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Synopsis India is one among the few nations of the world noted for its tribal concentration. Tribals are among the most downtrodden section of the society who have hbeen victims of age-old social and cultural prejudices and hostile environmental factors. Their integration with the mainstream of national life has been recognized as a necessary condition for their welfare. In this context, co-operatives have been recognisedas a notable institutional framework for the development of hill and tribal areas. As an ideal institutional structure, co-operative organizations have helped in upgrading the economic status and the quality of life of the tribals as they can bring these vulnerable sections within a common fold, supplement their meager resources by providing concessional credit and workout a scheme for their economic betterment with adequate financial support form the Government. A Serious attempt has been made in this book to explore the structure of co-operatives in the predominantly tribal areas of Tamil Nadu and to assess their role in toning up the tribal economy in an empirical manner. The book highlights the performance of tribal co-operatives on the one side and their integrated services for economic transformation of tribal society on the other. A separate section devoted to policy implications and problems areas makes valuable suggestions to strengthen the co-operative organizations in the best interest of the tribal communities. The book offers the most uptodate and comprehensive coverage of co-operative setup in the tribal areas. It will serve as a valuable reference source to the co-operators, social scientists, anthropologists, Government policy makers and the research organizations interested in tribal economic development.