Socio-Economic Life of Tribal Women in Pachaimalai Hill

Abstract

The tribal population is identified as the aboriginal inhabitants of our country. For centuries, they have been living a simple life based on the natural environment and have developed their own cultural patterns congenial to their physical and social environment. References of such tribal groups are found even in the literature of the ancient period, right from the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha periods. The tribes are the original inhabitants of Bharatvarsha, a social group with define territory, common name, common descent, common culture, and behaviour of an endogamous group, common taboos, and existence of distinctive social and political system, full faith in leaders and self-sufficiency in their distinct economy.

There are approximately two hundred million tribal people in the entire globe, which means, about 4% of the global population. They are found in many regions of the world and majority of them are the poorest amongst poor. According to India’s most recent census (2011) report the Schedule Tribes (STs) population comprises of 8.6%.[i] The distribution of ST population varies widely across India’s states and territories. In Mizoram and Lakshadweep, STs represent close to 95% of the population. Whereas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu STs represent only 1% of the population. Among the total ST population in India, the highest proportions are found in Madhya Pradesh (14.5%), Maharashtra (10.2%), and Orissa (9.7%). There are around 700 different tribes lives across India, predominantly in remote areas like forests, hills, and rough terrain in plateau areas.

References

1. Census Report of 2011.