Significance of Technology in Empowering Tribal Community of India
The application of scientific knowledge to the creation of tools for the purpose of resolving particular issues can be defined as a technology. But technology, it is not value neutral and it is linked with the social change and can alter the cultural settings. Sociologist W.F. Ogburn’s theory of social change suggested four stages of technical development, which included; Invention, Accumulation, Diffusion, Adjustment are major cause of social transformation. Use of technology not only influences appliance or computer but also traditional practices like agriculture, fishery, animal husbandry and many more. No doubt rapid proliferation of social media and ICT tools has solved complex problems of transportation, communication and self- education. However, it has also influenced an individual’s lifeworld, formation of human to human and human to machine relationships.
The process of tribal empowerment can be understood as capability building to make decisions for their socio-economic and cultural development. Government of India has been aiding multiple schemes to improve living conditions of Scheduled Tribes and foster their growth backed by sustainable Science and Technology (S&T) activities/application. Multiple programs and research projects to promote traditional skills, building on local innovation and knowledge systems has been promoted.
This conference is a deliberate attempt to draw attention to the changes that have been brought into the Tribal way of life through modern technology. Whether it strengthened the idea of ‘lok’ (organic lifestyle of people residing at a place) or altered it. It will try to discuss whether technology has added modernity into traditional way of life or the modernity has replaced traditional patterns of life causing new problems in the areas of health or farming.
Under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, the conference will further discuss the role of technology in bridging digital divide in schedule tribes of India, thus making India digitally inclusive in its entirety.