Author: Debika Haldar
Abstract: The intersection of socio-economic status and educational attainment has emerged as a crucial determinant of aspirations among tribal youth in contemporary India. Traditionally embedded within subsistence economies, cultural continuity, and localized worldviews, tribal communities are now experiencing rapid socio-economic transformation driven by modernization, state intervention, and globalization. Education, in particular, has acted as a powerful catalyst in reshaping the aspirations, identities, and life trajectories of tribal youth. This research article critically examines how socioeconomic status influences the changing aspirations of educated tribal youth, focusing on employment preferences, social mobility, cultural identity, migration patterns, and value systems. The study argues that while education enhances opportunities and broadens horizons, it also creates tensions between traditional lifestyles and modern aspirations. The paper further highlights the uneven distribution of opportunities, revealing how structural inequalities continue to shape the aspirations and achievements of tribal youth.
Keywords: Socio-Economic Status, Tribal Youth, Aspirations, Education, Social Mobility, Modernization, Identity, Inequality.
Page No: 225-232