How many types of tribals are there in Odisha? What are the issues and problems of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups?

📝Model Answer

Introduction

Odisha has the third-largest Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in India (95.9 lakh as per Census 2011), constituting about 22.8% of the state’s population. Among these, 13 groups are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — the highest number for any Indian state.

Types/Classification of Tribals in Odisha

Odisha officially recognises 62-64 Scheduled Tribes (the number has been revised upward through recent amendments to the ST list). They are broadly classified as follows:

1. On the basis of livelihood/economy: Hunter-gatherers (e.g., Birhor, Mankidia), shifting/podu cultivators (e.g., Kondh, Saora), settled agriculturists (e.g., Santal, Munda, Oraon), and artisan/craft-based tribes.
2. On the basis of habitat: Hill tribes residing in remote, forested, and hilly tracts (e.g., Bonda, Dongria Kondh) and plain-land tribes living closer to non-tribal settlements (e.g., Santal, Ho).
3. On the basis of development status: Regular Scheduled Tribes and the more vulnerable sub-category of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
4. Major tribes by population: Kondh (largest), Santal, Saora, Munda, Ho, Oraon, Gond, Kolha, among others.
5. PVTGs of Odisha (13): Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Juang, Kharia, Dongria Kondh, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankidia, Paudi Bhuyan, and Saora (Hill Saora).

Issues and Problems of PVTGs

1. Geographical isolation and inaccessibility: PVTGs live in remote, hilly, and forested habitats with poor road, transport, and communication connectivity, cutting them off from mainstream development.
2. Poor health and nutrition status: High rates of malnutrition, anaemia, infant and maternal mortality, and limited access to healthcare facilities due to distance and lack of trained staff.
3. Low literacy and educational backwardness: Absence of schools nearby, high dropout rates, and language barriers (education in Odia rather than tribal dialects) hinder learning outcomes.
4. Land alienation and loss of forest rights: Encroachment by non-tribal settlers, land acquisition for mining and development projects, and incomplete implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 threaten their traditional resource base.
5. Livelihood insecurity: Continued dependence on shifting cultivation, hunting, and forest produce collection, with limited alternative livelihood options and low bargaining power in markets.
6. Displacement due to mining and industrial projects: Many PVTG habitats (e.g., Niyamgiri hills of the Dongria Kondh) overlap with mineral-rich areas, leading to conflicts between development and community rights.
7. Declining or stagnant population and cultural erosion: Some PVTGs face demographic stagnation, and their distinct languages, customs, and identity are gradually eroding due to outside influence.
8. Weak implementation of welfare schemes: Despite Micro Projects and special programmes, delivery gaps, poor administrative outreach, and lack of community participation limit the impact of interventions.

Conclusion