Synopsis The book has been written on the basis of a long this experience of development administration in addition to the review of the relevant literature. The analysis made by the author underscores the vitiating atmosphere due to too much of politics that has increasingly complicated the task of developing tribal areas and people. The induced and continuing tendency in some intellectuals, administrators, leaders and non-governmental organizations to magnify the so-called conflicts between the tribal and non-tribal people seem to be causing more damage to the process of their integration and development. The ‘protection and development’ of tribal people has become a slogan and fabulous source of livelihood for many the author feels. The book critically analyzes various constitutional safeguards, development policies, approaches, plans, strategies and schemes enunciated and implemented for the tribal areas and the people in post-independence India. The author has looked into the reports and recommendations of various strengths and weaknesses of the plans and programmes drawn and implemented from time to time, besides making some recommendations to implement plans and programmes with a modified pragmatic approach.