22nd International Day of World’s Indigenous People Empowering Indigenous People of North Eastern Region

Abstract

Ninth August 2016 was the 22_nd International Day of the World’s Indigenous People aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of world’s indigenous people. The concept of indigenous peoples has often been questioned in India. The Supreme Court of India’s landmark judgment pronounced on 5_th January 2011, while dismissing the criminal appellate jurisdiction, unequivocally asserted that scheduled tribes are indigenous people of India. The people of North Eastern region have evolved as traditional tribal communities or clans with unique socio cultural moorings deeply embedded in the forests, hills, rivers and local biodiversity. In the context of 9_th August 2016 which had been the 22_nd international day of world’s indigenous people, this paper reviews in brief the impact of development initiatives in eight States of the North Eastern Region on agriculture, horticulture, etc. and suggests aspects of strategic action plan to empower indigenous people of the NER so as to enable them to promote agricultural development during the next five years & protect their rights to comfortable livelihoods.