A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TRIBAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA: WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO PURULIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Education is one of the most important elements for development socio-economic conditions of any society. India is the second most populated countries in the world. According to the census of India (2011) tribal population share about 8.6% of total population in this country and their literacy rate is about 58.96%.West Bengal being one of the popular tribal concentrated states in India having almost 5.79% tribal people of the total population (census 2011). Purulia is the one of the most backward districts in West Bengal having huge amount tribal people living in the hilly and forested region, but their literacy rate is very much lower as most of the tribal people of this district are very much poor, socially deprived, unemployed, and cannot get proper social benefits due to their dispersed settlements. So, this paper tries to analyse the educational scenario of tribal peoples in West Bengal with special references to Purulia district. This paper also highlighted the reasons behind such backwardness in education, and suggests some positive remedies for educational development of tribal people in this district. ST literacy is very much poor in India, so this is one of the biggest obstacles to development of our society. But in recent times Indian government takes some necessary steps like tribal development policy, manage scholarships to tribal people, formulated educational committees and commissions, takes tribal reservation policies etc. For this the tribal literacy rates gradually increases in few years. So, these facilities and steps will be helpful in future for development of education among tribal communities in India as well as in Purulia district.