Changing status of tribal women in Bastar District of Chhattisgarh

The tribal women, constitute like any other social group, about half of the total population. Tribal societies generally view gender as complimentary and egalitarian, where each role is defined but complimentary to the other. Men focus on cultivation and women plant and gather the foods, thus both roles are necessary and complimentary in the holistic relationship of the family/community. Traditionally, tribal women and men had equal access to lands, animals and resources, and this was beneficial to the collective. However, as a result of the integration and assimilation efforts of dominant culture, capitalistic systems and the ideal of individual ownership, tribal women in particular experience fewer opportunities to access their natural resource and lands. As a consequence Gender relations within tribal society have been changing.The present paper is based on empirical study carried out in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh that highlights the plight of tribal women in present scenario.