Analysis of Socio-Economic Conditions of the Kondh Tribe

Abstract

India has the second largest concentration of tribal population in the world next to Africa. According to Article 432 of the Constitution of India, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) refers to specific indigenous peoples whose status is acknowledged to some formal degree by appropriate national and state legislation. As per 2001 census, ST population was 84.3 million representing 8.2% of Indian population. A total of 461 ST groups have been identified, who are scattered throughout the length and breadth of the country (Singh 1994). There are 6 predominantly tribal states where more than 50% population is ST (Mizoram 94.8%, Nagaland 87.7%, Meghalaya 85.5%, Arunachal Pradesh 63.7%, Union Territories of Lakshadweep 93.2% and Dadra & Nagar Haveli 79.0%). More than half of ST population in the country is concentrated in the states of Madhya Pradesh (23.3%), Orissa (22.2%), Gujarat (14.9%), Assam (12.8%), Rajasthan (12.4%), Maharashtra (9.3%), Bihar (7.7%), Andhra Pradesh (6.3%) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (5.5%). Of the 461 scheduled tribes in India, Orissa has declared 62 tribal communities and 13 as primitive tribal groups (PTG). Dongrias,a major sect of the great Kondh tribe, mostly stay on high hills known as Dongar. The Dongria Kondh is one of the officially designated PTG in Orissa. They are the original inhabitants of Niyamgiri hilly region which extends to Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts of south Orissa. The Dongria population is confined to three community development blocks namely Bissam Cuttack and Munuguda of Gunpur sub-division and alyansinghpur Block of Rayagada sub-division. Dongria Kondhs have an estimated population of about 10,000 and are distributed in around 120 settlements, all at an altitude up to 5,000 feet above the sea-level.