living condition.

Traditions and Culture of Adibashis: Continuity and promotion of cultural norms and values is an inalienable urge of any race or society. Tribal culture is rich but is fading away fast due to neglect, isolation, lack of opportunities, scope and support. Tribals on their own cannot do anything significant to enrich and maintain their cultural heritages. They need assistance of others. To foster and revitalize their traditions, culture and values, a 4-day training course was organized by RDRS Atowari Training Centre, Panchagarh. 18 Adibashi participants from different areas attended the course during the first week of June 2002.

The training has invigorated the participants with high hopes and aroused their spirit to revive the almost forgotten and dying culture. The participants have gone back with a fillip to practice what they have learnt in the training centre and form groups to sustain positive values and enrich their culture inheritances. The participants admitted that the training increased their capacity and skill. By promoting their folk songs, traditional dance postures and gestures with the playing of traditional musical instruments, an attempt was made to revive and preserve their lost heritage. Participants categorically stated that – at any cost Adibashi culture should be preserved for true existence of Adibashis. In order to retrieve and enliven the cultural heritage of Adibashis, their cultural activities may be audio and video taped and broadcast more and more on Radio and Television by the Government Agencies, private commercial entities and NGOs.

Promotional Dissemination of information: Orientation programmes on primary health care, establishment of vegetable gardens, practice of homestead farming, use of safe drinking water and sanitary latrines, efficient use of micro-credit facilities, employment and other income generation activities are to be organised.