The adivasi - the original indigenous population of the Indian sub-continent - belong, both in India and in Bangladesh, to the hardest discriminated groups. They represent about 8% of the total population in India and 2% in Bangladesh. They are living in all parts of their countries, mainly in the regions of remaining mountain forests.

Their traditional way of life consists in making use of the natural resources offered by their home forests. To-day, their walks of life - traditionally ruled by their community - are more and more threatened and the adivasi are massively confronted with loss of their land. Large modern projects like the construction of dams or the penetration of non-adivasi into their home areas constitute a growing danger for their life basis.  

The adivasi are not part of the caste system and, consequently, they are found at the lowest level of the Indian social hierarchy. Their original way of life is considered "primitive" by the members of the dominant Hindu and Moslem cultures.  

The Indian government is trying to counteract the economic and social disadvantages for the adivasi by a policy called "positive discrimination": By this, the government is reserving for the adivasi - and for the dalits as well - a fixed quota of individuals admitted into the educational system and into the government service. But in reality, they are very often not taken into account and, consequently, 90% of the adivasi are living below the poverty line.

The focus of our work in supporting the adivasi is on projects to maintain their livelihood and to enforce their civic rights enabling them to defend their position in the Hindu or Moslem society. Particular emphasis is being given to measures ensuring that the special needs of the adivasi will be respected while, at the same time, recognising the fact that the integration of indigenous people into the mainstream of the society is unavoidable.