The North-East India, which was introduced as Kirat Bhumi in the mythological text, added different colours and shape in the Indian social fabric. Risley writes "no one who is acquainted with the population of the lower Himalayas can have failed to observe that in the West there have been a substantial intermixture of Indo-Aryan element, while in the east the prevailing type down to the verge of the plain is exclusively Mongoloid." So " an appraisement of the role of the Mongoloid people in the development of composite Hindu or Indian culture, the North-Eastern and Eastern India thorough Mongoloid contact or participation would be looked upon as an important line of enquiring in tracing the history of Indian civilization." 1 Thus we see frequent description of Kirat Bhumi and its people in our world renowned all time two great epics "the Ramayana" and "the Mahabharata."

India was repeatedly ravaged by the mighty foreign aggressors since time immemorial. But the foreign powers never dared to invade the densely forested and topographically inaccessible North-East India. Even during the British rule in Indian subcontinent most of the part of North-East were out of jurisdiction of the British Empire. Either most of the princely states of this region came into friendly pact with the Imperial Government or violently fought against the latter-if there was any attempt to subjugate them. The Imperial Government too did not show much interest to widen its direct supremacy in this region.

After the departure of the British Government, economic measures had to be taken up in India to revamp its dwindling economic condition. Its economic resources were indiscriminately plundered for two hundred years. Hence it was an uphill task to rebuild its fragile economic infrastructure. This was the beginning of planned economy. Perhaps in accordance with that time it was the most viable means to re-construct the devastated National economy. But so far as the structure of our economy is concerned, after more then 50 years of planning we are there where we were. "Economic transformation is really a difficult task and is extremely slow process, but it(process) cannot be done without due consideration for the basic parameters which should be clearly identified so that the planning can become realistic. The same hold for the tribal economy where the task is much more complex and difficult." 2 Thus the economic development of tribal inhabited North-East also could not get the due momentum .

Tripura being the part of North-East India has to face the innumerable hurdles for industrialisation. "Tripura is a relic of once a powerful kingdom of the name in the great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata and coming down to the historic period in the Ain-I-Akbari. The dialect of these people belongs to the same big family of the Tibeto-Burman language. Ethnologically most of the tribes are the same non-Aryan stock." 3 This princely state was integrated into the Republic of India on 15th October, 1949. During the time of merger with India, it had Asiatic feudal economic structure like any other state of North-East India. There was no organised industrial growth in the state, except some tea gardens. Basic infrastructural aspects like power, communication, transport were almost absent. The present situation has not improved upto the mark of expectation till to-day. Moreover, in comparison to other states in North East India, Tripura suffers more from acute locational problem.

Tripura is located at the south west extremity of Assam and it is surrounded on three sides by Bangaladesh. To the north-east are the states of Assam and Mizoram. The area is 10,491 sq. Kms. About 60 per cent of the land area is hilly, while remaining 40 per cent constitutes plain land. The state has 839 Kms of long border with Bangladesh. Ironically the state has only a token presence in the Rail map of India. NHG-44, Tripura's life line which connects Agartala with Shillong through Badarpur is neither reliable nor effective. It is subjected to inundation and land slides while not meeting even the basics specification of a National highway. Air links, especially with the North-East is tenuous and highly expensive. Consequently a sense of alienation has gripped the mind of people in Tripura.

The population of the state according to the latest census (provisional) is 31 lakhs 91 thousands and 168. The tribals, who are the original inhabitant of the state, constitute nearly 31 per cent of the total population. Earlier the tribals constituted the major portion of the population. But the partition completely changed the demographic scenario of the state. " The influx of Hindus from Pakistan to Tripura began mainly from the middle of February 1950 and this number began to increase rapidly." 4 After partition and settlement of refugees ''the population composition and demographic aspect of Tripura have entirely changed. As compared to 6,46,000 in 1951 the estimated population for the year 1957 was 9,21,000. The refugee outnumbered the original inhabitant." 5 From the very beginning the peculiar geographical condition of the state kept its people isolated from mainland India. The tribals were never exposed to the modern industrial development. Moreover, on account of influx from erstwhile East Pakistan, the original inhabitants had to sacrifice huge landed areas to the new settlers. As it happens universally, the tribal society in Tripura was also solely depended on the natural resources for their livelihood. But the settlement policy changed the gamut of socio-economic condition of tribal life. During the kingdom, tribals were badly neglected. They were neither encouraged to improve their socio-economic condition nor were inspired for education. So tribals failed to maintain their pace with the demand of time. The new settlers outsmarted the original inhabitants of the state with their skill which was technically superior to tribal's own method of cultivation . The tribals,infact, did not have any specific economic system. The jhuming cultivation and various handloom and handicrafts used to form the simplistic economic infrastructure. Further the rehabilitation policy pursued by the State Government for refugees led the decrement of jhuming field and forest. When the forest was there the tribal had enough to live on. Now this development has begun to hurt their stomach. The so called new developments had tremendous impact on socio-economic condition of tribals.

The tribals were incredibly good at handloom and handicrafts products. They shown remarkable efficiency in their handmade products. Unfortunately no efforts were made to expand their craftsmanship. The commercialisation of the products,indeed, were never in their mind. They used to produce their goods to meet their own demand. It seems that the industries which were not directly related to their lives never attracted them. That is why tea being one of the oldest industries in the state, which were set up by some private entrepreneurs in the mid of the last century, failed to draw attention of tribals. The number of tribal labourers working in the total 55 tea gardens in the state is quite insignificant. Less than 600 tribals have been working in the tea garden till today. The figure does not only indicate the small presence of tribals in the tea gardens, it also shows their apathy to get involve in the industrial sector of the states. The same phenomenon can be noticed in the Rubber and Gas-based industries in the state. Apparently,like any other state in North-East India, the tribals in Tripura are also orthodox, highly ritualistic, inward looking's, complacent and have limited needs and takes time to conceive/adopt to modern concepts/instruments. These attitudes have become a great obstacle to make congenial atmosphere for industrialisation in the state. Every spheres it has been noticed that the participation of tribals in Industrial Sectors are miserably low. The State Government despite its earnest endeavor to improve the lot of aboriginal people, could not succeed much to convince them about the yielding good results of industrialisation.

In the above context one can presume that the awareness about industrialisation among the tribals depend on the spread of mass education. Although literacy rate (60.44%) in Tripura is quite high(In Indian context, Tripura secured 15th place in literacy rate), but the literacy compaign initiated by the Government and N.G.Os. could not yield any fruitful result among the tribals. The curse of illiteracy looms large on the aboriginal people. The number of school dropout among tribal boys and girls is very high (91.56%) and the rate of dropout has alarmingly been increasing. The recent development in the tribals society aggravated the situation from bad to worse. This development not only deteriorated the tribal-plight, it also vitiated the communal harmony in the state. Some discontent tribal youth have been blaming the pact by which Tripura was annexed with India.

Further, they have been claiming that due to large number of influx from erstwhile East Pakistan, tribals of this state have turned into microscopic minority in their own land. So they raised the demand to oust the "foreigners" who came to the state after the partition. Ironically separatist forces in the state are also some time being assisted by some political parties which maneuver the former against their arch political rivals. All these led great uncertainty in the State. So called separatist movement also has been causing great impediment towards all kinds of development. Investors are afraid of investment in the Industrial Sectors. Diverting the huge money which could have been utilised for the overall development of the state, the Government is now engaged to neutralise the separatists movement. Naturally, the process of industrialisation could not take off. Now it has become the responsibility of the Government to call back the misguided youth so that by giving up arms and ammunitions they can play an important role in the industrial development of the state. Without the active involvement and cooperation of tribal population, the pace of industrialisation is bound to suffer.

The tribals also have great deal of misunderstanding in their minds about industrialisation. Infact they are worried about the juggernaut of the industrialisation. Off and on the tribals have witnessed the devastating impact of industrialization in the state. They just believed that they are being uprooted from their own land under the so called process of industrialisation.

Though adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the effected families are being promised, these are never kept. Take the example of the victim of the Gomti Hydel Power Project in Tripura two decades ago, then 10 MW Gomti Project took off, the then Chief Minister declared that the ousted families would be economically rehabilitated. At least, 2,558 families mostly tribals were uprooted from their ancestral land which were submerged by the damned water. State rehabilitation officials say during the last two decades, only about 500 families were compensated while the rest of them are yet to receive any help from the Government. Over Rs. 2 crores would be required to economically resettle the ousted people. Meanwhile, the dillydallying over compensation shattered many homes. "Deprived of land, which would offer shelter and livelihood, they were forced to take up work as rickshaw pullers or as daily labourers. Some of them could not even manage that and turned to beggary, uncommon to tribal people."6

In India whenever the Government made any attempt to set up industries the first casuality was the local tribals. Since Independence, the juggernut of development --ambitious dams, mines and power plants-has displaced 30 million people from their homes. Tripura is no exception to this process. But no effective measures are being taken up by the Government for the proper rehabilitation of tribals who are the worst victims of industrialisation. The astounding fact is that despite the magnitude of displacement, there is no national policy to cope with it. "If the overall figures of major projects are analysed, certain little known but disturbing facts emerge. 20 per cent of the country's tribal population had been displaced: the single largest group to be effected by development."7

Another disturbing sign is that the industrialisation might be in its mere nascent stage in Tripura, but its process has already cast aspersed evils effect on tribal society. Gradually the new generation of tribals are becoming money-oriented, self centered and consumerist. A sort of social unrest has been started to fumigate. The incident of rampant crime and dowry is no more a new phenomenon to the tribal society. From time to time various assistance and offers are being given to tribals as compensation packages for industrialisation by the Government. . The money is splurged on irrelevant amusement like transistors and brassware. Liquor and gambling dens opened.

Till now the situation might not be out of control, but the older generation is apprehensive and making allegation to the process of industrialisation for the recent social discord. The causes of growing tribal discontent should have been looked into the indiscriminate process of industrialisation in the state. It is a process where tribals do not have any role to play, but only pain to suffer. The sociological constraint to the industrial development in Tripura should be analysed in the above context.

To allay the fear about the negative aspect of industrialisation from the mind of tribals, the Central and State Government have taken various steps. "The Government is aware of the constraints to industrial development in Tripura. To help the entrepreneurs to overcome these difficulties, the Government provide large number of liberal incentives. The Government of India have also declared all Districts of Tripura No Industry Districts and announced special incentives for the existing as well as prospective enterprises."8.

It goes without saying in accordance with the Government policy, tribals are entitled to get liberal concession for setting up industries. Even the State Government has come forward with a scheme which is being called "Tripura State Scheme for Incentives to Industrial Units." The objective of the scheme is to extend financial incentive, technical assistance and relief in the form of subsidies and grant to all industries in order to encourage and promote the growth of Tripura. Here also special incentive are being given to the tribals. Tribals manufacturers are being encouraged to sell their products to Government at profitable rate.

Indeed " the development of tribals should be along the line of genius of their community and that there should be no imposition on them. Their own traditional art and culture should be encouraged. It would also provide for integration of tribals with the rest of the society in a manner that their own tradition and culture remain undisturbed and there is no loss of identity of tribals-the rights of the tribals on land and forest should be preserved and they should themselves be prepared and trained for Administration and Development."9 Many experts have suggested that the tribals be made partners in the process of industrialisation. Part of cash compensation could go towards making them shareholders in power stations and other enterprises to ensure a constant source of income to them. But far more important is the establishment of a national policy on resettlement and rehabilitation.

The tribals of Tripura are neither idle nor less innovative. In fact these people are highly energetic, innovative, imaginative and industrious. We have got ample evidences of their efficiency from their beautiful crafted handicraft and handloom products. They might be producing these small articles to cater their frugal demand but these products bear the evidence of delicate artistic work. It shows that the tribals are also adequately efficient to go for painstaking undaunted work. If any effort is made to create congenial atmosphere for industrialisation in the state the inspired tribals will certainly be the part of process. For this it needs to convince them that industrialisation does not mean the destruction of their livelihood, the massive deforestation and unbound miseries.

REFERENCES

1. S.K. Chatterjee:Kirat-Jana-Kriti,pp.18-19.
2. B.D. Sharma: Basic Issue in Tribal Development: TUI (1995), (A quarterly Research.Journal on Tribal folk & culture), Vol.IV,p.10.
3. The Tribes of Tripura(Introduction): Directorate of Tribal Research,Government of Tripura.
4. Census of India, Vo.XII Assam, Manipur and Tripura, Part 1, p.361.
5. Techno-Economic Survey of Tripura, National Council of Applied Economic Research.
6. Chakraborty, Sanaat K.(ed): Grass root Options (September, 1995), p.5.
7. Refugees of Progress: India Today, September 30, 1993.
8. Tripura Industries, Government Policy and Incentives, Directorate of Industries,Govt. of Tripura, Agartala(Second Edition: March, 1992), p.10.
9. D.K.Tyagi: Redefining the Role of the Extension Agencies in Tribal Development: TUI (A quarterly research journal on tribal life and culture), Vol.IV, 1995, p.35.