Documentation on the Sahariyas available with Sambhav paints a dismal picture of the tribe. Their origin, as also much of their history seems to be lost in time and space, although traditionally they trace back their beginnings to the days of the Ramayana and even beyond. Their present state of deprivation and oppression is also often ascribed to their origin and evolution, when from the center of existence the tribe was pushed to its peripheries because of their sheer inability to resist force and unjust domination and hence, even cursed by the Gods to live and subsist in the jungles a status which has got compounded by the imbalances and inequities perpetuated by the later day society.
 
The area supports poor types of forest, as the soil is shallow. The forest are mainly tropical thorny type merging in to mixed deciduous dry type. Since most of the villages in the DA adjoin the forest it holds great importance in the livelihood. Collection of minor forest produce such as mahua, tendu leaves, gum, bamboo, medicinal herbs and firewood is a major preoccupation during the agricultural lean season (March to April). Currently the minor forest produce is sold to local tradesmen at very low prices because of indebtedness and lack of access to alternate market. 

Agriculture is predominant occupation in the DA engaging 74% of the work force (33% of the total population). wheat, jowar, bajra, maize are the main cereal crops. Gram and arhar are the main pulses. Agriculture is largely rain- dependent with merely 2% of the total land area being irrigated. The main sources of irrigation are wells and rivulets, which are seasonal.

The administration has a very indifferent attitude towards the Tribal. The Government officials think of posting in tribal areas as a punishment. Though the area comes under the Sahariya Vikas Abhikaran (Tribal Development Agency) and innumerable schemes are planned for the Tribal, their reach has been very poor. This could be partly due to the lack of demand on the delivery systems as the tribal communities lack information and guidance on the schemes, and also partly due to complexities in accessing the formal system as well as the attitudes of the delivery system.  

There is feeling of despondency amongst the tribal who since centuries has been exploited by the upper castes, Brahmins, Marathas, and Moslems who were patronized by the Rajahs and Zamindars. Even the post independence era has seen a new power group emerging the “sarkari adhikaris” - the Government bureaucrats who were quick to align with the vested interest in exploiting the frugal resource base of the tribal leading to further marginalisation.  

A forest tribe, the Sahariyas are found in the northwestern parts of the country. In the state of Madhya Pradesh they are spread across 21 districts with the highest concentration apparently found in and around the district of Gwalior, approximately 3.5 lakh Sahariyas are estimated to reside in the Gwalior and Chambal region in north MP India.  

In the course of the evaluation, it was obvious that certain issues were occupying the center stage in the project and had a significant influence on it in terms of both progress and direction. The issues range from the local to wider concerns: the constant conflict regarding land rights are so deep rooted and multi dimensional, that empowering the community alone would only partially address the problem; the issue of the establishment of a bird (Great Indian Bustard) sanctuary supported by World Bank funds and at the cost of displacement of the forest communities, including the Sahariyas has implications on the whole question of the rights of the forest communities; there are also the opportunities created by the growing role of the Panchayat in local governance and the need to bring the Sahariya into the main stream of development; above all there is the persistent lack of political will and administrative action to alleviate the lot of the community. A brief look at some of the issues may throw light on the kind of directional changes required.

Some Critical Concerns

• Land tenure and related conflicts have become a part of Sahariyas' very existence. They were never known to own land but had a major contribution in converting forestland for agriculture. It is this land or the ambiguity of their ownership of it, which has been a constant source of conflict with their more powerful neighbors as well as with the Government. The conflicts range from oppression by the Gurjars and Sardars, who are constantly trying to drive the Sahariyas away from the land, to the local officials who perpetuate amazing forms of mal -governance and injustice. For instance: (i) Giving pattas without actual possession of land, or vice versa; (ii) Year after year realizing a fine from encroached forest lands but not maintaining records of the same thus, depriving the Sahariyas of proof of duration of occupancy (iii) There is a constant conflict between the Forest Department and the Revenue Department on the issue of the demarcation of land. Often it is found that jurisdiction of both the departments overlap and the Sahariyas who occupy such areas are caught between the two government departments, who never seem to be in a mood to resolve the issue.
   

• Exploitation - Khadaans(Stone Quarries), bonded labour, dacoities(robbers) and liquor have become synonymous with the lot of the Sahariyas. The mode of abuse is as varied as they are cruel. The Khadaans or the mines are a hotbed of exploitation. The Sahariyas are encouraged by the mine or land owners to take petty loans which, more often then not; they are unable to pay. Then again workers are charged for absenteeism and also at times chained up in the mine premises so that they are unable to run away and instead forced to work. One of Sambhav's initial successes was the freeing of nearly 600 bonded laborers from South India in the Dabra and the Bhander blocks. However, bonded labour and atrocities on them still prevail in large numbers. Moreover there have been instances where even after being rescued from bondage they have preferred to go back to the same mines to earn a livelihood, merely because of a lack of alternatives. Dacoities are a common feature in this area and they particularly target the Sahariyas. The dacoities are more often perpetuated by the landed Gurjars or the mine owners themselves or supported by them with the intention of forcing the Sahariyas to penury as well as terrorizing them to abandon their land and run away, thus providing the former a chance to snatch away the land. The police on the other hand do not take much initiative in protecting the interests of the Sahariyas or punishing the dacoits; in fact they are often even reluctant to register a case. Discrimination also exists in issuing licenses for guns to the Sahariyas. While Gurjars are issued licenses, the Sahariyas are denied on the basis of the area being protected as a bird sanctuary. Liquor is another mode of well-planned exploitation. Liquor is often sold by the mine owners at the site of the mines and the payment deducted from the wages of the workers