Evaluating the Socio-Economic Impact of SIR Policies on Scheduled Tribe Communities: An Empirical Case Study of Purulia District, West Bengal

Surya Kanta Datta; Kartick Pal; Uday Murmu

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73419

Evaluating the Socio-Economic Impact of SIR Policies on Scheduled Tribe Communities: An Empirical Case Study of Purulia District, West Bengal

Author(s)	Mr. Surya Kanta Datta, Mr. Kartick Pal, Mr. Uday Murmu
Country	India
Abstract	Even though Articles 15(4), 46, and the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution protect them, Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations in eastern India are still facing many forms of deprivation. The Purulia district in West Bengal, known for its ecological vulnerability, persistent poverty, and tribal concentration, serves as a significant locus for evaluating the correlation between administrative reforms and socioeconomic transformation. This study examines the socioeconomic effects of the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiatives in relation to significant tribal development legislation, including the Forest Rights Act (2006) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005). The study investigates livelihood security, land tenure, health outcomes, educational attainment, migration trends, and political participation through a qualitative case study methodology, underpinned by Census 2011, NFHS-5 (2019-21), NSSO employment data, Ministry of Tribal Affairs reports, Election Commission publications, and 60 semi-structured field interviews conducted across three tribal-dominated blocks. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and the Rights-Based Development framework say that SIR reforms have made it easier to get documents, register to vote (11% more people did so after the changes), and be recognised as a citizen. But structural poverty (45–50%), gaps in female literacy (about 39.8%), delays in wages under MGNREGA, and slow settlements of FRA claims are still problems. There are still big differences between the Santhal and Lodha-Sabar tribes. The paper argues that electoral inclusion is significant but inadequate without alignment with land governance, livelihood generation, and culturally pertinent institutional frameworks. The findings contribute to policy dialogues concerning tribal governance, decentralisation, and inclusive development in eastern India.
Keywords	Scheduled Tribes, Special Intensive Revision, Purulia District, Sustainable Livelihoods, Forest Rights Act, MGNREGA, Electoral Inclusion, Policy Evaluation.
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-06
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73419

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Evaluating the Socio-Economic Impact of SIR Policies on Scheduled Tribe Communities: An Empirical Case Study of Purulia District, West Bengal

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