Over the years, the comprehension of Indian tribal identity and the essence of tribal communities has undergone significant evolution. This post delves into the prominent tribal in India, each with a population exceeding 10,000.
India, known as the birthplace of diverse human races, hosts an incredibly varied array of tribal populations. Recognized under Schedule 5 of the Indian Constitution, these communities are termed Scheduled Tribes. According to Article 342, the Indian President delineates these groups as Scheduled Tribes, subject to legal addition or removal. Approximately 600 such tribes are acknowledged under this article.
What is a tribal ?
A tribal community embodies a segment of a traditional society where families are interconnected through social, economic, religious, or familial ties, sharing a unified culture and language. It embodies distinct traits and features that define it as a distinctive cultural, social, and political unit. Moreover, in India, tribal are commonly known as ‘Adivasis’.
tribal in India
India’s Constitution acknowledges tribal communities through ‘Schedule 5’, designating them as ‘Scheduled tribal. This recognition encompasses approximately 645 distinct tribal within India.
This describes tribal communities characterized by:
- Residing in mountainous or forested regions
- Having distinct geographic and cultural territories
- Social structure primarily based on familial ties
- Lack of rigid hierarchical structures
- Distinct psychological perspectives on life
- Absence of centralized power structures
- Strong social bonds through kinship
- Communal property ownership
- Limited emphasis on wealth accumulation or trade
- Segmented personality traits
- Spiritual beliefs integrated with daily life, lacking separation between form and content.
Tribal groups in India categorized by state
Andhra Pradesh list of tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh Andh, Sadhu Andh, Bhagata, Bhil, Chenchus (Chenchawar), Gadabas, Gond, Goundu, Jatapus, Kammara, Kattunayakan, Kolawar, Kolam, Konda, Manna Dhora, Pardhan, Rona, Savaras, Dabba Yerukula, Nakkala, Dhulia, Thoti, Sugalis, Banjara, Kondareddis, Koya, Mukha Dhora, Valmiki, Yenadis, Sugalis, Lambadis.
Odisha: Gadaba, Ghara, Kharia, Khond, Matya, Oraons, Rajuar, Santhals, Bathudi, Bathuri, Bhottada, Bhumij, Gond, Juang, Kisan, Kolha, Kora, Khayara, Koya, Munda, Paroja, Saora, Shabar, Lodha.
Rajasthan: Bhils, Damaria, Dhanka, Meenas(Minas), Patelia, Sahariya, Naikda, Nayaka, Kathodi.
Sikkim: Bhutia, Khas, Lepchas, Limboo, Tamang
Tamil Nadu: Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan, Irular, Kadar, Kanikar, Kotas, Todas, Kurumans, Malayali,
Telangana: Chenchus.
Tripura: Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Chakma, Halam, Khasia, Lushai, Mizel, Namte, Mag, Munda, Riang,
Uttarakhand: Bhotias, Buksa, Jannsari, Khas, Raji, Tharu.
Uttar Pradesh: Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Kol, Raji, Tharu, Gond, Kharwar, Saharya , Parahiya, Baiga, Agariya, Chero
West Bengal: Asur, Khond, Hajong, Ho, Parhaiya, Rabha, Santhals, Savar, Bhumij, Bhutia, Chik Baraik, Kisan, Kora, Lodha, Kheria, Khariam, Mahali, Mal Pahariya, Oraon,
Andaman and Nicobar: Oraons, Onges, Sentinelese, Shompens.
Jammu and Kashmir: Bakarwal, Balti, Beda, Gaddi, Garra, Mon, Purigpa, Sippi, Changpa, Gujjar.
Jharkhand: Birhors, Bhumij, Gonds, Kharia, Mundas, Santhals, Savar, Bedia, Ho, Kharwar, Lohra, Mahli, Parhaiya, Santal, Kol, Banjara.
Karnataka: Adiyan, Barda, Gond, Bhil, Iruliga, Koraga, Patelia, Yerava, Hasalaru, Koli Dhor, Marati , Meda, Naikda, Soligaru.
Kerala: Adiyan, Arandan, Eravallan, Kurumbas, Malai arayan, Moplahs, Uralis, Irular, Kanikaran, Kattunayakan, Kurichchan, Muthuvan.
Madhya Pradesh: Baigas, Bhils, Bharia, Birhors, Gonds, Katkari, kharia, Khond, Kol, Murias, Korku, Mawasi, Pardhan, Sahariya,
Maharashtra: Bhaina, Bhunjia, Dhodia, Katkari, Khond, Rathawa, Warlis, Dhanka, Halba, Kathodi, Kokna, Koli Mahadev, Pardhi, Thakur,
Manipur: Naga, Kuki, Meitei, Aimol, Angami, Chiru, Maram, Monsang, Paite, Purum, Thadou, Anal, Mao, Tangkhul, Thadou, Poumai Naga.
Meghalaya: Chakma, Garos, Hajong, Jaintias Khasis, Lakher, Pawai, Raba, Mikir.
Mizoram: Chakma, Dimasa, Khasi, Kuki, Lakher, Pawi, Raba, Synteng, Lushai
Nagaland: Angami, Garo, Kachari, Kuki, Mikir, Nagas, Sema, Ao, Chakhesang, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Rengma, Sangtam,
Assam: Chakma, Chutiya, Dimasa, Hajong, Garos, Khasis, Gangte, Karbi, Boro, Borokachari, Kachari, Sonwal, Miri, Rabha, Garo
Bihar: Asur, Baiga, Birhor, Birjia, Chero, Gond, Parhaiya, Santhals, Savar, Kharwar, Banjara, Oraon, Santal, Tharu
Chhattisgarh: Agariya, Bhaina, Bhattra, Biar, Khond, Mawasi, Nagasia, Gond, Binjhwar, Halba, Halbi, Kawar, Sawar,
Goa: Dhodia, Dubia, Naikda, Siddi,Varli, Gawda.
Gujarat: Barda, Bamcha, Bhil, Charan, Dhodia, Gamta, Paradhi, Patelia, Dhanka, Dubla, Talavia, Halpati, Kokna, Naikda, Patelia, Rathawa, Siddi.
Himachal Pradesh: Gaddis, Gujjars, Khas, Lamba, Lahaulas, Pangwala, Swangla, Beta, Beda Bhot, Bodh.
Arunachal Pradesh: Apatanis, Abor, Dafla, Galong, Momba, Sherdukpen, Singpho, Nyishi, Mishmi, Idu, Taroan, Tagin, Adi, Monpa, Wancho
Assam: Chakma, Chutiya, Dimasa, Hajong, Garos, Khasis, Gangte, Karbi, Boro, Borokachari, Kachari, Sonwal, Miri, Rabha, Garo.
total population of Scheduled Tribes
As of the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes account for 10.43 crore people, constituting 8.6% of the nation’s total population. their urban population is only 2.8%. Ntheir presence in urban areas remains limited to 2.8%.
Meanwhile, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Jammu & Kashmir, Tripura, Mizoram, Bihar, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu encompass 15.3% of this population. The remaining states/union territories have a negligible ST population.
Lakshadweep and Mizoram have the highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes in their total population, followed by Nagaland and Meghalaya. Madhya Pradesh holds the largest number of Scheduled Tribes, followed by Odisha.
Bastar district in Chhattisgarh houses the largest number of Scheduled Tribes, while Punjab, Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, and Haryana have no Scheduled Tribes.
In the Lok Sabha, seats are reserved for Scheduled tribal based on Census figures, allocated according to Article 330 of the Constitution of India and Section 3 of the R.P. Act, 1950. There are 47 reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Lok Sabha, with the state-wise distribution specified in the 1st Schedule to the R.P. Act, 1950, as amended by the Representation of People (Amendment) Act, 2008.
Scheduled Tribes
Article 366 (25) defines Scheduled Tribes as tribes, tribal communities, or segments within these groups that are considered, under Article 342, to be Scheduled Tribes according to the Constitution’s provisions.
Article 342 in The Constitution Of India 1949
The President, in consultation with the State’s Governor where applicable, can publicly specify tribes, tribal communities, or their segments as Scheduled Tribes for that State or Union territory, as per the Constitution.
Parliament has the authority to add or remove tribes, tribal communities, or their segments from the Scheduled Tribes list mentioned in a notification under clause (1) through legislation. apart from this provision, any notification issued under clause (1) cannot be altered by subsequent notifications.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, established in 1999 after the split from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, focuses on the holistic development of Scheduled tribal (STs) in India. It serves as the central authority for policy, planning, and coordination of ST development programs. Sector-specific programs and schemes fall under the purview of relevant Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments, and Union Territory Administrations. Previously, tribal affairs were managed by different entities: a division of the Ministry of Home Affairs until September 1985, the Ministry of Welfare from September 1985 to May 1998, and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment from May 1998 to September 1999.
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was formed in 2003 through the 89th Amendment of the Constitution by replacing the former National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This amendment led to the establishment of two distinct bodies: the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), starting from February 19, 2004.
The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) strategy is a concise approach aimed at tribal development.
The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) is a Government of India initiative focused on rapid socio-economic development for tribal communities. States and Union Territories are mandated to allocate funds for TSP proportional to their Scheduled tribal population. Additionally, Central Ministries must allocate funds for TSP, adhering to non-divertible and non-lapsable guidelines established by the Planning Commission. Furthermore, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes engages in advising, participating in socio-economic development planning for STs, and evaluating their progress at both Union and State levels.
Conclusion
India boasts incredible diversity within its tribal communities, reflecting a rich heritage. Acknowledged as the birthplace of various human races, India encompasses tribal united by societal, cultural, religious, or familial connections, sharing unique traditions. The Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) strategy, a government initiative, accelerates the development of these tribal groups. Mandated by this strategy, each state or union territory must allocate resources to TSP in proportion to their tribal population.
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