QUESTION: India now has her first tribal woman president. Does it signify a redemption for the tribals, who are born with a fatalistic socio-culture? Is India advancing to a form of humanism where all are not only legally but actually equal?

ANSWER: It is a real joy for every Indian that a tribal woman has become the president of India. It is a beautiful symbol, but care should be taken that the symbol does not become a sign of tokenism aimed at political gain. People in India still remember the sad but courageous demise of Father Stanswamy. They see here an irreconcilable paradox. If it does not have to become tokenism, the government should promote sustainable livelihood and self-reliance among the tribal people by strengthening cooperatives and providing them culturally appropriate employment opportunities. Steps should be taken to strengthen the role of tribal women and youth in economic development and decision-making. An action plan should be implemented to promote dialogue and development partnerships between the tribals and government agencies through the dissemination of the good practices of community based participatory development. When will the millions of tribals who lost their properties for many mega projects be rehabilitated? When will we provide them physical and financial security against any kind of oppression and exploitation? As a citizen of India, I would like to ask the tribals par-don for what we have done to them. They got a bad deal. Only when we compensate them for what we have done will they become actually equal.

Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath
Mandya