addressing tribal issues: a study from gis perspective

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National Seminar on Vanishing Traditions and Livelihood systems in Tribal areas, conducted by Kerala Institute for Research Training

and Development Studies of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (KIRTADS), Govt. of Kerala, Kozhikode, India.(16-18 December2009)

Addressing Tribal Issues: A study from GIS perspective

Sudeep.T.P1, Sarath Babu.M.G2, Prabhbir Singh3

1MPhil Scholar, Center for Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,2Junior Research Fellow, Center for Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi,

3Assistant Town Planner, District Town Planning Department, Ludhiana, Punjab

Abstract

The saying a picture is worth a thousand words is true for G.I.S applications. The purpose of this paper is to

highlight the applications of this incredible tool in displaying information pertaining to various dimensions of

development, especially tribal development. Tribals are a section of our population who have not been

appropriately integrated into our mainstream systems of interaction and development, basically due to their

location in geographically isolated areas. And this spatial context is not been given due attention while

formulating plans for them. To address this issue in a more appealing manner, GIS helps in mapping

communitys physical and socio-economic reality with the help of spatial data in a comprehensive manner.

This in turn helps planners to understand the relationship among various factors and thus the ground situationin a more complete way. With GIS, it is possible to make effective policies by planning for the optimal

utilization of resources. The time has come to integrate human development with technological development

and not see them as separate. After all what is any development for if not for the betterment of all sections of

people? On this background this paper demonstrates application of GIS in tribal issues especially in health and

education in a hypothetical spatial unit.

Keywords: Geographical Information Science (GIS), Tribals, Health, Education, Policy

The development of scheduled tribes in Kerala, a state which is renowned for its high achievements in the

social sector, is a matter of grave concern. Panoor highlights the pathetic living condition of scheduled tribes of

Kerala1and compared their status with that of sub-Saharan tribes of Africa. It displays tremendous contrast

between non-tribes and tribes in terms of education, health etc. For e.g., the Kattunayakan community had a

literacy rate of 24% only as compared to Keralas 90% in 1991. The difference persists in other development

indices as well. From governments part so much is being done to improve the overall condition of these most

vulnerable section of society, yet none seems to have achieved its target to fuller end. Because these schemes

and plans were not community-specific as Ningapiah stated In order to improve the overall status of tribal

communities various programmes were chalked out and enormous fund has been spent by the government. In

spite of special attention being paid to the socio-economic development of tribal communities, since

independence, most of the tribal communities is still generation behind to their non- tribal counter parts.

Studies in this aspect reveal that most of these development programmes became a failure as they were not

need based and community oriented2. One of the most striking things observed in formulating plans and their

implementation are that they are without any spatial reference. In recent years, information particularly

spatially referred information and the tool for the information management and analysis has became

1Panoor, K 1963 Keralas Africa [Keralathile Africa (Malayalam)]. Kottayam National Book Stall

2Ningapiah, N. (2001) Tribal Development In Karnataka : Retrospect And Prospect Tribal Economy and Development. (ed)

V. Karuppaiyan and K Pari Murugan, pp 70-81, University Of Madras, Chennai.


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increasingly recognised as integral part of policymaking and decision making process3. This paper tries to

throw light on the multi various applications of Geographical Information Science (GIS) with regard to tribal

studies.

Geographical Information System (GIS)

GIS is "an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to

efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced

information."4Geographic Information Systems have served an important role as an integrating technology.

Rather than being completely new, GIS have evolved by linking a number of discrete technologies into a whole

that is greater than the sum of its parts. GIS have emerged as very powerful technologies because they allow

planners to integrate their data and methods in ways that support traditional forms of geographical analysis,

such as map overlay analysis as well as new types of analysis and modelling that are beyond the capability of

manual methods. With GIS it is possible to map, model, query, and analyze large quantities of data all held

together within a single database. The development of GIS has relied on innovations made in many different

disciplines: Geography, Cartography, Photogrammetric, Remote Sensing, Surveying, Geodesy, Civil

Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, Operations Research, Artificial Intelligence, Demography, and many

other branches of the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering have all contributed.

Functions of GIS

The major advantage of GIS is that, it is an informative system for manipulating digital, social and thematic

data from multiple sources. Therefore digital database which has been developed at any stage can also be

used in future as well as updated, and any related information can be extracted conveniently and effectively.

In detail, therefore GIS facilitates following important functions:

(i) Overlay:Capability of combining different thematic layers into one layer, which facilities comparison (Figure

1).

Fig. 1, Overlay of different layers, Source: Good Child (2005)5

3Les Warrall. (ed.) 1991 Spatial analysis and Spatial policy using GIS Belhaven Press, London

4

Understanding GIS: The ARC/INFO Method (Redlands, CA: EnvironmentalSystem Research Institute, 1990), page 1.2:5 Goodchild M F, (2005) Geographic Information Systems and Science, John Wiley and Sons, England.


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(ii) Real world modeling: GIS attempts to produce the computer model of real world to assist the problem

solving and decision making.

(iii) Data integration: GIS helps to integrate data from various sources like physical and social aspects. So it is

interdisciplinary in nature.

(iv) Data updation: GIS facilitates updating of dynamic information, to illustrate changes over a time span.

(v) Micro level analysis: GIS makes it easy to change the scale for micro analysis.

(vi) Interpolation: It facilitates derivation of non available data through manipulation of known factors.

GIS as a guiding tool for policy making and their implementation.

The importance of GIS as tool for policy making and implementation is also evident in its pedigree. In 1854,

John Snow depicted a cholera outbreak (Fig. 2) in London using points to represent the locations of some

individual cases, possibly the earliest use of the geographic method. This study of the distribution of cholera

led to the source of the disease, a contaminated water pump (Broad Street pump) within the heart of the

cholera outbreak. GIS, the definition of which evolved from geographic information systems to geographic

information science, involves a scientific solving approach, encompassing the development and application of

scientific methods to solve societal problems. It therefore has become an integral and essential part of welfare

research and practice6

Fig.2 John Snow (1854) Cholera outbreak estimation

Tribal situation in India in general and in Kerala particularly has remained at a deprived stage and after

independence, numerous programmes and schemes intending to their enhancement were implemented, but

none has succeed to its fuller extent because tribals are generally confined to environmentally negative places

which are less conducive to live and are geographically isolated. Most of the policies are formulated without

addressing this spatial context, which is one of the main reasons for such failures. An effective approach in

human services planning for catering to the needs of the client community calls for comprehensive mapping of

6 Maheswaran Ravi and Cragila Massimo (ed.) 2004, GIS in Public Health Practice, CRC press, London.


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the communitys social reality7. A multidimensional mapping of the communities that human service

agencies serve in terms of their physical and social environments offers immense support to community

development efforts8. GIS can model real world situation which can help the planners to understand ground

situation comprehensively.

Mapping communities issues is therefore an integral component of human services planning. While mapping

communities, it is important to include not only the physical/surface geography of communities but also their

social geography. Neighborhood maps as an example of social geography, is a very useful tool for human

service planners for visualizing the impact of social and economic factors existing in a community. Dynamic

mapping techniques are helpful for human service planners to understand the relationships between various

factors in a community such as physical characteristics, socio-economic characteristics and primary language

spoken etc., and strategically plan the optimal usage of resources to cater to the communitys needs. Thus

mapping can transform the way social programs and services are designed and carried out, thereby

contributing to effective social policy development9

On this background this paper tries to see how GIS can be effectively applied for tribal development especially

in some of the crucial sectors like healthcare and education. For this study we have used hypothetical hilly

spatial unit, since tribal are mostly located in hilly regions.

Healthcare and GIS

GIS is an innovative framework for accessing, integrating, visualizing and utilizing information that can inform

decisions affecting child, maternal and public health care. GIS analyses incorporate statistical, demographic,

health facility, and spatial data from health information systems, surveillance, surveys and maps (fig. 3).

Customized queries and analyses can focus on geographic reference points of interestsuch as health

facilities, towns, or administrative districts, or a specific cohort of interestsuch as children under the age of

five.

GIS analytical approach can reveal relationships and trends that might not be evident when the data is viewed

in tabular format. Epidemiological data can be mapped, allowing users to detect and explore any potential

spatial patterns of disease outbreaks (fig.2). Gaps in health care access can be quickly identified by locating

populations that do not have access to health facilities located within a reasonable travel distance (fig.4&5).

Most of the tribal settlements are situated in geographically isolated location. This makes them vulnerable

with regards to accessing health facilities which are available. Poor physical accessibility reduces the use of

services and may lead to poorer health outcomes10.

7OLooney, J. (1997). Beyond Maps: G.I.S and Decision Making in Local Government, Washington, DC:

Publications Department, ICMA.

8

Mandayam Gokul, 2002Geographic Information Systems: A planning tool for human service agencies,www.gisdevelopment.net9 Ibid.


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Fig.5 Estimated travel time to nearest health centre in a region.

GIS therefore spatially links health, population and environmental data into one system and creates a powerful

tool that gives public health specialists the ability to analyze tribal health data in a clear, convenient and easy

to comprehend form. Other than these, the various areas of health aspects of tribals where GIS can be

effectively used can be listed as follows:

Targeting resources and interventions to meet health care services supply and demand. Assessing

status of health care facility accessibility (i.e., georeference location using GPS, services provided,

staffing levels, utilization, equipment inventory, population dynamics, or other specified parameters)

Develop choropleth maps to show regions or areas which have the same health characteristics

Registry mapping (i.e., birth, death, etc.)

Vector control/disease/incidence tracking

Evaluation of health service delivery equity and efficiency

Spatial demographic studies based on specific health risks or localized health impacts and

Cross-cutting spatial analyses incorporating health data with other sectors (e.g., agriculture,

education)

Education and GIS

Education is an important parameter which indicates social progress. With reference to tribals; education is

probably the most effective instrument for ensuring equal opportunity, the tribal people are lagging far behind

their more fortunate fellow countrymen due to lack of education12. GIS can be effectively applied in

understanding ground situation. For e.g. Demand and supply of school children and school facilities can be

mapped. Then indicators related to education like enrolment ratio, dropout ratio, teacher-student ratio and

12

Hasnain, Nadeem 2007. Tribal India Palaka Prakashan, New Delhi, pp.197


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distance to near school etc can be mapped and emerging patterns can be observed which will facilitate

planning operation.

For example fig. 6 narrates the distribution of school facilities in the region, from that it is clear that the

available primary education centres are located in the eastern corners whereas the only secondary (middle)

school available in the central region.

Fig. 6 Distribution of Schools in a region.

From this one can understand that the whole south and south west region does not possess a single school in

the vicinity. And also the major concentration of settlements is also observed along the transport lines in the

central part. Fig. 7 explains drop out ratio in schools. One can observe that children from the southern region

are most likely to dropout, mainly because of the distance that they have to cover to reach primary school and

other important thing is that after primary and middle classes if somebody want continue to study he/she have

to move out of the region. Fig.8 compiles the information and based on the distance to nearest school,

dropout ratio and transport network (i.e. footpath) three zones were demarcated. Children belonged to zone

having red in colour region have least access to nearest school and which marked green in colour have low

access and that of yellow marked have moderate access to the available school facilities.


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Fig. 7 School Dropout percentage in a region.

Fig. 8 School Accessibility in a region.

Therefore GIS envisages its relevance for human service applications as developmental agencies can use it to

forecast need or demand for services by mapping the spatial distribution of various social problems related to

tribal population, identifying areas in the community with greater expected service needs and their possible

relation to demographic and other factors in the surrounding area.

Having said this application aspects is truly can bring significant influence in planning and allied activities but

GIS is not free from limitations. Mandayam states The cost of GIS application including their maintenance and

upgrades can be substantial for human service agencies operating on tight budgets also the time required for

training human service agency staff can be a challenge.13Despite these limitations GIS provides enormous

solutions for problems solving mechanism generally and can be used to enhance well being aspects of most

13 Mandayam Gokul, 2002Geographic Information Systems: A planning tool for human service agencies,

www.gisdevelopment.net


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deprived sections in particular. The scope of GIS applications is beyond the level of our expectation, were the

interoperability and transparency with newer technology states its future in the decision making process. As

Jack Dangermond said human imagination is the limit of GIS applications.14

Conclusion

This paper Addressing tribal issues: A study from GIS perspective was an attempt to understand tribal issues

in spatial context with the help of GIS; a tool for spatial analysis. Study discussed two crucial sectors i.e. health

and education and analysed the capability of GIS as an effective tool in understanding the ground reality in

these sector in detail. The first session dealt with basic information regarding GIS and how it operates in

general and its main functions. Second session discussed about how GIS can be used as guiding tool in policy

formulation as well as their implementation. And third and final session discussed about using GIS in health

care and education.

The existing disparities that prevails between tribals and their non tribal counter parts is a known fact and

world around tribals are changing rapidly so we cannot afford to keep tribals in isolation which will lead to

increasing deprivation to a section of a society which is already in lowest strata in terms of development. As

Heredia stated If the unequal exchange that marginalizes these tribals is to be reversed, then they must not

be left in isolation, not even in the mistaken notion of preserving their tribal identity. This only marginalise still

further. For ethnic identity is dynamic, not static... we believe that like every human identity tribal ethnic

identity too must be dynamic and it actualizes the human potential that is present in every human group. The

danger however in romanticizing them is to condemn them to primitivism... 15. Need of the hour is to

understand the need based requirements of communities and spatial science like Geography and foster child

of technology like GIS can help a lot in this direction. But its potential is not been utilized properly as O Looney

states human services have not kept pace with emerging information technologies and have traditionally

been immune to changes in technological capabilities16. Today the visual representation of data is a powerful

tool for influencing public policy and conveying information in a non technical way to a variety of policy stake

holders. We should not shy away from using these technological innovations for the wellbeing of people in

general and of the most deprived sections of society like tribals in particular.

14 Dangermond Jack, ESRI Conference 1999, Relands, US15

Heredia, Rudolf c. 2002.Interrogating Integration: The Counter Cultural Tribal other. Economic andPolitical weekly, Vol.xxxvi, Dec.28, pp.5174 -7816 O Loony J. 1997. Beyond Maps: GIS and Decision Making In local Government D.C Publication Washington


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