India, Oct. 5 -- Article 342 of the Constitution of India empowers the President to officially specify indigenous tribes, tribal communities, or specific groups within them as "Scheduled Tribes," in consultation with the state governor.

Protecting the rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India involves a comprehensive framework of constitutional provisions, special legislation, and administrative safeguards designed to prevent exploitation, preserve cultural identity, and promote socio-economic development.

However, cultural symbols of tribal groups in the state gain high-fashion and festival attention, becoming powerful visual markers of 'Goan identity,' while daily struggles such as land rights, forest access, and basic infrastructure...