Technology Integration and Eco-tourism Promotion for Tribal Welfare: The Case of Kerala Knowledge Economy in Digital India

Abstract

Despite the commendable status of Kerala State in India as a whole in the public health sphere, the health situation of the tribals in this State needs to improve even though the same is far ahead of tribals elsewhere in India. The health indices of tribals in Kerala are significantly ahead of the national average in India, yet the same are much lower than those of the non-tribals in Kerala; the latter being mostly the benchmarks at the national level and are comparable with the advanced nations of the world. Improving the health status of tribals being an issue to be addressed in a holistic manner with due regard to other health-related aspects like habitat, housing and living conditions, means of livelihood, etc.; their socio-economic and educational status including financial and digital literacy being particularly relevant, this paper follows an integrative approach to the health and living conditions of tribals and suggests strategies to improve the same to the level of the non-tribals; and for this purpose suggests the ecotourism model, especially CBET – the community based ecotourism.  The pervasive use of ICT and other advances like AI, AR and VR; not only in tourism development but also in the day to day life of the tribals to enable digital financial inclusion, digital healthcare etc. is suggested for the health and other living conditions of the tribal population in Kerala.