Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Sarna Religion

Mains level: Tribal assertiveness

sarna

West Bengal Assembly has tabled a motion to recognize Sarna Religion of the tribals and have a Sarna Code.

Sarna Religion

The followers of Sarna faith believe pray to nature.
The holy grail of the faith is “Jal (water), Jungle (forest), Zameen (land)” and its followers pray to the trees and hills while believing in protecting the forest areas.
Jharkhand has 32 tribal groups of which eight are from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.
While many follow Hindu religion, some have converted to Christianity — this has become one of the planks of demanding a separate code “to save religious identity”— as various tribal organisations put it.

Demand for Sarna Code

Tribal groups in the region have long demanded the Sarna code, a separate religious classification in the census, recognising their status as independent religious communities.
It is believed that 50 lakhs tribal in the entire country put their religion as ‘Sarna’ in the 2011 census, although it was not a code.
The resolution will seek a special column for followers of the Sarna religion in the Census, 2021.
At present, they are not classified as a separate entity.

Many of the tribals who follow this faith have later converted to Christianity—the state has more than 4% Christians most of whom are tribals.
Some who still follow the Sarna faith believe the converted tribals are taking the benefits of reservation as a minority, as well as the benefits, are given to Schedule Tribes.
They also believe that benefits should be given specifically to them and not to those who have converted.

The protection of their language and history is an important aspect of tribals.
Between 1871 and 1951, the tribals had a different code. However, it was changed around 1961-62.
Experts argue that when today the entire world is focusing on reducing pollution and protecting the environment, it is prudent that Sarna becomes a religious code as the soul of this religion is to protect nature and the environment.