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The Vibrant Tribals of India

By Gauravi Patel

India is home to the second largest population in the world of and the largest population of tribals in the world. As per the 2011 census, the tribals comprised 8.6 per cent of the country’s total population standing at 104 million. Of these, Bhil is the largest tribe in India with a total population of 46,18,068, constituting 37.7 per cent of the total Scheduled Tribes (STs) population. Gond is the second largest tribe, with a population of 43,57,918 constituting 35.6 per cent of the total ST population in India. The Bhils are primarily found in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan even Tripura.

A total of 9, 38, 19,162 people belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs) reside in rural areas and 1,04,61,872 people in urban areas. The Scheduled Tribes comprise 11.3 per cent of the total population of rural areas and 2.8 per cent of the population in urban areas. There are about 550 tribes in India.

The widespread tribal groups

In India, the tribal population is widely spread across the length and breadth of the nation. There are a lot of tribal groups that live along the Himalayas in northern and north-eastern states including Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, etc.

Then, there are the tribals who live in central India in the forests and hills of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. In the west, the tribal population is concentrated in Gujarat, Rajasthan while in the south, the tribals are found in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also home to several tribal groups.

Among these states, the percentage of tribal population varies drastically. So, in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya the tribal population is more than 90 per cent of the population of the state. In Manipur, Sikkim, Tripura and Assam the tribal population is between 20 and 30 per cent of the population of the state.

Central India is home to the largest number of tribes even though the tribal population constitute about 10 per cent of the state’s population. Kerala and Tamil Nadu have one per cent tribal population and Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have around six per cent tribal population.

According to the 2011 census, the states and union territories having maximum ratio of scheduled tribes are Lakshadweep (94.8 per cent), Mizoram (94.4 per cent), Nagaland (86.5 per cent), Meghalaya (86.1 per cent) and Arunachal Pradesh (68.8 per cent). 

Also, the states and union territories having minimum ratio of scheduled tribes include Uttar Pradesh (0.6 per cent), Tamil Nadu (1.1 per cent), Bihar (1.3 per cent), Kerala (1.5 per cent) and Uttarakhand (2.9 per cent). Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Puducherry have no population of Scheduled Tribes.

Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes

In 1949, the Indian Constitution adopted provisions for special treatment of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and the Scheduled Castes (SCs). The SCs and the STs designations were allotted to groups who have been historically marginalised and ostracised. The Constitution has laid down several provisions that guarantee affirmative action for these groups. 

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 lists 1,108 castes across 29 states in its First Schedule and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 lists 744 tribes across 22 states in its First Schedule. According to the 2011 census, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes comprise about 16.6 per cent and 8.6 per cent, respectively, of India’s population. Since independence, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were given Reservation status, guaranteeing political representation also.

The SC groups comprise 139 million people that means more than 16 per cent of India’s population. The greatest concentrations of Scheduled Caste members in 1991 lived in the states of Andhra Pradesh (10.5 million that is nearly 16 per cent of the state's population), Tamil Nadu (10.7 million translating to 19 per cent of the state’s population), Bihar (12.5 million amounting to 14 per cent of the state’s population), West Bengal (16 million standing at 24 per cent of the state’s population) and Uttar Pradesh (29.3 million or 21 per cent of the state’s population). Central Indian states have the country's largest tribes and about 75 per cent of the total tribal population lives there.

On the other hand, the STs represent only eight per cent of India’s total population that translates to 68 million people. In 1991, Orissa had the largest number of STs (7 million i.e., 23 per cent of the state's population), Maharashtra (7.3 million or 9 per cent) and Madhya Pradesh (15.3 million or 23 per cent of the state’s population). The north-eastern states have the greatest concentration of STs in India.

Sex Ratio and Literacy

As per Census 2011, the sex ratio in India is 943 whereas it is much higher among the Scheduled Tribes and stands at 990. Additionally, the sex ratio of children (0-6 age group) in India is 919 whereas it is much higher among the Scheduled Tribes and the number stands at 957. The sex ratio in Scheduled Tribes is in favour of females in Goa (1046), Kerala (1025), Arunachal Pradesh (1032), Odisha (1029) and Chhattisgarh (1020). In Jammu and Kashmir (924) the sex ratio in scheduled tribes is the lowest in the country.

As far as literacy among the Scheduled Tribes is concerned, the difference is large. As per Census 2011, the rate of literacy in India is 72.99 per cent whereas that among the Scheduled Tribes is 59 per cent. The literacy rate also varies drastically from one state to another. So, the literacy rate among the Scheduled Tribes is the highest in Mizoram (91.7 per cent) and the lowest in Andhra Pradesh (49.2 per cent). Among the union territories, the literacy rate among the Scheduled Tribes is the highest in Lakshadweep (91.7 per cent).

The Adivasi people

Tribals in India are also known by the word Adivasi - the collective name used for the many indigenous peoples of India. Adivasi also means a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups considered the aboriginal population of India. Alternatively, terms such as atavika, vanavasi, girijan are also used to describe the tribals in India. All of these words mean being the original inhabitants of the land. The adivasis were pushed into the hill areas after the invasions of the Indo-Aryan people 3,000 years ago. In most tribal communities, land is considered a communal resource and not of one person or a group in terms of ownership. 

The diversity among the tribal groups in India is unparalleled in the world. Each state and union territory in India has several tribal groups each with a unique identity and culture. Here are a few examples of some of the major tribes: Arunachal Pradesh (Aptani, Mishmi, Daffla, Miri, Aka, Sinpho, Khamti); Assam (Chakma, Mikir, Kachari, Bora); Meghalaya (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Hamar); Nagaland (Angami, Konyak, Lotha); Manipur (Kuki, Lepcha, Mugh); Tripura (Bhutia, Chakma, Garo, Kuki); Mizoram (Mizo, Lakher); West Bengal (Asur, Bhumij, Birhor, Lodha, Lepcha, Magh, Mahali, Malpaharia, Polia); Jharkhand (Santhal, Paharia, Munda, Ho, Birhor, Oraon, Kharia, Tamaria); Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand (Tharu, Bhatia, Jaunsari, Bhoksha, Raji, Khasa, Bhuia, Kharwar, Manjhi, Kol); Odisha (Zuang, Sawara, Karia, Khond, Kandh); Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (Hill Maria, Muria, Dandami, Gond, Baiga, Parja, Bhattra, Agaria, Bhil, Saharia. Korwa, Halba); Himachal Pradesh (Gaddi, Gujjar, Kinnar); Jammu & Kashmir (Gaddi, Bakarwal); Rajasthan (Bhil, Meena. Kathoria, Garasia); Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Chenchu, Yandai, Kurumba, Khond, Bagdaz, Koya, Bagata, Gadaba); Kerala (Irula, Kurumba, Kadar, Puliyan); Tamil Nadu (Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Badaga); Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Great Andamanese, Nicobarese, Onge, Jarawa, Shompen, Sentenalese)

(Gauravi Patel is a researcher with The History and Heritage Project – A DraftCraft International Initiative to document details, analyse facts and plug lacunae generated by oversight or to further national or foreign agenda in History and Heritage Across India and Beyond Borders)

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