According to the 2011 census, Odisha counted 9,590,756 Scheduled Tribes, ranking as the third-largest state in India in terms of its Scheduled Tribes population, trailing behind Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. These tribal communities collectively make up around 22.84% of the state's total population, 9.20% of the nation's Scheduled Tribes population, and about 0.79% of the nation's entire population.[5]
Main tribes
Distribution of Scheduled Tribes of Odisha, 2011 Census
Percentage of Scheduled Tribes (district wise) of Odisha, 2011 Census
As per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, amended by Modification Order 1956 and subsequent modification order the following were listed as Scheduled Tribes in Odisha;[6][7][1]
According to the 2011 Census of India, Odisha's Scheduled Tribes constitute 22.84% (9,590,756) of the state's total population.[8] Among them, Odia is spoken by 44.98% of the population, Kui by 10.17% (including 106,101 Khond speakers), and Santali by 8.81%. Sambalpuri is spoken by 5.63%, Munda by 4.64% (including 121,391 Mundari speakers), and Ho by 4.23%. Additionally, Savara is spoken by 3.07%, Sadan/Sadri by 2.56%, and Kisan by 2.01%. Proja is spoken by 1.54%, Koya by 1.48%, and Kurukh/Oraon by 1.37%. Desia is spoken by 1.35%, and Kharia by 1.26% of the population.[8] Furthermore, Bhatri is spoken by 81,413 individuals, Telugu by 50,375, and Gondi by 45,042. Laria is spoken by 40,893, Bhumijali by 34,131, Chhattisgarhi by 33,342, and Gadaba by 32,534 individuals. Juang is spoken by 30,217, Bhuiya/Bhuyan by 28,275, and Halabi by 19,722. Hindi is spoken by 17,924, Bengali by 9,080, and Kuvi by 6,374. Banjari is spoken by 5,218, Ladakhi by 3,020, Urdu by 2,658, Koda/Kora by 1,995, Rai by 1,788, and Coorgi/Kodagu by 1,305 individuals.[8]
Inclusion in and exclusion from Scheduled list
Initially, the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha consisted of 42 tribes. The implementation of the Scheduled Tribes Modification Order in 1956 brought significant changes, including the inclusion of 21 new tribes as Scheduled Tribes, such as Bhottada, Bhumia, Bhumij, Bhunjia, Desua Bhumij, Dharua, Didayi, Gandia, Holva, Kandha Gauda, Kol, Kotia, Lodha, Madia, Matya, Omanatya, Parenga, Pentia, Rajuar, Sabar Lodha, and Sounti. Additionally, the tribe named Gorait was excluded from the list and enlisted in Scheduled Castes.[9] However, after the establishment of the Tribal Research Institute, it was discovered that six communities viz. Chenchu, Ghara, Kandha Gauda, Kuli, Saunti had been mistakenly included in the list due to a lack of accurate local information when the list was originally drawn up in 1950 and revised in 1956. As they did not meet the basic criteria for tribal status, the Odisha government later proposed their exclusion from the list. However, this proposal faced opposition from members in Parliament, and as a result, there were no changes made to the list of Scheduled Tribes in Odisha.[10] In the same way, 169 communities are proposed by the state government for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list since 1970. These are mostly synonyms, segments and phonetic variations of existing Scheduled Tribes, such as Kandha Kumbhar, Jodia, Chuktia Bhunjia, Saara, Mankidia, Porja, Banda Paraja, Durua, and Paharia.[11] As of 2023, the central government has rejected 81 communities, returning them to the state government due to a lack of supporting documents.[12] In 2024, two more Dravidian tribal communities, namely Muka Dora (with area restrictions) and Konda Reddy, were scheduled to the Tribal list of Odisha.[2]
^Ahmed, M (1965). Census of India 1961, Orissa(PDF). District Census Handbook. Keonjhar. Cuttack: Superintendent, Orissa Government Press. p. 15.
^Lokur, B. N. The Report of the Advisory Committee on the Revision of the Lists of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Report). Department of Social Security, Govt. of India.