Introduction

The state of Jharkhand was formed in August 2000, a result of the long-standing movement against large imbalances in the distribution of resources – with contestations over ownership of jal (water), jangal (forest) and jamin (land) – and an assertion of tribal identity and self-determination (Jewitt, 2008). Jharkhand was faced with adverse initial conditions – low average income, high incidence of poverty and little social development (World Bank, 2001). More than twenty years after its formation, there have been significant improvements in human development and multidimensional poverty indicators like literacy, health, sanitation and nutrition. But what has this meant for the adivasi populations of the state, their identity, culture and knowledge? What has it meant for the aspirations and well-being of women and youth?

The Vision 2010 document of Jharkhand, while recognising a 52 per cent deficit in food grain production, with half the per capita availability of food in comparison to the national average, aspired to convert Jharkhand into another ‘Singapore’ (see Chapter 11). At the same time, in line with the government of India's priorities, the government launched a State Agriculture Plan (2008–09 to 2011–12) to improve agriculture infrastructure, ensure adequate credit flow and implement capacity-building measures (Nabard Consultancy Services, n.d.). The Jharkhand Economic Survey, 2016–17, points to the impressive growth rate of the state between 2011–16, higher than the national average (6.8 per cent) and only lower than that of Gujarat, Mizoram and Tripura between the financial years 2011–12 and 2015–16 (8.8 per cent). For the financial year 2015–16, the growth rate at over 12 per cent was much higher than the national average at 7.6 per cent.

Following the NITI Aayog's (National Institution for Transforming India) ambitious blueprint for 2032 (published in 2016), the Chief Minister of Jharkhand committed to working on eliminating poverty, doubling farmer's income by 2022 and ensuring sustainable development in Jharkhand (Swaniti, 2017). A new Vision document prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industry in 2011 emphasised three key areas: minimum quality of life, governance, and sustainable economic development. The vision remains a top-down one, driven by the elites, largely non-adivasi, bureaucrats and the private sector. Adivasi voices and priorities are largely missing.