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 SPR 2020: Tribes in News

In this article we will read about:

1. Scheduled tribes and constitutional and legal provisions for them.

2. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
3. Tribes that have been in news in 2019 and 2020.

Important facts about tribes in India

The Constitution of India does not give any definition for Scheduled Tribes.
According to Article 366(25) of the Constitution, Scheduled Tribes are those
communities who are scheduled in accordance with Article 342 of the Constitution.
Article 342: "The Scheduled Tribes are the tribes or tribal communities or part of or
groups within these tribes and tribal communities which have been declared as such by
the President through a public notification".
As per Article 338-A of the Constitution of India, the National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes has been set-up.
5th and 6th Schedule: Administration and control of Scheduled and Tribal Areas.
5th Schedule: deals with the administration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as
of Scheduled Tribes residing in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya,
Tripura and Mizoram.
6th Schedule: consists of provisions for the administration of tribal areas in Assam,
Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, according to Article 244 of the Indian Constitution.

Scheduled Tribes in India

According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes account for 104 million
representing 8.6% of the country’s population.
It is important to note that there are many tribes which have not yet been identified as
scheduled tribes.
These Scheduled Tribes are spread throughout the country largely in forest and hilly
regions.
The essential characteristics of these communities are:-
i. Primitive Traits
ii. Geographical isolation
iii. Distinct culture
iv. Shy of contact with the community at large
v. Economically backwards
There are over 700 scheduled tribes in India, out of which around 75 are Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Bhil is the largest tribal group while Gond comprises the second largest tribal group of
India.
The largest number of tribal communities (62) are found in Odisha.
The largest population of STs is in Madhya Pradesh- 21.1% of the total state population.
Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar
Haveli, are predominantly tribal States /Union territories where Scheduled Tribes
population constitutes more than 60% of their total population.

Samajho
 No tribe identified in Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Puducherry.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

In 1975, the Government of India initiated to identify the most vulnerable tribal groups as
a separate category called PVTGs and declared 52 such groups.
Later 23 groups were added to the category making it a total of 75 PVTGs out of 705
Scheduled Tribes, spread over 18 states and one Union Territory (A&N Islands) in the
country (2011 census).
Characteristics of PVTG’s:
i. Declining or stagnant population,
ii. Low level of literacy,
iii. Pre-agricultural level of technology,
iv. Economically backwards,
v. Generally, inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative
support.
The highest number is found in Odisha (13), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12).
These hunting, food-gathering, and some agricultural communities have been identified
as less acculturated tribes among the tribal population groups and in need of special
programmes for their sustainable development.
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements the Scheme of “Development of Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)” exclusively for them.
Under the scheme, Conservation-cum-Development (CCD)/Annual Plans are to be
prepared by each State/UT for their PVTGs based on their need assessment.
Priority is also assigned to PVTGs under the schemes of Special Central Assistance
(SCA) to Tribal Sub-Scheme (TSS), Grants under Article 275(1) of the
Constitution, Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the welfare of
Scheduled Tribes and Strengthening of Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy
Districts.

Visit PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUPS (PVTGS) for more information.

Legal Provisions

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: against untouchability.

Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: to
prevent the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996: to
provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the
Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas.
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Rights) Act, 2006: to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land
in forest-dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

Committees Related to Tribal Communities

1. Xaxa Committee (2013)

2. Bhuria Commission (2002-2004)
3. Lokur Committee (1965)

Samajho
 Main Problems Faced by the Indian Tribes

1. Loss of control over natural resources:

Loss of ownership rights over land, owing to chronic indebtedness, unscrupulous
landlords, moneylenders, contractors and officials.
Land alienation due to changes in demography and socio-cultural spheres resulted
from large scale immigration to some states like Assam.
2. Lack of education:
The literacy rate as per Census 2011 is 73% but for STs is 59% only.
It leads to tribal superstitions and prejudices, extreme poverty, nomadic lifestyle of
certain tribes, lack of interest in alien subjects taught through an alien language
and a lack of suitable teachers and other facilities in the tribal areas.
3. Displacement and rehabilitation:
Acquisition of tribal land by the government for developmental projects led to
large scale displacement of the tribal population.
Tribals forced to live in peripheries in slums or to migrate to adjoining states to
work as unskilled workers in conditions of poverty.
4. Problems of health and nutrition:
Due to economic backwardness and insecure livelihood, the tribals face health
problems, diseases like malaria, cholera, tuberculosis, diarrhoea and jaundice,
problems associated with malnutrition like iron deficiency and anaemia, high
infant mortality rates, low levels of life expectancy, etc.
5. Gender issues:
Degradation of the natural environment, through the destruction of forests and a
rapidly shrinking resource base, has had its impact on the status of women.
6. Erosion of identity:
Traditional institutions and laws are coming into conflict with modern institutions
which create apprehensions among the tribals about preserving their identity.
Extinction of tribal dialects and languages is a major concern as it indicates an
erosion of tribal identity in certain areas.
7. Exclusion and isolation: Tribals face untouchability, including physical exclusion, the
assumption of criminality.
8. Climate change: Changing agricultural and hunting practices, rising temperature and
water scarcity across the world puts them at most risk.

Tribes in News

Tribe State/s Important Facts

PVTGs

Odisha
Bonda/Bondas/Bondo/Remo About
Tribe

Samajho
 Members of a group of Austroasiatic
tribes.
Believed to be part of the first wave of
migration out of Africa about 60,000
years ago.
First forest settlers in India.
Location: Live in the isolated hill
regions of the Malkangiri district of
southwestern Odisha near the junction
of the three states of Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Population: 12,231.
Divided into two groups based on
their settlement:
The Upper Bondas living in the
inaccessible forests.
The Lower Bondas in the plains.
Society:
Matriarchal society.
Females outnumber males.
Women are primary workers
and providers of food for the
community.
Women prefer to marry men
who are younger by at least 5-
10 years so that the men can
earn for them when they grow
old.
Festivals:
Bondas celebrate many feasts
and festivals which are
associated with agricultural
cycle or socio-cultural life of
the people.
Patakhanda Puja, Jatimara
festival, also called Pus Parba
(festival of brotherhood), Chait
Parab, Bihan Puja are some
festivals.
Dance: Bonda dance.
Language:
Remo, which comes under the
Austroasiatic language
belonging to the Mundari group
(spoken by Munda people).
Remo is now an endangered
tongue as more Bondas have
taken to Odia as their primary
language of communication.
Occupation:
Primarily, forest dwellers, the
Bondas used to hunt and forage
for food in the wild.

Samajho
 Salap and Mahua trees have
importance as traditional wine is
made from the flowers of these
trees.

About

Historically forest dwellers of western

ghats in Maharashtra, now located in
the outskirts of agricultural villages on
the plains.
British administration had classified
them under the Criminal Tribes Act,
1871.
The stigma associated with the Act
continues.
Location:
Located primarily in Raigad and
in parts of Pune, Palghar,
Ratnagiri and Thane districts of
Maharashtra.
Some places of Gujarat.
Population: 2,85,334.
Katkari Tribe
The name Katkari is derived from a
forest-based activity– the making and
bartering or sale of Catechu from the
Khair tree (Acacia Katechu).
Maharashtra Festivals:
and Gujarat One of only a few tribal groups
in India that eat rodents.
Cultural festival, the Undir
Navmi, dedicated to the rodent.
Also celebrate Holi, Akaja,
Pola, Dawali.
Dance: Badgi Nrutya.
Language:
bilingual, speaking the Katkari
language, a dialect of the
Marathi-Konkani languages,
with each other,
they speak Marathi with the
Marathi speakers, who are a
majority in the populace where
they live.
Occupation:
Katkaris are expert fishermen,
swimmers, divers, archers and
marksmen.
They are famous for their
strength, endurance and
hunting-gathering skills.

Madhya

Samajho
 Sahariya Tribe Pradesh, About
Rajasthan
An ethnic tribe of Chambal region of
Madhya Pradesh.
They trace their origin from Shabri of
the Ramayan.
The community considers every adult
member part of a governing council
which is headed by a Patel.
Location:
Mainly found in the districts of
Morena, Sheopur, Bhind,
Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri,
Vidisha and Guna districts of
Madhya Pradesh and Baran
district of Rajasthan.
Regions with significant populations:
Madhya Pradesh- 614,958
Rajasthan- 111,377
Festivals: Veer Teja, Dhakar Baba,
Durga, Hanuman, Lalbai, Bejasan,
Savni Amavasya, Janmashtami,
Raksha Bandhan, Deepavali, Holi and
Teja Dashmi.
Dance: Swang Nritya- adance
drama to spread awareness about
social issues like child marriage,
women’s rights, the need for education
etc. and about prenatal care and
deadly diseases like AIDS.
Language: The most widely spoken
language is Hindi with its dialectal
variations like Brij Bhasha, Malwii
and Bundelkhandi.
Occupation:
Expert woodsmen and forest
product gatherers, particularly
skilled in making catechu from
Khair trees.
Gathering & selling of forest
wood, gum, tendu leaf, honey,
mahua and medicinal herbs.
Traditional occupations also
include making baskets, mining
and quarrying, and breaking
stones.
They also hunt and fish.
Some Sahariyas are settled
cultivators.

Odisha
Dongria Kondh About

Samajho
 Members of the Kondhs, of the
Munda ethnic group.
At the centre of a dispute over mining
rights in the area.
Location: Located in the Niyamgiri
Hills in the Rayagada and Kalahandi
District in Odisha.
Population: 8,000
Nomenclature:
Derive their name from dongar,
meaning agricultural land on
hill slopes.
Their name for themselves is
Jharnia– “protector of streams“.
Society:
Inclusion of youth in religious
and political matters.
Equal rights to women- widow
remarriage, property
inheritance.
Beliefs: They worship Niyam Raja,
the supreme god of the Niyamgiri
jungle.
Festivals: Bijun Parab or seed
festival, Niyamraja festival.
Language: Kui
Occupation: Sustain themselves from
the resources of the Niyamgiri forests,
practising horticulture and shifting
cultivation.

Siddi Tribe Gujarat, About

Maharashtra
and Known by different synonyms such as
Karnataka Habshi and Badsha.
African origin- descendants of Bantu
people of East Africa.
Siddi ancestors were largely brought
to India as slaves by Arabs as early as
the 7th Century, followed by the
Portuguese and the British later on.
When slavery was abolished in the
18th and 19th centuries, Siddis fled
into the country’s thick jungles,
fearing recapture and torture.
Population: 270,000–350,000
(50,000 in India)
Location:
Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Hyderabad in India
and Makran and Karachi in
Pakistan as the main population
centres.

Samajho
 More than a third live in the
northern parts of Karnataka- in
Dharwad, Belagavi and Uttar
Kannada districts.
Festival: Active in cultural activities
and organise annual festivals, like,
Habash Festival.
Dance: Dhamaal
Language: Siddi Basha.
Occupation:
Previously depended on hunting
and gathering but at present,
their main sources of livelihood
are labour and agriculture.
In Karnataka, they are largely
settled in suburbs and forest and
often work as coolies and
unskilled labourers on
plantations.

ANI
Tribes of Andaman & Nicobar About
Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar islands
accommodate main five vulnerable
tribes:
1. Great Andamanese,
2. Onges,
3. Jarwa,
4. Sentinelese,
5. Shompen.
Excluding the Nicobarese, the rest fall
under the PVTG category.
According to the 2011 census, there
are only 44 Great Andamanese, 380
Jarawa, 105 Onges, 229 Shompen, and
15-150 Sentinelese (roughly estimated
as they don't interact) remaining.

1. Great Andamanese:
Based in ‘Strait Island’ of
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Administration has
provided houses and raised
Coconut Plantation for the
upliftment of Andamanese.
Further free ration including
clothes is also being provided to
them.
Andamanese are no longer a
nomadic tribe.
However, they do sometimes go
hunting and fishing.

Samajho
 Andamani Hindi increasingly
serves as their primary
language.

2. Onges:
One of the most primitive tribes
in India inhabiting the Little
Andaman Island.
This Hunting and Gathering
tribe has also been settled by the
Andaman & Nicobar
Administration at Dugong
Creek and South Bay on Little
Andaman Island.
Coconut plantation has been
raised for the benefit of Onges
Medical care, free ration etc.
are being provided by the
Administration.
Onges go for hunting and
fishing occasionally.
Speak the Önge language.

3. Jarawas:
Currently inhabiting the Western
coast of Middle Andaman and
South Andaman Islands.

Samajho
 Continue to be hunting and
gathering nomadic tribe.
Collect fruits and roots
including honey from the forest.
They build temporary huts in
their camps.
Speak Järawa language.

4. Sentinelese:
Negrito tribe who live on the
North Sentinel Island of the
Andaman (50 km west of Port
Blair).
Assumed to be direct
descendants of the earliest
humans who emerged from
Africa.
Consistently refused any
interaction with the outside
world.
Hostile to outsiders and have
killed people who approached
or landed on the island.
Nearly nothing is known about
the Sentinelese culture due to
isolation.
Are hunter-gatherers.
Not known to engage in
agriculture.
Protected under the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands
(Protection of Aboriginal
Tribes) Regulation, 1956.

5. Shompen:
Located in Great Nicobar.

Samajho
 Practice a hunter-gatherer
subsistence economy and keep a
limited contact with the outside
world.
Also practice a little bit of
horticulture and pig rearing.
Share a symbiotic relationship
or barter system with the Great
Nicobarese.
Marriage by capturing women
from different groups and
subgroups is one of the customs
of the Shompen society- one
reason for mutual hostility
among groups.
Speak Shompen language with
different dialects like Kalay and
Keyet.

Jharkhand
Asur Tribe About

One of the oldest Austroasiatic ethnic

group.
Divided into three sub-tribal divisions,
namely Bir (Kol) Asur, Birjia Asur
and Agaria Asur.
The Birjia are recognized as a separate
schedule tribe.
Birjia means the farmer roaming
around and Agoria means people who
work for the fire like melting iron etc.
Veer Asur is the people who live in the
forests or the forest dwellers.
Location:
Living primarily in Jharkhand,
mostly in the Gumla,
Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar
districts.
A small minority live in the
western part of West Bengal.
Population: 23,000.
Festivals: Khalihani Puja, Goraiya
Puja, Deothan Puja, Kharoch Puja,

Samajho
 Phagu and Pitar Puja, Navakhani,
Kathdeli and Sarhi Kutasi.
Dance: Fagud, Sarhul, Thadia,
Karam, Jatra, Dohadi, Lahsav, Jadur.
Language:
Asur language, figures in the list
of UNESCO Interactive Atlas
of the World’s Languages in
Danger.
Using mobile radio, the Asur
community has been spreading
the popularity of the language
within their geographical limits.
Occupation:
Traditionally iron-smelters
(India's first metallurgists), they
were once hunter-gatherers.
Now the majority of them
shifted into agriculture, 91.19%
are enlisted as cultivators.

Jharkhand
Paharia Tribe About

One of the primitive tribal groups in

Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand and
once ruled the region.
Extremely poor and backward on all
human development indicators.
Subdivided into Shauria/Sauria
Paharia and Mal Paharia.

1. Mal Paharia:
Live in the southern hills of
Damin-i-Koh and in the south
and east of Santhal Parganas.
Regions with significant
populations:
Jharkhand: 135,797
West Bengal: 44,538
Bihar: 2,225
Also found in Odisha, Bihar and
West Bengal.
Speak Malti and Bangla
language.
Survive on agriculture and
forest produce.
2. Shauria Paharia:
Mostly found in Santhal
Parganas.
Regions with significant
populations:
Jharkhand: 46,222
West Bengal: 3,480

Samajho
 Bihar: 1,932
Festival: Bandana
Speak Malta language.
Resort to shifting cultivation
and settled farming.

About

More than 30,000 people of Bru

community, who fled from Mizoram
to Tripura in 1997 in the wake of
inter-community violence, are set to
Reang/Bru Tribe be repatriated to Tripura (proposed
new agreement).
Second most populous tribe of Tripura
after the Tripuris.
Location:
Northeastern Indigenous to Northeast India,
states living mostly in Tripura,
Mizoram and Assam.
Population: 188,220
Festival: Buisu
Dance: Hozagiri dance
Language: Reang dialect of
Kokborok (Kau Bru) language.
Occupation:
Mostly practised the Huk or
Jhum cultivation, but now have
adopted modern agricultural
practices.

Multiple
Chenchu Tribe States About

Oldest living aboriginals of south

India.
They have formed a symbiotic
relationship between these forest
dwellers and forest department
officials- they help in monitoring the
forest.
Location:
Living in the Indian states of
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Karnataka, and Odisha.
Many Chenchus live in the
dense Nallamala forest of
Andhra Pradesh
(Nagarjunasagar Srisailam
Tiger Reserve).

Samajho
 Amrabad Tiger Reserve in
Nalla Malla hills of Telangana
has a large presence of the
Chenchu tribe.
However, a recent order form
NTCA means Chenchus will no
longer be able to claim
Nallamala as their home.
Population: 65,000.
Festivals: Bourapur ‘jatara’, Maha
Shivratri.
Dance: Chenchu Bhagavatam.
Language: Chenchu language (with
Telugu accent), a member of the
Dravidian language family.
Occupation:
Still dependent on
forests- collect jungle products
like roots, fruits, tubers, beedi
leaf, mahua flower, honey, gum,
tamarind and green leaves and
make meagre income by selling
these.
Do not cultivate land and
livelihoods are based on hunting
and gathering.

About

A primitive tribe.
Live completely cut off from the
world- they do not communicate with
other tribes, do not seek access to
education and are dependent on the
jungle.
Baiga Tribe
Tattooing is an integral part of their
lifestyle.
Location:
Live in the forests of several
Madhya
states of northern India such as
Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Festival: Karma or Karama.
Dance: Baiga Pardhauni.
Language: Baigani (recognised as a
variety of Chhattisgarhi influenced by
Gondi).
Occupation:
Practice shifting cultivation,
called 'bewar' or 'dahiya'.
Bamboo is the primary
resource.

Samajho
 Konda Reddy Tribe Andhra About
Pradesh,
Telangana Also called Hill Reddy.
One of the most backward tribal
groups in the states of Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana.
Known for their eco-friendly
practices such as the use of household
articles made of bamboo, bottle gourd,
and seeds.
Location:
Inhabit on both the banks of the
Godavari River (East and West
Godavari districts), in the hilly-
forest region (Bison hills) of
Khammam (Telangana) and
Srikakulam (Andhra
Pradesh) and neighbouring
states of Odisha, Tamil Nadu.
Live in the interior forest areas
largely cut-off from the
mainstream.
Population: 1,100.
Festivals: Ugadi, Akshade and
Dussehra.
Dance:
The region inhabited by Konda
Reddy is famous for mangoes.
Before plucking the mangoes,
they have a ceremonial festival
with a community dance called
Mango Dance.
Language: Telugu with a unique
accent.
Occupation:
Collecting minor forest products
like honey, making a wide array
of bamboo products such as
baskets and cots besides
cultivating jowar, bottle gourd
and a few other traditional
crops.
Some of them have adopted
settled agriculture and
horticulture.
They cultivate the crops in a
distinct way called ‘Podu’. It is
an ancient practice in hilly
regions.

Other Scheduled Tribes

Assam

Samajho
 Tiwa/Lalung Tribe About

Lives both in the hills and plains of

Assam and Meghalaya state.
Tiwa means people who were lifted
from below.
Also found in some areas of
Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and
Nagaland.
Population: 200,915.
Divided into two sub-groups, Hill
Tiwa and Plains Tiwas.

1. Hill Tiwa:
Live in the westernmost areas of
Karbi Anglong district.
They speak a Tibeto-Burman
language.
Matriarchal society- the
husband goes to live in her
wife's family settlement
(matrilocality).
Men comb the deep jungles to
hunt wildlife.
Habitual to the Jhum
cultivation, horticulture,
vegetables and the crops which
are cultivable in the area.
2. Plains Tiwa:
Live on the flatlands of the
Southern bank of the
Brahmaputra valley.
The majority speaks Assamese
as their mother tongue.
Descent system is patrilineal.
Practice shifting cultivation but
the majority have taken settled
agriculture and rice has become
their major crop.

Festivals:

The main festivals of the Tiwa tribes

are- Three Pisu (Bihu), Borot Utsav,
Sogra Phuja, Wansuwa, Jonbeel
Mela, Kabla Phuja, Langkhon Phuja,
Yangli Phuja, Christmas, New Year,
and Easter.
In April, Khelchawa festival is
celebrated at the close of the harvest
season.

Samajho
 About

Earliest immigrant tribes who came

from Myanmar and settled down in
the plains of eastern Assam.
Had their own kingdom until the
British exercised control over them.
Called by different names such as
Khasi Pahris, Khuchia, Kassi, Khashi
and Khasa.
Location:
Reside in different parts of India
Khasi Tribe like the state of Assam, the
Khasi Jaintia hills in
Meghalaya, in Punjab, Uttar
Meghalaya, Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal
Assam and Jammu & Kashmir.
Almost 50% of Meghalaya's
population is Khasi.
Population: 1,512,831.
Society: Follow the matrilineal system
of descent and inheritance.
Language: Khasi
Festivals: Ka Pomblang Nongkrem,
Shad Suk Mynsiem, Bamkhana,
Christmas, Seng Kut Snem.
Dance: Nongkrem, Ka Shad Suk
Mynsiem, Ka-Shad Shyngwiang-
Thangiap, Ka-Shad-Kynjoh
Khaskain, Shad Beh Sier.
Occupation: Peasant-based economy-
shifting cultivation.

Multiple
Gurjer/Gujjar Tribe States About

A large heterogeneous group that is

internally differentiated in terms of
culture, religion, occupation, and
socioeconomic status.
In all the tribal communities the
Gujjars are held high in esteem.
Also called as Goojar, Gujar &
Gurjara.

Samajho
 The name for the state of Gujarat has
derived from "Gurjar".
Location:
Found in India, Pakistan, and
Afghanistan.
In India: Delhi, Jammu and
Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, northern Madhya
Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Rajasthan, Gujarat and
Maharashtra.
Population: 763,806
Festivals:
Celebrate all the festivals of
national significance.
The main festival is Id.
Dance: Chari dance, Gojari dance.
Language: Gojri, Punjabi, Hindi,
Urdu, English.
Occupation:
Herd animals like sheeps, goats
and buffalo- migrate to upper
parts of Himalayas along with
their cattle during the summer
season and back to the plains
with the onset of chilly winters.
Other occupations include-
Labour, agriculture, services,
business, artisans.

Mizoram
Chakma Tribe About

Largest tribe found in the hilly area of

eastern Bangladesh known as the
Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Migrated to India after they lost their
land to the development of the Kaptai
Dam on the Karnaphuli River,
Bangladesh.
Believed to be part of Buddha's Sakya
clan from Himalayan tribes.
Location: Bangladesh, Myanmar,
India (Mizoram, Tripura, Arunachal
Pradesh).
Population: 1,000,000
Festivals: Bizu, Alphaloni, Buddha
Purnima and Kathin Civar Dan.
Dance: Bizu dance.
Language: Changma Bhach.
Occupation:
Practised slash-and-burn
cultivation in the past, many

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 Chakma today have adopted
plough cultivation and some
have taken up poultry farming.

About

Nomadic cattle and camel herders and

shepherds.
Also known as Desai or Rewari.
One of the most threatened tribes.
Known for their distinctive art,
particularly the mirrored and
whitewashed mud sculpture-work that
Rabari Tribe adorns their homes and villages.
Location: Live throughout northwest
India, primarily in Gujarat, Punjab and
Rajasthan as well as Sindh in
Pakistan.
Society:
Women stand in almost equal
Gujarat,
status to that of their men.
Punjab and
However, women do not have
Rajasthan
the right to parental property.
All Rabari women always dress
in severe black.
Language: Bhopa language which is
a mixture of Gujarati, Kachchi,
Marwari and Pharasi.
Festival: Shitla Mata.
Occupation:
Sheep breeding and selling of
milk.
Only a few of them own
cultivable agricultural land.
Some have started engaging as
wage labourers in industrial
establishments both as skilled
and unskilled labourers.

Gujarat
Bharwad Tribe About

A caste of shepherds- one of the

Maldhari nomadic communities.
Population: 2,500
Language: Gujarati
Occupation:
Herding-many of them live in
and around the Gir Forest
National Park and are
permitted to graze their sheep
and cattle in certain demarcated
areas of the reserved forest.

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 Among the most urbanised of
the region and, combined with
their niche position in the
supply of milk, which forms
their main source of income,
this has enabled them to
improve their traditional social
position.

Charan Tribe About

The Charan, a small tribe were bards

attached to royal courts to spread royal
fame by singing praises.
Charan is derived from the word
‘Char’ which means grazing.
Location: Rajasthan and Gujarat
Rajasthan states of India, as well as Sindh and
and Gujrat Balochistan provinces of Pakistan.
Society:
The Charans marry within their
community.
All the marriages are arranged.
Occupation: Traditionally cattle
breeders, have also adopted
agriculture as their secondary
occupation.

Nagaland
Angami Tribe About

A major Naga ethnic group native to

the state of Nagaland.
Divided into four regions namely
Chakhro Angami, Northern Angami,
Southern Angami and Western
Angami. The now separated
Chakhesangs were previously known
as the Eastern Angamis.
Location:
Predominantly settled in
Kohima District and Dimapur
District of Nagaland.
Also recognized as one of the
ethnic groups in the state of
Manipur.
Population: 452,910
Festival:
Sekrenyi.

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 Nagaland also hosts its biggest
event- the Hornbill Festival to
celebrate its diverse community
and culture in which all Naga
ethnic group take part.
Occupation:
Depend on cultivation and
livestock-rearing.
Known for terraced wet-rice
cultivation.

Jharkhand
Santhal Tribe About

Ethnic group native to India and

Bangladesh.
Oldest tribes in Indian forwarded from
the Pre Aryan times.
Location:
Largest tribe in the Jharkhand
state of India in terms of
population
Also found in the states of
Assam, Tripura, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West
Bengal.
Sizeable population in Nepal
and Bhutan.
Population: 7.4 million.
Festivals:
Sohrai is the principal festival.
Other festivals- Baha, Karam,
Dansai, Sakrat, Mahmore,
Rundo and Magsim, Disum
sendra.
They traditionally accompany
many of their dances during
these festivals with two drums:
the Tamak‘ and the Tumdak’.
Dance: Santhal dance.
Language: Santhali (a dialect of
Kherwari) and Mundali languages.
Occupation:
Many Santhals are employed in
the coal mines near the city of
Asansol, West Bengal, or in the
steel factories in Jamshedpur,
Jharkhand, while others work
during part of the year as paid
agricultural labourers.
Practice wet-rice agriculture.
apart from agriculture, they can
be seen in the tea gardens

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 plucking tea leaves, residing in
the nearby villages.

Central India
Gond Tribe About

One of the largest tribal groups in the

world.
Subdivided into four tribes:
1. Raj Gonds
2. Madia Gonds
3. Dhurve Gonds
4. Khatulwar Gonds
They have been witnesses to the
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency in the
central part of India.
Location:
"Gond" refers to tribal peoples
who live all over India's Deccan
Peninsula (Gondwana).
Spread over the states of
Madhya Pradesh, eastern
Maharashtra (Vidarbha),
Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh,
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar and Odisha.
Live around the Satpura Hills,
Maikala Range and Son-
Deogarh uplands, Bastar
plateau, and Garhjat Hills of
northern Orissa.
Population: 13 million.
Festivals:
Pola, a cattle festival, Phag,
Nagpanchami, and Dassera.
Dance:
Saila Dance, Karma Dance,
Rina, Dadariya and Ahirai
Dance, Ditong or Gedi Dance.
Many Gonds worship Ravana.
Cockfighting is their favourite
pastime.
Ghotul is a religious and social Center
them and is a village dormitory for
unmarried girls and boys.
Language: Gondi- a Dravidian
language.
Occupation:
Mainly farmers.
Some Gond communities have
risen to the status of
landowners, many are landless
labourers.

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 Flowers and fruits of Mahua
tree are an integral part of their
life.

About

A semi-nomadic Tibetan people.

Location:
Found mainly in the Changtang
(part of the Tibetan Plateau
extending in Ladakh).
Stay in the region throughout
the year despite temperatures
below freezing point.
A smaller number resides in the
western regions of the Tibet
Autonomous Region.
They were partially relocated
for the establishment of the
Changtang Nature Reserve
(the second-largest nature
reserve in the world).
Changpa Tribe The word ‘Changpa’ means
northerners.
Those who are still nomadic are
known as Phalpa and the
sedentary Changpa are called Fangpa.
Ladakh
They live in a big cone-shaped tent
called Rebo. Lekha is a place where
their goats and sheep are kept.
Population: 500,000 (across India
and China)
Festival: Losar, Tangpe Chao and
Korzok Gustor.
Dance: Cham dance at
Language: Changskhat, a dialect of
Tibetan.
Occupation:
Rearing of yaks, horses and
sheep.
Cashmere, also known as
pashmina, is majorly sourced
from the pashmina sheep that
the tribe rears.
The Chinese Army’s intrusion
in Chumur and Demchok has
left Ladakh’s nomadic herding
Changpa community cut off
from large parts of summer
pastures.

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