INDIA’s AI Boom : Where Are the Adivasis?

As India aspires to become a global technological superpower in the 21st century, as its cities emerge as hubs for Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT), and Fintech, and as Mumbai's Dalal Street dictates the nation's economic pulse, a fundamental and uncomfortable question arises: where do India's indigenous people, its Adivasis, stand in this new digital economy? This narrative is one of profound contradiction. On one side stands India's 8.6% Adivasi community, residing on land rich with trillions of dollars in mineral resources, and on the other, a digital revolution whose vocabulary – Nifty, algorithms, startups – is miles removed from the reality of their lives.

Despite carving out identities in politics, sports, and arts, the Adivasi community remains almost entirely invisible in India's modern economic mainstream, especially in knowledge-based sectors like AI and IT. This is not merely economic backwardness but the result of a structural, cultural, and historical chasm that is widening further in the digital age. This analysis delves into the complex reasons why the Adivasi community remains a silent spectator rather than a participant in India’s AI revolution, and it attempts to explore whether this gap can be bridged.

Roots of Economic Exclusion: From 'Jal, Jangal, Zameen' to the Digital Divide

The alienation of the Adivasi community from AI and IT is not an accidental phenomenon but a modern extension of centuries-old struggles and exclusion.

Historical Conflict's Modern Form: The fight for 'Jal, Jangal, Zameen' (water, forest, and land), which began with the Hul Rebellion of 1855, remains central to Adivasi life today. Their economic existence still hinges on unorganized sectors such as agriculture, forest produce collection, and daily wage labor. The community that gifted the world the art of iron smelting (the Asur tribe) is now struggling for its very survival. When a community's energy is consumed by the struggle to preserve its fundamental identity and resources, expecting it to be proficient in the language of stock markets and coding is a cruel irony. They are yet to be fully integrated into the old industrial economy, making their participation in the knowledge-based economy seem like a distant dream.

Cultural and Philosophical Differences: According to renowned economist Jean Drèze, the structure of the market – where one owner profits and the rest work for wages – runs contrary to the Adivasi ethos. Their social system is based on communalism, cooperation, and co-existence with nature, not on individual greed and wealth accumulation. This does not mean they do not desire economic progress, but rather that the aggressive and individualistic model of modern capitalism does not align with their life philosophy. This is why concepts like the stock market, based on risk and speculation, are not only unfamiliar but also culturally alien to them.

Digital Divide: A New Weapon of Exclusion: While India may be one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies, this growth is uneven. Most Adivasi regions still lack reliable internet connectivity, digital devices, and digital literacy. When online education, e-commerce, and digital financial services are out of reach, it is difficult even to imagine skill development in advanced fields like AI and machine learning. This digital divide is a new and powerful form of exclusion, pushing them further away from modern opportunities.

The Maze of Policies: Good Intentions, Failed Outcomes

It is not that the government has entirely overlooked this problem. Institutions like the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) provide financial assistance to Adivasi entrepreneurs for business and higher education. According to data, loans worth 16,650 crore rupees were disbursed over the last five years (2020-25). But behind these impressive figures lies a disheartening truth.

Lack of Reach to the Real Beneficiaries: Dr. Ashish Kant Chaudhary of Banaras Hindu University explains that these funds often go to intermediaries or non-governmental organizations working 'for' Adivasis, rather than directly to them. He cites examples of how intermediaries buy Chironji (forest produce) from Adivasis for 100 rupees per kg and sell it in the market for 1200 rupees, with the real profit going into their own pockets.

Government's Contradictory Role: Dr. Vasavi Kido of the Tribal Chamber of Commerce raises another serious question about the government's role. According to her, the government buys forest produce (like Chironji) from Adivasis through cooperative societies for 30 rupees per kg and then sells it at higher prices in auctions to large companies. In this process, the government, which should have been their protector, itself begins to act as a 'new moneylender,' exploiting their resources for profit.

Ground-Level Failure of Schemes: There are also significant flaws in the design and reach of schemes. The example of Andhra Pradesh is striking, where not a single Adivasi woman applied for the NSTFDC's 2 lakh rupee women's empowerment scheme in the last five years. This shows that either information about the schemes is not reaching them, or the process is so complex that they cannot avail of the benefits, or they are simply not capable of taking that level of risk.

Education: Solution or Another Barrier?

Education is often seen as the ultimate solution to bridge this gap. The low literacy rate in the Adivasi community is certainly a major obstacle. Dr. Rajkumar Singh Gond of Allahabad University explains that even those Adivasis who have been educated and moved to cities prioritize securing a stable job rather than investing in risky areas like the stock market. Their previous generations painstakingly achieved stability, and they do not want to lose it.

NSTFDC provides loans for higher education, and approximately 6 lakh students have benefited from it in the last five years. This is a positive sign. But merely acquiring a degree is not enough. The quality of education, the relevance of the curriculum, and the inclusion of digital skills are critically important. If education only prepares them for traditional jobs, they will again be left behind in the race for AI and IT.

The Way Forward: A Holistic Approach is Needed

Including the Adivasi community in India's AI and IT revolution requires a multifaceted and sensitive approach that goes far beyond mere financial assistance.

Building Digital Infrastructure: The first step is to ensure reliable and affordable internet connectivity in Adivasi-majority areas. Digital connectivity should be given top priority in infrastructure development under PM-JANMAN and other schemes.

Culturally Relevant Education: Subjects like AI, coding, and digital finance must be incorporated into the education system, but they should be taught in their own languages and cultural contexts so that they can easily adopt them.

Promoting Community-Based Models: As suggested by Jean Drèze, promoting cooperative models instead of individual entrepreneurship can be more effective. AI and IT can be used to add value to local resources in sectors like animal husbandry, herbal processing, and eco-tourism. This will empower the community, and profits will remain within the community.

Eliminating Middlemen and Direct Market Links: The government should create technology-based systems that directly connect Adivasi producers with national and international markets, preventing middlemen from exploiting their profits.

The words of Roshan Hembram, a successful Adivasi entrepreneur from Jamshedpur, are important: the community must focus its energy on education and economic development. But this responsibility is not solely that of the community. It is also the responsibility of the government, industry, and civil society to create an inclusive ecosystem where the benefits of India's AI revolution reach the last person in the country. If this does not happen, we will build a digital world that is technologically advanced but socially as divided and unjust as the old world was.